Used cars- how to prevent getting conned into buying any old lemon of a car!

If you are looking out for used cars for sale there are several points which you must keep in mind. Buying second hand cars can be quite tricky unless you are well-informed and know all the little tips which go into purchasing used cars. Here are some of those tips to help you guard against being taken for a ride in the purchase of a used car.

The first way to guarantee against being sold any old lemon is to check underneath the paint. For this purpose, carry a paint meter with you which will help you detect replaced metal, the original or deliberate cover-up paintwork. A staggeringly large number of cars get deliberately repainted to increase their value because all the little flaws get covered up and these are then tried to sold off to the unsuspecting public as ‘almost as good as new’! But, scratch underneath the paint and you may across a badly damaged bumper which will cost you a lot more in repairs than what you paid for the car.

The second area where most people get fooled is by the warranty. Although you may get the warranty with your second hand car (and it’s important that you ask for it), you must check whether the warranty stands valid for the period during which you are buying the car. To authenticate the warranty, just check on the drive door side and see the year in which the car was manufactured. Most warranties start within a few months of that date and you may just get stuck with a car whose warranty is already over despite you holding the warranty card. It is equally important to check whether the warranty transfers to you or not since not every manufacturer allows multiple transfers with the warranty intact.

Thirdly, request that the car engine should be at rest for at least 12 hours minimum (ideal time is 24 hours) before you come to test drive the car. This cold start brings up as lot of hitherto hidden problems like clanking noises which disappear once the car gets warmed up. There may be blue smoke coming out which means that the car is burning oil or if the smoke is white then it means that it is anti-freeze in the car engine. All these are bad signs and you should avoid purchasing that car. Checking the compression of the engine is also important. If the RPM of the car comes up and backs down quickly then the compression is good; otherwise avoid the car.

The other tips are to know the loan value on the car, ensuring that the body of the car is straight, looking underneath the car to see if any fluid is dripping as this can mean expensive repairs, checking the odometer and checking for water damages. Once you know all these tips buying the best used cars will be a breeze and you can be rest assured that you will not get conned.