If you cannot afford a new car, the alternative is to buy a used one. Used cars can be very good, or very bad, or somewhere in between. It is important to choose a car within your price range, but the main purchasing decision should be the condition of the car. A cheap car in terrible condition will cost you more money in the long run.

Where To Buy

Used cars can be purchased from a dealer, from used car lots, or through private deals.

Usually a well established dealer is the best choice. Many used car lots are very reputable, however, as long as they are well established in the community and have acquired a good reputation for fair prices, a good warranty, good service, and good quality cars. Private deals may save you some money, but usually no warranty is given, which means that you are definitely taking a chance. A private deal between two citizens may also encounter such difficulties as financial liens, stolen cars, and mechanical problems. Any one of these circumstances could cause undue worry and expense.

What to Look For

When buying a used car, it is a great asset to have a good knowledge of automotive mechanics. Even if you do not, however, there are certain pointers which are always helpful to keep in mind.

First of all, don't put too much faith in the indicated number of miles that the car has travelled. Sometimes an adjustment of the odometer reading is made by the vendor, to indicate fewer miles than the car has actually been driven. A car two or three years old may have seventy or eighty thousand miles on it, yet only indicate twenty or thirty thousand.

Do not be misled by a sharp looking car. It may be worn our mechanically. It is nice to have a car that looks good, but don't let that be the sole deciding factor.

When you have shopped around and found a car that is the proper size, is properly equipped, and looks dependable, ask the salesman for the name of the person who owned the car previously. Contact that person if possible, and get the history of the car. Is the mileage on the odometer correct? Has it been in a collision, and if so, how badly was it damaged? What trouble has he or she had with it? Why did he sell it? Most people will be honest with you.

If you cannot find the previous owner, then you must use other means of deciding whether or not to buy the car. If you are not familiar with automobiles, it is a good idea to have the car checked by a competent certified mechanic, or else take it to a mechanic for inspection. This could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in future repairs.

By all means road test the car before you purchase it, and look at some of the tell tale facts about the car. Is the body in good condition, with no dents, rust, or other significant damage? How does the car steer in the city and on the highway? Do the brakes operate evenly and stop efficiently? Are the body and chassis tight, or do they rattle? Look at the instrumentation panel for indication of a malfunction. How does the engine operate? Is it smooth and quiet, or does it make noises or run unevenly at different speeds and under different load conditions? Does it start easily? Is the exhaust system quiet and are there any odors of oil, gas, or exhaust fumes when it is cold or hot? Look at the chassis and the underneath parts of the car. Observe oil leaks at the engine, transmission, and differential. Check the exhaust visually for any signs of weakness. Check the springs and shocks for breakage or looseness, and the suspension parts for wear or damage. Look at the tires for good tread and even wear, and don't forget the spare and the jack. Uneven tire wear indicates suspension and steering conditions which are expensive to repair.

Check the safety items such as the inside and outside mirrors. Make sure there is no broken or cracked glass. Check the seat belts and seat belt anchor bolts in the floor - the anchor bolts may be rusted. Check the seat adjuster, the automatic locks and the door hinges.

Car dealers spend four or five hours cleaning a car to make it look good, and to cover up any obvious signs that it was poorly cared for. If the engine looks clean on top, look at the bottom - they do not wash the bottom of the motor.

After you have had the car inspected, if you think the price is fair, ask the dealer to make any repairs that you feel are needed as a condition for your purchase. If he refuses to make the repairs - neither should you. If this happens, look somewhere else for another car.