The 10 Commandments of Used Vehicle Shopping

[Optimistic Paranoid]

The 10 Commandments of Used Vehicle Shopping

1: Never buy someone else’s junk, regardless of the price.
2: If it looks bad at first glance, it probably is.
3: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
4: If they haven’t taken care of the minor details, they probably haven’t taken care of the major ones either.
5: If it’s dirty now, it’s probably always been dirty.
6: If you think the seller isn’t being totally forthcoming, he’s probably not.
7: If you see several rough home-made repairs, RUN AWAY!
8: Always have a thorough inspection done by a competent mechanic.
9: Always take the vehicle for a test drive.
10: Money talks. Bring some.


Regards
John

 

[cyndi]

Those are a good beginning... There are a few things I would do before I spent the money on a mechanic.

 

[RogueRV2]

#11 No one sells a good horse.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

#11 No one sells a good horse.

Not necessarily true.

IGBT has a thread over in the truck sub-forum right now. He has to let what sounds like a really nice Toyota truck go simply because he can't take it with him.

For the last couple of decades, I've bought nothing but ex-government vehicles at auction. I've had uniformly good luck with all of them. Apparently, it's policy to replace them after a number of years regardless of how well they are still running.

Regards
John

 

[RogueRV2]

Perhaps I'm too cynical, because I know I've sold several good used vehicles at reasonable prices to a fortunate buyers. The last one I sold I tried to buy it back twice, but the price was each time higher, and I could not afford it! I should add a twelfth commandment:

#12 Only an idiot sells a good horse.

Folks should be very careful. Carp Denim...buyer beware. There are so many out there who flip cars, and they are not honest. Shop by mileage first. Consider the total cost of ownership, not simply the price or fuel economy. A high mileage econo box can cost more to own and operate than a low mileage gas guzzler. Garages an charge upwards of $100/hour!!! Especially if one does not commute, a low mileage gas guzzler can be more economical because it cost to repairs, and because of its lower purchase price.