Nobody wants to buy a used car. Sure, they’re cheap and might last you a while… but who knows what’s wrong with them? If you’re serious about buying, buyer, beware! That’s why we’ve put together this list of things to watch when browsing the lot.
Remember the unglamorous checklist: how many miles does it have? Is it clean inside and out? Did the salesman give you weird vibes? (Which should be answered with another question: was he drunk?) And don’t be afraid to get your trusted mechanic friend to take a look before signing on the dotted line! These babies are expensive investments, after all.
Here are a few other things to watch out for on a used car:
1. Check for rust. Not only does it make your car look old, but it can also totally blow up on you! Don’t buy a car with flaking paint or rusted-out body panels.
2. Pay attention to the interior. Scuffed-up dashboards and faded upholstery indicate that someone was smoking in the car. Don’t buy that junker if you want to be a classy lady.
3. Check the trunk for foul odours. You can get all up in there to take a look at the spare tire, after all! If there’s a terrible smell back there, we’re talking about mould or mildew from excessive moisture or even dead bodies from a dead body decomposing in your trunk… only kidding about that last one.
4. If you’re buying a used car previously owned by a smoker, make sure the ashtray is clean before you buy. If it’s not, there was probably quite a bit of smoking in the car… and that means there’s quite a lot of nicotine in the upholstery. That’s gross.
5. If you’re buying a used car that someone with pet hair allergies previously owned, check the seats for pet hair! It may look like new leather on the seats… but it might be old fur.
6. Check how much oil is in your engine. You should not buy this used car if it’s low. used cars in miami should have high oil levels.
7. Check on the safety features of your used car. Are there airbags? Safety locks? Anti-lock brakes (ABS)? Are there any recalls that need to be addressed? If there’s a recall for your brand-new car and you still want to buy the used one, we don’t advise it.
8. Check the windshield wipers. Wiper blades break or get tangled from so much use, and then you’re left scratching at the dry streaks on your windshield. Not very classy! Also, if the wipers are dirty… no matter how clean they look, it’s time to replace them!