Never forget:
The seller is almost as important as the car when buying a used car, and that is why a reputable dealer such as LA City Cars can be a better source for your next certified pre-owned car.
Important Points:
You can easily see whether the seller means well. If he speaks openly about previous damage and defects, that is a plus point for his seriousness. He answers your questions professionally and without empty phrases. It offers you plenty of opportunity to view the car and test drive it. Make sure at no point does the seller pressure you to make a quick sale. Openness and transparency are extremely important when buying a car, even more so when buying a used vehicle. This actually doesn’t require any technical knowledge, but rather some human knowledge.
Used cars are often an inexpensive alternative to a new car, but you need to do your homework. We’ll show you what you need to pay attention to so that there are no unpleasant surprises.
You can often find used cars for a fraction of the price of the same new model. However, there is a drawback to buying a used car: unless it has undergone inspection by a reputable car dealer like LA City Cars, you will never know exactly how the previous owner handled it.
The open-eye rule when buying a used car
There is always a certain amount of uncertainty when buying a used car. So there are a few factors to consider. Those who choose a used car usually want to avoid buying an expensive new car and save a little money. Nevertheless, besides their low price, used cars can provide many advantages. This depends on various factors:
1) Engine and engine performance if the maintenance was done right
2) Equipment (i.e., extras, special paintwork, etc.)
However, you can never escape the expenses of a used car. So it’s best to get an idea of the possible expenses beforehand. Ideally, you already have a specific model in mind; this makes price comparison easier.
You now have several options to get an overview of the price landscape:
Used car portals such as Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds, and several others. Here, you can filter the offer by model, engine, and mileage. This will give you an approximate price range that you can use to calculate.
If you have specific vehicle data (e.g., from an advertisement), you can enter it into one of the many free online tools for determining value. This will also give you an indication of the price of the car you want.
Ask for help on forums or social media groups if you are unsure about a vehicle price. On this basis, you can at least assess whether the asking price for a vehicle is within a reasonable range or whether the asking price is clearly too much. Vehicles can now be resold quickly and easily, especially online. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that potential buyers always get the information they need. A serious advertisement should therefore meet the following criteria:
There are sharp, bright photos of all sides of the vehicle. Photos of the passenger side and interior are also ideal. The technical data are provided in full (although there may be differences in scope depending on the sales and offering platform).
The description is factual.
According to the advertisement, the checkbook and other important documents are present. If you find the car interesting but are dissatisfied with the information provided, simply ask the seller. Evasive answers or a noticeable unwillingness to answer your questions at all should alarm you. It may then be better to look for another offer. The seller is almost as important as the car when buying a used car, and that is why a reputable dealer such as LA City Cars can be a better source for your next certified pre-owned car.
You can easily see whether the seller means well. If he speaks openly about previous damage and defects, that is a plus point for his seriousness. He answers your questions professionally and without empty phrases. It offers you plenty of opportunity to view the car and test drive it. Make sure at no point does the seller pressure you to make a quick sale. Openness and transparency are extremely important when buying a car, even more so when buying a used vehicle. This actually doesn’t require any technical knowledge, but rather some human knowledge.
Evidence of maintenance, repairs, and care
An important criterion for getting an impression of the condition of a used car is that the evidence of what has been done in terms of maintenance, repairs, and care is fully available. This may no longer be the case, especially with older vehicles, but the question arises as to what you can still expect from such a car with a high age and a lot of mileage.
Conversely, since younger used vehicles are often still quite expensive, the relevant documents should at least prove that the technical condition is in order. You should consider the following aspects:
The checkbook is completely filled, which is what you can expect from cars that have a “full checkbook”. The entries in the checkbook come either from a brand workshop or from a specialist workshop; in the best-case scenario, the same workshop was always responsible. There are documents about previous general and emissions tests, possibly even invoices for maintenance work and possible repairs. Maintenance stickers can be found in the engine compartment (including for timing belts, brake fluid, and oil changes). Compare the data and mileage stated there with those in the service booklet.
Traces of accidents on the used car
Even the smallest damage to the bodywork is no longer minor damage. In fact, it is entirely possible that damage to such an accident vehicle was deliberately concealed. Be careful.
Therefore, use the visit for a thorough check. For example, if the vehicle on offer has not been washed beforehand, this could be a sign that there are defects on the body surface. What you should definitely pay attention to:
The distances (gap dimensions) between doors, fenders, hoods, etc. are the same throughout the vehicle. However, the individual parts may become distorted in an accident. Slight changes in color may be an indication of repainting and, therefore, previous damage. However, it is normal for very bright colors to fade a little over time. You can use a body magnet to check whether the vehicle has any areas of repainting or filler underneath; the magnet only sticks to sheet metal.
Important: On newer vehicles, parts of the body may be made of non-magnetic materials.
Cracked or chipped paint in the engine compartment or trunk can also indicate an accident. This also applies to traces of “paint mist,” which only occur when repainting by hand. Contact the seller if you notice any rust, dents, or scratches. These are not entirely unusual for a used vehicle. Nevertheless, the seller should be able to provide you with information about the origin.
In addition to fuel, there are five operating fluids in a car:
Coolant
Engine oil
Gear oil
brake fluid
Wiping water
Although they have different responsibilities, there is one thing in common: they are not allowed to leak anywhere. Two areas are particularly critical:
One of the first things I do in a used automobile inspection is remove the oil cover and check for milky residue. The residue of this white material can reveal information about how well-maintained the car has been and whether there may be a major mechanical problem. —————
Look for white limescale on the radiator, the cooling hoses, and around their connections on the engine. These occur when there is a loss of cooling water. If this is not noticed and remedied immediately, the worst-case scenario is that the engine will suffer permanent damage. The engine must be free of excessive traces of oil. The gearbox must even be completely dry. Drops or trickles in particular are an exclusion criterion. In older vehicles, however, the oil pan (the lowest part of the engine) may be lightly coated with oil.
Also, check the oil plug. If a whitish to light brown smear has formed here, either condensation or cooling water has gotten into the oil. Condensation occurs primarily when a car is driven over short distances.
If, on the other hand, coolant is the trigger, there may be a defective cylinder head gasket; in both cases, not buying is probably the better decision. In order to make used vehicles more attractive on the market, they are often advertised as being “fully equipped”. However, that doesn’t mean that this actually exists. However, such a defect becomes noticeable during the inspection at the latest.
Specifically, when you look inside the car, in the places where various extras are installed in a fully equipped version, lower equipment lines only have panels. In any case, missing equipment elements are a reason to speak to the seller about them.
For private individuals, this could be due to sheer clumsiness or a misunderstanding of the technical terms. However, dealers should know what full equipment really means for a model.
By the way, you should carefully check the existing equipment. Press all the existing switches, one after the other. The associated features should respond perfectly.
When inspecting the interior of the car, also pay attention to whether there is any evidence of moisture in the car. In unfavorable cases, a musty smell or moisture on the dashboard or carpets is a warning signal: either there are leaks and water gets into the interior during heavy rain, or the heating heat exchanger is defective. In both cases, you would face a costly repair.
During a test drive, you can get an even better idea of the condition of the car.
The most important thing about the test drive
Unfortunately, a visually perfect condition is no guarantee that a used car will drive the same way. During a test drive, you will therefore gain a much better impression of the overall condition.
To do this, you should choose an appropriate route: You want to test the potential new car properly, i.e., check its behavior on curves and when accelerating. The “test track” should give you the opportunity to do this.
While driving, you can work through a long list of possible abnormalities:
When starting, all indicator lights should light up and go off again after a few seconds. By the way, if the car has already warmed up, this may be an attempt to hide engine problems during a cold start.A clicking noise when starting the engine (even if it disappears after a short time) indicates that the oil level is too low.
If you accelerate while stationary, only a thin layer of steam should escape from the exhaust. Strong white or blue clouds are a warning signal (exception: engine and outside temperatures are very low; in such cases, the strong formation of steam at the beginning is normal).
Pay attention to whether the clutch is slipping or whether the transmission is having difficulty shifting.The vehicle must not jerk in any speed range.
Vibrations or other noises are not a good sign at any speed. The best way to hear whether the drive trains are still in working order is to drive slowly back and forth while parking.Not to forget: a test of the brakes. You should also brake at higher speeds to check functionality. But do not endanger the following traffic in any way.
If the car survives all these tests, that is a very good sign. For your ultimate peace of mind, you can request a used car inspection by another inspection agency.
In this way, you can completely rule out easily overlooked defects, and you can tell from the seller’s reaction whether there is something wrong with the vehicle.
When buying a used car, don’t forget: As much as the eye plays a role, in the end, it’s your gut feeling and the inner values of the car that have to be convincing.
If this is not the case and you are unsure despite an extensive inspection and test drive, it is better not to buy. Because you are guaranteed to find good-used ones elsewhere.
