Buying A Pre-Owned Automobile
by: Michael J Medeiros
Purchasing a Pre-owned Automobile can be nerve racking for
consumers. There are a number of concerns toward the integrity of
the Automobile. In addition, it is difficult to compare the
appearance and condition of a used car to the asking price. With
some simple steps, a consumer can make a pre-owned purchase
simple and know they are obtaining the vehicle for a reasonable
price.
Understand the Sellers Mindset – Why is the Car for Sale?
Probably the most important factor to consider is the reason a
vehicle is for sale. Factors of the owners life may have lead him
or her to require a new vehicle. For example, their children may
become involved in sports or a new child may have been introduced
to the family. Reasons like this are good to hear. They indicate
that the seller probably would have kept the car and was
satisfied with the reliability and comforts offered.
In contrast, if the seller simply became sickened by the vehicle
and upgraded, take a look at what they are driving now. Did they
upgrade to a newer model of the same vehicle? If so, it is
evident that they where pleased with the vehicle that was for
sale. Otherwise, the vehicle may become a headache. If the seller
purchased a different make and model, ask about the newer car.
Their response will indicate what was important to them at the
time they purchased the vehicle. These elements of importance are
good indicators of things they disliked in the vehicle for sale.
Therefore, if a hint of reliability is muttered, the vehicle for
sale could be a, “lemon”.
What has been done to the Vehicle for sale?
Ask for receipts in advance. To learn what was done to a vehicle,
receipts are fairly important and provide good proof along with
the date service occurred. Ask for receipts in advance. The
seller may have to dig through documents to find receipts for
service and parts. Because of this, asking when viewing a vehicle
may not be a wise choice. In contrast, if the seller knows in
advance, he or she will have time to find all the related
receipts.
Analyze the modifications that had been done. Did the owner
install components that increase the fuel mileage? The vehicle
may have been a financial burden. Did the owner install
performance enhancing parts? The vehicle may have lacked power or
did not perform satisfactorily. Did the owner install factory
parts? This is a good indicator that the owner was satisfied with
the vehicle and the parts proved reliable to him or her.
Modifications to a vehicle will usually prove to be
unsatisfactory. Keep in mind, before a vehicle is manufactured,
auto makers spend thousands of dollars in engineering the
vehicle. They are primarily concerned with ergonomics,
performance, and safety. These engineers found the stock tire
created the perfect wheel for the vehicle, the exhaust system
proved safe and provided the best engine performance, and the
external engine components offered economical benefits without
robbing motor performance. In most cases, modified parts are
throwing away all the money spent on research and engineering in
a vehicle. Unless there is a purpose other than what the vehicle
was designed, racing or carrying heavy loads, it is a wise choice
to look for stock parts.
What is the appearance of the Vehicle?
One of the best ways to judge a vehicle is by the appearance. A
clean and neat interior is a good sign that person was happy with
a vehicle. In contrast, a poorly maintained interior may indicate
that the vehicle was neglected. Did the owner ensure the carpet
was preserved by using mats? Are there any burn wholes in the
upholstery? Did they clean spills in the vehicle or let them
become stains in the carpeting? Neglect on the inside is commonly
believed to provide good insight on a poorly maintained vehicle.
Walking around the outside vehicle can reveal the driving
behavior of the current owner. Look at the drive wheels, are they
worn significantly more than the other tires on the vehicle? This
would indicate heavy acceleration, which is extremely abusive to
internal engine parts and the drive train of the vehicle. Look
for variations in the vehicles paint. If variations are seen, the
vehicle could have been in an accident. Another indication of
bodywork is to look for over-spray within the engine compartment
and door jams. While a history report is fairly resourceful,
accidents could have occurred that are not listed on the report.
An inspection is always recommended. After a high speed accident,
vehicles tend to have significant problems.
What is the Vehicle Worth?
Being value conscious is wise as a consumer. There are a number
of resources that indicate a car value. In most cases, the seller
of a pre-owned vehicle was offered a very low price as a trade-in
value for their new vehicle. They are probably willing to sell
the vehicle for less than, “book value,” as they are wisely
attempting to gain more than what was offered at the dealer.
However, book value can lack many considerations and used only as
a reference point. The best way to judge the value is to shop.
Look at similar models for sale and evaluate the condition and
desired preferences.
Conduct research and read reviews of the vehicle. The vehicle may
appear to be in mint condition, yet the owner neglected to bring
the vehicle to a dealer for an important recall. Most would
agree, this would greatly affect the overall condition as the
vehicle may not be in safe working order. In addition, there are
a variety of options available for each vehicle. Which options
add value that can be confirmed on the vehicle for sale? Does the
vehicle actually have the premium sound system and manufactures
premium wheels? Put more effort into assessing the value then
mileage and model, to ensure the vehicle is worth the asking
price or making an offer.
Purchase a pre-owned vehicle with confidence
Through researching a desired vehicle and shopping around, a
consumer can purchase a reliable vehicle and save thousands of
dollars for their efforts. The savings in purchasing a pre-owned
vehicle could be considered as a payment for the work done. In
addition to savings, purchasing a well maintained pre-owned
vehicle eliminates the fear of purchasing a poorly designed
vehicle. There have been thousands of people whom purchased and
tested the vehicle. The vehicle has something better than a crash
test. It was tested in the real world.
Michael J Medeiros is an entrepreneur residing in New Jersey. He
has a background in business and advertising and the found of
Mjmls.com.
About Mjmls
Mjmls provides an open-source advertising solution for businesses
and individuals to list items and services for sale through their
Online Classifieds – http://www.mjmls.com/
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