Whats stuff to look for when buying a older used car?

Taharqa

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Hello there coli brehs! I'm a college student and the car I have now is about to die and is too expensive to fix so its now time for a new one. I'm either going to get a accord or civic; still undecided. So when you guys go look at a used car, what you do inspect? I know about driving it checking if the trans shifts right, when done driving see if there is any dripping from down under so far. What is some other stuff I should check out?

Appreciate the advice in advance fellas.
 

Art Norm

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Make sure everything works. Lights, wipers, heat, AC, etc. Check the fluids. Check out the tires. Listen out for any strange noises. Test drive the car, and really drive it. Get it up to 55+ mph. Make sure there's no lights on the dash. Even if there is no lights on the dash, during the test drive try to swing by an auto parts store. They do obd2(1996 and up) diagnostic scans for free. People have been known to remove the check engine light bulb, or reset the code, which will give you an incomplete reading causing the car to fail inspection. Make sure the the car has a clean title. Unless you don't care.
 

Noriega

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Hello there coli brehs! I'm a college student and the car I have now is about to die and is too expensive to fix so its now time for a new one. I'm either going to get a accord or civic; still undecided. So when you guys go look at a used car, what you do inspect? I know about driving it checking if the trans shifts right, when done driving see if there is any dripping from down under so far. What is some other stuff I should check out?

Appreciate the advice in advance fellas.
Make sure everything works. Lights, wipers, heat, AC, etc. Check the fluids. Check out the tires. Listen out for any strange
Hello there coli brehs! I'm a college student and the car I have now is about to die and is too expensive to fix so its now time for a new one. I'm either going to get a accord or civic; still undecided. So when you guys go look at a used car, what you do inspect? I know about driving it checking if the trans shifts right, when done driving see if there is any dripping from down under so far. What is some other stuff I should check out?

Appreciate the advice in advance fellas.
Check oil cap in the engine bay, if it looks milky/sludge brown run far away

Check coolant, shoyld be a nice green or red color

Drive up to 50+ MPH and brake a few times..listen for any clunks or strange noises or brake pulsation

Accelerate rapidly a few times, car shouldn’t pull or anything to one side

Look under the car to make sure it’s not a shyt ton of rust and make sure the exhaust system is in good condition

Check the dates on the tires, shoyld say DOT0214 or something. If it’s older than 3-4 years old I’d get new tires

Don’t let an oil leak scare you unless it’s a lot, I’ve had my car for 1 year with an oil leak and it drives fine. Any older car is gonna leak oil eventually as the rubber seals and gaskets break down
 

newarkhiphop

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Hello there coli brehs! I'm a college student and the car I have now is about to die and is too expensive to fix so its now time for a new one. I'm either going to get a accord or civic; still undecided. So when you guys go look at a used car, what you do inspect? I know about driving it checking if the trans shifts right, when done driving see if there is any dripping from down under so far. What is some other stuff I should check out?

Appreciate the advice in advance fellas.


right after you get it and i mean the day of or the next day take it into a local shop and ask for a pre purchase or check up inspection. Shouldn't cost you more than $50, they will tell you if anything major is wrong.
 

L. Deezy

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Just get the car fax.

Things that cause the most scares u generally cant see, but look at the belts and hoses for wear.

Air condition and heating. People that buy cars in summer forget to check the heat and vice versa (buy in the winter and forget to check the air condition)
 

CanesMiamiLakers

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Just ask whoever your buying it from can you both go to a mechanic to check it out before you buy it if nothing is wrong with the car they won’t mind
 

Eastwoodjones

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Google the ymm and see what's up on the message boards there's a forum of enthusiasts for every car imaginable and there you'll learn what each car is good or bad for. When buying a used car don't waste your time trying to find the one that won't break, the question you have to ask is what am I willing to fix?
 

Soundbwoy

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Hello there coli brehs! I'm a college student and the car I have now is about to die and is too expensive to fix so its now time for a new one. I'm either going to get a accord or civic; still undecided. So when you guys go look at a used car, what you do inspect? I know about driving it checking if the trans shifts right, when done driving see if there is any dripping from down under so far. What is some other stuff I should check out?

Appreciate the advice in advance fellas.
Take it to a mechanic you know, I bought a car last week I had a car I wanted to buy the mechanic had 2 pages of issues with the car and while driving the car to the dealer the engine light came on:beli:
 

feelosofer

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Google the ymm and see what's up on the message boards there's a forum of enthusiasts for every car imaginable and there you'll learn what each car is good or bad for. When buying a used car don't waste your time trying to find the one that won't break, the question you have to ask is what am I willing to fix?

This is good advice as well.
 
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