Used Cars-Buying a Bargain

The used car business is huge in this country 42 million used cars were purchased last year alone, according to the Manheim Used Car Report. If you're looking a second-hand set of wheels, how can you make sure you're getting a quality vehicle? Body Shop owner Brany Binker says all it takes is some legwork.

Getting Started

Before you head out on the road looking for a used car, put a little kit together. These tools will help you inspect the vehicle:

>>Flashlight
>>Magnet
>>Notepad
>>Pen or Pencil
>>Rag

Tricks of the Trade

Magnet Test

Slide a magnet across all metal parts of the car. Does it stick? If not, a plastic- filler was probably used to repair the car after an accident.

Be a Knock-Out

Give the car a good knock. If you hit pure metal, you'll hear a tin sound. That's good. But, if you hit plastic-filler, you will hear a thump-like sound.

Check for a Paint Job

How can you tell if a car's been repainted? Our body shop owner says look for impurities in the paint, like coarseness or embedded dust. You should also look for signs of paint on moldings.

Tires

You can tell about the care of a car by simply bending down and looking at the tires. If one of the front ties is worn out, chances are, you have suspension damage.

Look Inside

Once the exterior is all checked out, give the interior a close look. Lift up the mats. Do they smell like mildew? If so, there may have been flood damage. Also, check out all the accessories. This includes the air conditioner, radio, alarm system, and heater. And if the car is power, try out those windows and locks. Make sure they are all working properly.

A History Lesson

Once you've completed all these tests, it's time to check out the history of the car:

Has the vehicle ever been in an accident?
Has the odometer been rolled back?
Has the vehicle passed all inspections?

So...how do you find out? You can log onto one of the several available Web sites, like Carfax and Experian, then pay a small fee. Next, you enter the Vehicle Identification Number (better known as the VIN), and an entire report detailing a car's entire history will pop up. Experts say the fee for this service is a small price to pay in order to avoid costly problems down the road.

Bright Idea...

Once the car has passed all these tests, make sure to take it to a mechanic. An expert is trained to see things you usually can't.

Read more smart consumer tips and strategies
from Fox11 Eyewitness News Online

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