Buying a pre-owned car?

I've been commuting to work back and forth for almost a year now and I have to say it's really a pain in the ass. The other day I was messing around in the internet and for some reason I ended up looking for pre-owned cars and I found this Audi TT Coupe which looks really good, I think it's a 2001 model and the price was really cheap. Now, I've never had the chance to buy a pre-owned car so I was kind of careful since I don't want to be in a crappy deal. So what should I look out for when buying a pre-owned car? Do you have any advice or anything note worthy?

 

Cars are like any other machine - they can be used quite a lot before they are thrown for disposal, which means that buying a second hand car is not a problem. The problem might be the deal itself - is the price good, is the car in good condition and where is the car situated for sale. The last part is very important - the location. If it is close to you, I would 100% suggest going to see it in person with a friend/mechanic to look and assess the car. As you could probably guess, some cars have low prices because of their condition and not because they want to make you happy .


Good luck!

 

I personally only buy wrecked cars but that's because i like restoring them. If you going to buy a used car online you should look for one that's close to you where you can go check it out with someone in person.

 

You can find some good used cars online, or get one that is ready to break down, and sometimes, it is hard to tell because they are usually advertised with the best information, and not the bad parts.
If it is a dealership, you can always check them out online, and see what other people have said about that car lot.
If it is a private seller, then just talking to them is a good way to start. Ask WHY they are selling the car.
If they just lost their job, need money for bills, etc., then you may be getting a good deal; but if they just want to sell this car and buy a different one, there may be issues with the car.

You can also look up the make and model online, and find out what the rating of the vehicle is overall, and what are the good and bad points. Check out other vehicles of the same model year, and see how the price compares to the one you are interested in.
If everything looks positive, then go and look at the car, by all means ! !

 

Contact them and have them explain to you everything that is wrong with the car if there's any. Also as happyflowerlady said, have them explain to you why they're selling the car if it's in such good condition.

 

Be really careful when buying a used car man. Make sure that it is something you can afford to deal with before you buy. Look at different reviews about the specific places where you buy used cars. Definitely inspect the vehicle too so you can troubleshoot some problems.

 

I have bought pre-owned cars than new ones but never online. After getting most of the details of the cars history I like to get an auto mechanic to look at it and make sure that I don't have anything or much to worry about before sealing the deal.

 

i have bought a few pre-owned cars before and the important part is how much do you know about cars. If you are a novice with car repair, find someone who is able to really work on a car go with you to check out any potential deals you may find. Heads can be replaced, water pumps changed out, but if there is any mention or sign of transmission issues you really need to think. Once you get into transmission trouble, you can open a can of worms. If you have the money and skill restore away, but if you need a deal because you are low on money stop and think first and make a plan.

 

I always bought pre-owned cars because brand new ones are usually more expensive. The money I'd spend in a basic new car, I can get a better one if it's used, and you know, depending on who you buy it from, it can be in really good condition, or the price can compensate the repairs it needs.

 

Exactly. I messed up and bought a used dodge from a tote the note place because i had no other choice and It was a piece of crap. I had to have a car and it really

was a piece of crap. I didn't mind that it had issues, no a/c, no radio, back windows were stuck etc. But I had it about a week and the tranny started slipping and it

was all downhill from there. Never ever again will i rush into a car sale like that. I learned a hard expensive lesson. Plus, not to be a hater, but Dodge's are crap!

 

You just have to inspect the car carefully and perhaps bring a friend mechanic with you. Hehehe. I'm sad to hear about your sad experience.