| Welcome back to part two of my article | | | | transmission? Which would you like better? |
| series. This mini-used car buying guide is a | | | | Generally, a standard 5 speed transmission is |
| compilation list of my most important | | | | the best choice, as it is less complex and |
| questions to ask when buying a used car. | | | | more fuel efficient. C'mon! Stick is more fun |
| | | | anyway! |
| To recap from part one, over the phone we | | | | |
| want to make clever inquiry to see if we can | | | | Find out it they have service records. If |
| establish with some certainty that the seller | | | | they have no service records, it is a strong |
| is not a private car dealer. Then we ask them | | | | indication that the car has not been well |
| questions to determine whether how long they | | | | maintained. By looking at the service |
| have owned the car and if they are the | | | | records, you can see the maintenance history, |
| original owner. The final area covered in | | | | and any repairs. For example, a receipt for a |
| part 1 was to pay close attention to the | | | | new engine adds value to any car. When the |
| sense we get from the seller's response to | | | | time comes to sell your car, this can be |
| our asking about their reasons for selling. | | | | handy evidence to present someone to backup |
| If we are satisfied with the outcome of this | | | | your request for top dollar. |
| initial round, it is time to get a bit more | | | | |
| specific. | | | | No list of tips on buying a second hand car |
| | | | can be complete if it doesn't include being |
| One of my top questions to ask about buying a | | | | sure that you ask the seller if it has ever |
| used car is whether it has a gas or diesel | | | | been in an accident. If their answer is yes, |
| engine. This may not be applicable unless you | | | | ask them if it was a write off. If yes, move |
| are looking for a diesel, as the vast | | | | on. There are lots of other cars to choose |
| majority of cars only come with a gas motor. | | | | from. If their answer is no, find out how |
| However, if you are looking for incredible | | | | long ago the accident was, and what area of |
| economy and bulletproof reliability, you will | | | | the car sustained damage? You will want to |
| want to consider buying a car equipped with a | | | | look carefully at these areas when you go to |
| diesel or even better, a turbo diesel engine. | | | | see the car. |
| VW Jettas and Golfs are and were and still | | | | |
| are built with both gas and diesel motors, | | | | If the damage is recent, it may be difficult |
| and those motors last a long, long time! | | | | to tell how well the repairs will hold up. If |
| | | | it was a long time ago and it still looks |
| Ask them how many kilometers or miles are on | | | | okay, that can be a good sign. If the doors |
| the car? For a gas engine, anything much over | | | | were affected, there is a good chance that |
| 250,000 km or 150,000 miles is a bit too | | | | they don't close perfectly anymore, and may |
| much, unless the car has been meticulously | | | | make whistling sounds at highway speed. Very |
| maintained. In the case of a diesel engine, | | | | annoying on long journeys! |
| 300,000 km or 180,000 miles is just getting | | | | |
| going. If it has been meticulously | | | | Okay, we are getting some good information |
| maintained, a diesel can go for a million | | | | from our seller! That's it for part 2. Stay |
| kilometers. | | | | tuned for part 3 where I will dive into the |
| | | | nitty-gritty of how to narrow down your |
| Determine whether your potential future | | | | search for the perfect used car. |
| companion has a standard or automatic | | | | |