Overhaulin' - What do you look for when you buy a used car?

What do you look for when you buy a used car?

Is low mileage better then the newness of the car? For instance is it better to buy a 1994 toyota with 85,000 miles or a 1999 toyota with 140 thousand miles? Does it really matter on a used car how many perks it has if the miles are very high. We will buy the car and probably drive it till its ready for the junk yard. People put things in their adds which talk about the Stereo, heated seats and all kinds of crap, but does that matter in the price of a car which has 160 thousand miles on it if the engine and transmission is 160 thousand miles old Help, I am new at this and need to buy a car for my son to get to college. I am surprised at the amount people are asking for cars in the sales adds such as $6000. for a car with 160,000 miles. Isnt that car pretty much getting ready to be in its last leg. I notice they stay in the paper for days because no one buys them.

Public Comments

price of it.
I use the http://www.edmunds.com website religiously when research for a used car. Check this out. In my opinion, I go for the car that always has less miles. The car's engine is like the human heart. I hope this helps.
don't buy a car with over 100,000 miles on it, it will soon start to fall apart piece by piece. The older, lower mileage car is fine, as long as it seems to be in good shape.
If you get a 4 door verses a 2 door it's cheaper. Ask them if the car is being sold as is becuase if it is beware.
If you're worried about the fairness in price, go to the library and check out the Kelly Blue Book on your car. It will tell you exactly how much to expect to pay on a car with a certain mileage and features. Also make sure you know how many owners the car has gone through, and do an accident report either online or through the car's records. Also know where the car came from; ex. Cars from an area close to ocean will have some degree of salt and humidity damage. Cars from cold climates will have damage from temperature change and from driving on salted roads. If any of these things come up, or you get a red flag in the back of your head from the person who's selling it to you, don't buy it.
I would recommend looking for a Honda or Toyota. I would probably prefer an older model with fewer miles, if we're talking about 85K vs 160K. If you do not have the knowledge to do so, you need to make sure and take the vehicle to a mechanic and have them put the car on a lift (and also drive it) and inspect for any major defects before you make the purchase. Do a carfax to check for title problem, accident history, etc. It's best if you can get a car where the previous owner has kept records of all receipts of repair work so you can know what has and hasn't been replaced because a car with 85K miles and up will inevitably need things replaced eventually and you should have an idea of what is going to need replaced and what that will cost you.
There are alot of things you should look at... CarFax would let you know if the vehicle has been in a wreck... Take it to you mechanic and have them look at it... If you are in Indiana or near let me know I can help you. I am a Used car manager here. I currently have a 1995 olds regency in excellent condition for 3999.00 a 1993 ciera for 2999.00 a 1996 deville for 7999.00 well those are the first few that come to mind. If you need any help e-mail me at shepherdsgmcenter@yahoo.com Thanks Guy
well the first thing you need to check for is leaks make sure there are no leaks under the vehicle oh and you might want to make sure it runs. listen for any funny noises while the engine is running like knocking or ticking or gushes of air. thoes are sighns of problems make sure the tires are good and there are no rusted brake lines gas lines or worn brakes. if your not sure dont buy it as for all the extras i guess it really doesn't matter i would not like to see too much extra stuff cause you never know what kind of dummy put it in