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Buying A Used Car
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Written by Charles N. Oliphant   
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Late-model used cars may be the best automotive value, a fact that propelled used-car sales well ahead of new-car sales last year. The reason: Someone else pays for the heaviest depreciation.

When you buy a used car, reliability should be the main consideration -and that's where our readers can help you. In our 1997 Annual Questionnaire, more than 575,000 readers told us about their experiences with some 222 models of cars and light trucks going back as far as eight years. From that, we developed the lists and tables in the report "Using Our Information. Used Cars" that detail our reliability findings.

Where to buy. New-car dealers still sell the most used cars. There, you'll generally find the best-quality cars, as well as the facilities to service them. But expect new-car dealers to charge the highest prices.

"Factory certified" used cars are increasingly popular. They're generally high-line models such as Infinitis, Lexuses, and Volvos, often coming off a lease. They're supposed to be chosen carefully by select new-car dealers and put through a long factory checklist to ensure top-notch condition. And they generally come with a one-year factory warranty. You may consider that worth the often-stiff price premium.

Used-car dealers are usually a notch down in price. Among them, the trend is toward huge new superstores run by large national companies. In cities such as Dallas, Los Angeles, and Jacksonville, Fla., superstores are reshaping the used-car market. Chains such as AutoNation and CarMax feature huge lots filled with clean late-model cars with fixed, no-haggle prices. The entire stock is computerized, so you needn't trudge all across the lot. The salesperson can ask you about the type of vehicle you're interested in and call up specific models in the office on a computer screen.

Superstores tend to price competitively, but their prices aren't necessarily super-low. You might consider shopping there, collecting their prices, and then comparison-shopping elsewhere.

Private owners are another source of used cars. Prices may be the lowest, but you won't have much recourse if the car isn't as represented. Although a new-car or used-car dealer usually provides a brief, limited warranty on a used car, a private seller generally doesn't. Even if you buy from a friend or neighbor you trust, the seller may not be aware of an impending mechanical problem. A deal that goes sour could damage a friendship.

Wherever you shop, ask whether the car is still covered under the factory warranty. If so, you'll have additional peace of mind.

If you buy a used car from a new-car dealer who sells the same make, have the car's vehicle identification number (VIN) run though the dealer's computer and make a print-out of any warranty repairs that have been completed. The dealer should also make sure that any repairs required by federal recalls have been performed.

The overall condition of the car should jibe with the car's odometer. On a car with low indicated mileage, excessive wear on the brake and accelerator pedals - or brand-new pedal pads - could indicate that the car's odometer has been rolled back. So could a new set of tires, or more than one brand of tires, on a car with fewer than 25,000 miles. Other signs of high mileage may include a well-worn ignition key, a worn or sagging driver's seat, frayed carpeting, or a windshield that has been noticeably scored by the wiper blades.

If you're in doubt, ask the dealer to get a title report on the car. Carfax, a Fairfax, Va., company that checks car titles for dealers, told us that 1 in 10 used cars it processes has a title problem. Problems include odometers that have been turned back illegally, salvaged cars that have been patched up and returned to the road, returns under a lemon-law program, and cars damaged by flood.

When you find a used car you like, take it to a mechanic you trust for a thorough inspection. It's worth the $60 to $100 you'll spend to avoid getting stuck with a clunker. Deduct the cost of repairing any faults that are discovered from the offer, unless the seller agrees to make the repairs before you buy the car.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 February 2009 )