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Used cars | used car search

This page covers buying used cars with some unique information and tools. Learn about the art of car buying from a mechanic that specialized in vehicle evaluation. Don't miss the more in depth articles below. Take full advantage of my experience on this subject and the tools available on this page.

Let's start off by paying as little as possible, so we have breathing room just in case needed auto repairs are uncovered after the purchase. Next the car search should be based on model verses price. You want to find popular cars that sell themselves like the Lexus sc400 with lots of options at a fair price.

Owning a loaded popular model is like money in the bank (it will always be worth something). To get free book values visit the Nada website (opens in a new window). After the page loads click on used cars center! This takes you to the book values section. I find Nada to be accurate and they allow unlimited searches for Vehicle book values

A newer resource I use is a twist on old fashioned vehicle history reports. Do you recognize the name Experian? They have been providing automobile history reports to Dealers and large Firms for years.

They have a web based service for the public. This is a history report similar to other popular providers but with a twist. With your full report on where the car came from and what has happened to it during its life you also get a quality score. Experian are experts at evaluation and scoring. They also have a free search function that provides some insight on reported damage so you can try it out. Just plug in the VIN and get free details about past registration. If it was titled in New Orleans you may want to dig deeper or just pass altogether.

Used cars buyer beware!

The used automobile inspection is the most important step in the whole process (my opinion). If you get a great looking car at a low price it might be because hidden problems exist in an expensive mechanical system.

Checking the vehicle yourself or having a professional mechanic or shop check the vehicle is important. Most dealers will take the vehicle to the shop of your choice for a complete inspection.

If they do not want to cooperate on this they maybe hiding something or know the vehicle will not pass an inspection. Most shops will get around $200.00 for a complete inspection. This is still money well spent but I have a cheaper alternative that may be right for some people.

How about a Haynes manual that provides a detailed list of things to check. Written by professionals that can describe in-depth how to do it right. Haynes created this "Do It Yourself" guide for inspecting used automobiles 10 years ago but this important stuff remains the same today.

This is comprehensive information that a lot of vehicle sellers would rather you didn't have. It's written for the capable Diy'er but good enough for even advanced mechanics to keep them on track! Bring it with you on your next used car search.

The book covers finding hidden rust, spotting crash damage, how to detect body filler and evaluating a cars general condition with a 10-minute walk-around. It even teaches you how to find common mechanical problems.

Finally a walk through on how to road-test the vehicle plus checklists to insure you get the most out of it. Why arm yourself with the knowledge and understanding of what to look for, listen to, and even smell when you are inspecting a car. In many cases you can use your findings as a bargaining tool to lower the price to cover all the needed repairs.

Learn before you get burned

By using the information in the Haynes book you can spot poor front-end alignments by inspecting the tread wear on the front tires and tell if an automatic transmission is worn out by the smell and color of the transmission fluid. Most vehicles are neglected and some are to the point of being damaged. Protect yourself with some kind of guide.

Another tool at your disposal is a professional evaluation in writing. It costs some money but the piece of mind could be well worth it? Get your used car inspected by Alliance Inspection Management, LLC.

Here is a story about what happened to me when I tried to buy a car from a new car dealers used inventory. It reminded me of just how scary it can be when your buying cars from dealers

I finally did buy a used Cadillac SRX from a dealer. This next story proves that even educated buyer can still have car buying problems

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You can shop for a car warranty online just like you would for any other kind of insurance. I provide a full report about these services at my page about the power and protection of a car warranty

I talked about Experian above but they now have a quick check available. On this next page you can plug in a vehicle identification number and see what is covered in the full report when you check vehicle history

Its no secret that telling stories of previously owned car purchases gone bad is one of my favorite topics. But what If I could help someone avoid the pain of purchase. Better known as buyers remorse. Well I'll try with my article on the do's and don't s of used car buying

A lot of people get excited about a new used car to the point they forget about all the options they have when it comes to buying used cars

After receiving a lot of questions and interest on the subject of aftermarket warranties I built a fresh page to address some of these issues. Find out what is not covered under a extended warranty

Learn about Edmunds.com and why you should consider their information valuable at my page about online car shopping

Remember you can never pay to little for an automobile. After the deal is done the value will continue to fall as the vehicle gets older. Plus you may find that something was missed during the inspection process. When in doubt check into a extended auto warranty.

Do you like buying used cars so much you've considered doing it full time? Here is some information on what it takes to get a dealer license.

Didn't find what you where looking for on this page? search all of my car websites and the net for your answers at the same time!

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Learn more about MasterTechMark and this automobile portal website on the homepage. This next link takes you from the used cars page and more answers to car questions.