The least expensive route to vehicle ownership is, other than car jacking an old lady, to buy a used vehicle. This can often be a trap, though, because you don't know how well the vehicle was cared for by previous owners. Even the respected Honda and Toyota vehicles of the eighties and nineties could turn out to be lemons (small ones), especially since so many people think that such cars are indestructible and rarely maintain the vehicle (often driving the car like it's stolen, yes, from an old lady). There are a few basic rules that I have for purchasing a used car, which, when followed, generally produce great results.
Get plenty of rest before getting ready to deal.
Clear your schedule and otherwise minimize distractions on deal day.
Be ready to walk away from any deal that you're not reasonably sure about.
I created this used vehicle check list over the years, having purchased over 37 vehicles (mostly used) and having dealt with repairs and problems galore along the way.
Buy a popular vehicle. Vehicles that were produced in large numbers offer several advantages:
Parts are easier to find when needed and are less expensive.
More mechanics will be familiar to common problems with common vehicles.
More aftermarket parts will be available.
Popular cars will often be easier to find, buy and sell.
Go see the car while the DMV is open. You can call the DMV and ask them to verify that all paperwork is correct and the title is issued to the person claiming to hold it. You can't ask the DMV to tell you who owns the vessel, so choose your question carefully and ask something like: I am about to buy vehicle, lic#xxxxxx.....I want to make sure that it is registered to seller's name here and that there are no fees owed or actions placed against the vehicle.
Take your time. Rushing into a vehicle purchase can often lead to problems. I have noticed that I don't see many of the smaller defects of the vehicle until after I bought it or until I have seen it a few times. The entire experience of buying a vehicle can overload your senses and cause you to miss important details. Some details might make or break the deal and others just give you negotiating room.
Set aside some of the money you've raised for... There is no magical formula that can guarantee you get the best car. Even after you've memorized this checklist and double checked everything, you might find soon after buying the vehicle that it needs something (whether the seller knew or not). Even brand new vehicles have part failures, so always be prepared.
Make sure the seller is not rushed. A rushed seller can be a sign that something's amiss or that he's legitimately in a hurry; NOT your problem. If the seller can't meet your terms reasonably, then find another seller.
Perform the following checks on the vehicle:
If the vehicle works and is registered for street use-
--Start the vehicle immediately upon your arrival and have it idle while you check other items, let the vehicle warm up to normal operating temperature. If the seller tries not to let you perform this check, explain that it's a deal breaker and if you can't inspect the car, you don't want it.
--Before the test drive, go to each corner of the vehicle and push on the bumper with all of your weight and let go, the vehicle should quickly settle and should not appear bouncy (an indication of worn suspension parts).
--While near each corner grab each wheel firmly at the top and shake it like you want to break it (you won't), look, listen and feel for any play, noises (clunking) and finally spin each wheel to verify that it spins freely.
--Also while at each wheel, look at the rotors (if equipped and if visible with wheel on) and make sure they have a smooth shiny surface. You should have a flashlight with you in case anything is hard to see without one.
--Look under the vehicle for oil or other fluids and try to identify the fluid and source. You will perform this check again after driving the vehicle.
--Inspect the exhaust pipe, making sure that there isn't a thick black film or any other film and that you can't see any smoke (regardless of color).
--Open the engine compartment and look for loose wires, cracked hoses or anything that makes the car look like it was worked on by an amateur (some would say tweaker). Also not parts that appear newer than others (the seller will likely point them out if he/she replaced the item).
--Check the oil. Dirty oil means that the oil is working. Oil that looks super clean could mean that an oil change was recently done. Oil that looks like a milk shake usually means that the engine is in need of repairs (head gasket, not cheap).
--Check other fluids just to make sure that they are all full.
--Inspect belts and hoses for cracks and frays.
--Have someone get in the vehicle and operate the lights, on at a time, to verify that they all work.
Drive the vehicle. Take the vehicle on a drive that enables you to drive at a variety of speeds. Pay attention to how the vehicle shifts as you accelerate. Turn on anything that you can to verify that it works, especially the heater and A/C. Make sure to drive the car a bit hard, steering, braking and accelerating harder than normal while paying attention for strange noises or other unwanted behaviors. Keep glancing at the instrument cluster, making sure that the temperature gauge stays stable (once up to full operating temperature) and make sure that the service engine soon light or other indicators of faults don't appear.
After driving the vehicle. Check the oil again, quickly and make sure that the oil looks similar to when you checked it first (if the first time proved the oil good) and remember that dirty oil is not bad. Too much, not enough or foaming oil can all be bad. Also smell the oil, if it smells like gasoline, the car probably needs a repair. You may want to look at and smell the oil of vehicles that are know to be in good condition before going on your hunt.
Know what constitutes a deal breaker. Only you know your situation and will have to decide what things you are willing to deal with. I, for example, typically want a vehicle that doesn't need any major repairs (any problems engine or transmission related, deal breaker). If you don't know how costly or difficult something is to repair, call a mechanic and ask for a quote, even while you're checking out the car. My car needs a...about how much do you charge to fix...
Be prepared to walk away for any reason. If anything seems odd or if you are unsure of anything, just walk away; there are plenty of other cars out there and better deals to be made.
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