Purchasing a used car comes with
risks, but all of those can be mitigated with sound inspection and
identifying right away the defects you can live with and send out for
repair. The risk of ending up with a so-called “lemon” happens
when the buyer wasn’t able to spot hidden defects in the vehicle,
and is then compelled to spend massive cash for repairs. Here are
some tips in spotting a lemon.
Check the reliability record –
Models with a good
reliability record
should always be on the top of any used car buyer’s list. Sites
like Consumer Reports have an annual subscriber survey which details
real-world reliability information of a specific car model in
scrutiny.
Identify flood damage – Once
a car has been submerged in floodwater, it is bound to experience
further performance issues in the long run. One way to identify flood
damage is by inspecting electrical connections for corrosion, or
moldy upholstery. A funky cabin smell is also a tell-tale sign, as
well as silt underneath the carpets.
Test-drive it on the freeway –
Driving a used car
fast is often the best way to listen for rattles, as well as identify
unwanted gaps between doors and frames. However, buyers should always
remember to drive fast in a safe way, or the car won’t be the only
wreck at the end of the day.