Bimmer Man

Your Mechanic Can Be a Valuable Asset When Purchasing A Used Car

Car dealers are not particularly well liked, and knowing as many of them as I do, I can understand why that might be the case. I run an import shop in Florida that specializes in late model luxury imports. I’ve been in business for quite some time, and I have heard plenty of horror stories from customers regarding other dealerships. In my opinion, I think the majority of car dealerships one will encounter are reputable, by and large. I say “by and large” because some dealers I know use nickel and dime methods to maximize their profits, which I disagree with. Personally, I would rather give the customer a quality auto at a fair price and consequently gain a lifetime customer, but that’s a topic for another article.

One of the more recent horror stories I heard involved someone who had purchased a vehicle that was leaking oil. For those of you that know anything about cars, you know that this is nothing to be taken lightly. The customer was assured by the dealership that this older, yet low mileage used car was in pristine condition. Here’s where it gets interesting… Before the sale, the customer asked if she could have the car inspected by her mechanic. The dealership did everything they possibly could to keep that from happening, and succeeded. They told her that they would have their own mechanics do a “twenty point inspection” which would save her the time and expense of having her mechanic take a look. Unbelievable! Since the customer parked her car on a busy street where there were already several oil spots, she never noticed the leaking until after her ridiculously short thirty day warranty was up.

Her mechanic would have spotted an oil leak the minute he had the car up on the rack. As disheartening as this story is, there is a valuable lesson to be learned here. Car buyers, unless they are dealing with a dealer they are familiar with and whom they trust, should seriously consider having a mechanic check out any used car they are interested in (preferrably the local certified manufacturer dealer of the automobile make they are considering). I have had several first time customers ask me if they can have the car independently inspected and I am always happy to oblige. Take my word for it, the only dealers who would frown upon independent inspections are those who have something to hide.

Buying a car is a huge investment, whether you are buying a new or used car. By looking at used cars, you will see that this can save you a lot of money while you still get a great car. But before buying a used car, you should do a little bit of research to make sure that you are truly getting your moneys worth. Otherwise, you could just end up stuck with someone elses problem.

Before you start doing any research, make sure that you know what you want out of your used car. This includes knowing how many miles you are willing to have on it, what type of vehicle you are looking to buy, and the features that you will want on your used car. After you have determined these factors, its a good idea to look on used car websites. This can not only provide you with what a good price is for the car you are looking for but can also be a great place to purchase your car once you have decided on one you like. While you are looking online, beware of a price that seems too good to be true. It probably is and a low sales price could mean that the car is not in good condition and will end up costing you much more money later on.

Once you have decided on a few used cars that you are interested in, get their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN.) You can get this from the previous owner, the website youve found the car on, or it is usually located on the drivers side of the vehicle where the dash meets the windscreen. After you have the VIN, you can get a report on the vehicle for about twenty pounds. The VIN will tell you everything that has happened to the used car in the past, whether it has been in an accident or has had costly repairs done to it. Many sites, such as BuyYourCar provide an AutoCheck facility. You just enter the registration number of the car for sale and it will tell you its history.

When buying a second-hand car online, make sure you go through a reputable company. Knowing who you are dealing with will give you some insight as to what to expect from that company and how to go about finding a used car through them. Any online company or website should be thoroughly researched before any purchase is made. There are many wonderful companies and websites that offer used cars online; however, there is always someone that is just trying to make a quick buck as well. Doing some research wherever you buy your car from will give you the best protection when buying a second-hand car.