| Buying used cars |
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| Wednesday, 18 March 2009 08:14 |
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You know how it is. Your old car has just about given up the ghost and you can’t afford a new one right now. In case you do, here’s some sage advice to follow while you’re shopping for a replacement. 1. Check the pedals for wear. If the foot pedal is worn, the car has done its’ a sign of city driving. 2. look for fresh paint jobs or different colours of paint in the body panels. These can indicate a body in bad repair that’s been patched up. 3. Check the odometer reading. Numbers that don’t line up could indicate that the odometer has been turned back. Remember, though, that high mileage isn’t always bad if the car is in good shape. 4. Look for fatigue and cobbling on the wiring inside the hood. Also, check the hoses to see if they are cracked or weathered. These could indicate a car that’s been through the mill and is a bad deal. 5. Look for oil leaks on the ground and in the engine compartment. These are signs of motor trouble. 6. Check if the exhaust is brittle or rusty. It will have turned black where it’s leaking. 7. Look for baldness and cracks or weather checking on the tyres between the treads between the treads on the face and sides. Tyres that are worn on one side indicate bad alignment. 8. The doors should line up when you open and close them. Look for wearing on the rubber around the doors. Check the window can indicate poor maintenance by previous owners. 9. Get the VIN (vehicle identification Number) and do some research with the JPJ where you can check prices, do title searches and get vehicle histories. 10. Find a trusty mechanic or mechanically –inclined person to bring shopping with you for that new set of wheels. |