When buying a used car do you bring your mechanic with you?
By Cars & Motorcycles on May 04, 2009 with Comments 4
Hi,
I’m just wondering when you buy a used car do you bring a mechanic with you to inspect the car?
Also would you prefer buying from a dealership or a private seller?
I’m kind of leaning towards the private seller because of all the stories about the dealers rewinding the mileage and rebuilding cars.
Filed Under: Buying Used Car
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You take the car to the mechanic not the other way around.
Dealers will overcharge you every time. You need to avoid every used car dealer on the planet. If you want to shop at a dealer go to a place like Carmax or a reputable new car dealer and shop his used car lot, but NEVER go to an independent used car lot. They are all crooks.
Take the car to the mechanic and get a pre-purchase inspection.
Usually 1 hour labor, they’ll note problems which saves you from buying a clunker or you can use their list to negotiate if you still want it.
“Taking” your mechanic to the car limits what they can see to a mininum w/o a lift to raise the car and little/no ability to remove the wheels.
Private seller cheaper, dealer (not so cheap) at least will have some legal responsibilty if they sell you a known wrecked car/ known mechanical problems IF YOU get in writing that you asked about wrecks/accidents/mechanical issues up front.
There are exceptions to used car lots, but I use my brain, so that’s not a surprise that I found one when buying my 03 F150. Drove it to the local Auto Exam that my credit union paid for contingent on the purchase and had myself a truck the next day.
The truck was newer and cost $3000 less than other GM or Ford trucks of comparable age at the big dealer in town (that would be Ron Carter in Alvin, TX, at that time that you should avoid…).
I proved my mom wrong on the better deal being at the bigger name lot. Can’t blame her for thinking that, but a small lot that’s been in biz for about 20 years is still in biz for a reason.
no one can rewind any thing any more really and you dont look at miles but how wel the car has be care for.. so yes you can bring one if you want and you can look for signs also.. first a walk a round looking down sides for dents and discolor look at tires for uneven wear… look under it for wet spots on ground or motor.. look at tail pipe for black… open hood and check all the fluids any low pass you find any signs pass… now you start is and listen to how well it starts and if there is any ticking or knocking you check every button and switch to see whats working and or not.. you then drive it 30 minutes checking take off and braking and how it steers…. then when you get back you recheck everything again and then decide if you have any questions about it pass walk a way