How to Buy a Used Car 2

Wherever you decide to buy, aIways, always, have a mechanic check over the car to make sure it's okay. But there are also some things you should do on your own to see if the car is sound:

· Shop during daylight hours (darkness can hide flaws).

· Ask for the car's maintenance history the auto equivalent of medical records.

· Look for puddles of brown, green, or red liquid on the ground beneath the car.

Brown means the car is leaking oil; green means it's leaking coolant; and red could be transmission fluid. All are bad signs.

· Look for dents. Bring a magnet with you and mn it over the car's body. If it doesn't stick, chances are the car has been in an accident and repaired with plastic filler.

· Start the engine, !et it idle, and listen for strange noises.

· Check that all the numbers on the odometer (mileage meter) line up. Misaligned numbers and scratch marks could mean that it's been tampered with.

· Most people drive about 10,000 miles a year. If the car's been driven a lot more than that, you should probably pass it by.

· Ask the seller for the car's registration. If the seller is not the owner, walk away.

· "Make sure that little things like windshield wipers work," adds Crouch. "Sellers tend to talk down the little stuff. They tell you it'll take five bucks to fix. You'll lose in the long mn because small stuff can end up costing a lot. " (Yeah, like exposed seat springs.) If the car passes your initial inspection, it's time for the test drive. "Never buy a car without driving it first," says Crouch. "If the seller won't let you drive the car, it means something's wrong."

Test-drive basics:

· Don't just drive the car a few blocks. Take it on highway and city roads; go fast, slow-the works. Listen for odd noises.

· Ask someone to follow you and look for black or white smoke coming from the car. · Test the brake and gas pedals, and note the car's response.

· When you're on a quiet road, steer the car in a straight line and take your hands off the wheel for a second. The car should continue in a straight line.

Once the car passes all your tests, ask a mechanic to give the car a once-over. it may cost up to $50 for a mechanic's opinion, but that's better than paying $500-or more-Iater trying to fix a broken-down bomb. Ask the mechanic to list the problems he finds and give you an estimate of the cost to fix them. Would he or she buy the car? Buying a used car is a bit of a gamble, but a mechanic can at least help increase your odds.

Okay, you love the car, your mechanic says it's a peach, and you 're set to sign over your life's sayings. What next? Cool your jets. There's still more checking to do: Call the Auto Safety Hotline (1-800-424-9393) and tell the operator the year, make, and model of the car. If the model has been recalled for any reason, you may be asking for trouble. AIso, look up the car's value in the "blue book" (you can find it at banks, libraries, and used car dealerships), the guide to used cars and their prices. It will give you a figure that's 80 percent of the value of the car. This will help you when you're negotiating the price with the seller.

Bargaining can be downright intimidating, but remember: You're the one in control-you have the money. The seller wants to sell. To keep in mind:

. Before you start negotiating, give yourself a price limit. "If he wants $500 more than you have and he's not budging, then you can't afford it," says Crouch.

. Get an itemized list of the car's problems and deduct that from the asking price. Once you 've settled on a price, the seller needs to transfer ownership to you by signing over the title. Read all the papers before you exchange money, and don't sign anything with blank spaces on it, since the terms could be altered later. Make sure you leave with a bill of sale, a title, and the car. Never pay in cash; use a personal check or cashier's check (this will be your receipt).

Sure, the whole process of buying a used car can make you want to ride a bike for the rest of your life, but when you spot the right car-and you will-you'll find that things just click into place.

DECODING THE CLASSIFIEDS

Mustang, '67, 2dr, dk red, AT, rads, mint, boss strps, $1895. 555-3962.

Huh? Translation: The owner is selling a 1967, two-door, dark red Mustang that's in mint condition with automatic transmission, radial tires, and boss stripes.

Here's the deal on some other terms:

AC: air-conditioning

Cond: condition

Conv: convertible

Cpe: two-door coupe

H/B: hatchback

Hdtp: hardtop

Man trans: manual transmission

PB: power brakes

PS: power steering

PW: power windows

Rear dfg: rear defogger

Wrnty: warranty

Source: Seventeen Magazine