Need Help: Good questions to ask when buying a cheap used car?

[futurefields]

What are some good questions to ask?




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Anandtech Administrator
KeithTalent

 

[highland145]

Is it stolen.

 

[cabri]

Can I take it to be checked out by a mechanic

 

[PottedMeat]

Is it stolen.

'can i have it back?'

 

[highland145]

'can i have it back?'

:biggrin:

 

[futurefields]

Can I take it to be checked out by a mechanic

As in take it to a mechanic before buying?

 

[futurefields]

Anything I need to know about the title?

 

[cabri]

As in take it to a mechanic before buying?

Yes

Also, ensure that there is a clear title in hand

 

[futurefields]

Any way for me to spot a clean title from a not so clean one?

 

[dank69]

If you want serious answers try the garage.

 

[pete6032]

Any way for me to spot a clean title from a not so clean one?

A clean title will not have any coffee stains, stray pen marks, folded corners, or excess stapler marks on it.

 

[cabri]

Any way for me to spot a clean title from a not so clean one?

1) Does not have any indication of a lien on the vehicle.
2) On the back, there usually are areas where if the vehicle has been sold, the seller and buyer name are listed. Make sure that the person you are buying it from is the last on on the list.
3) Make sure the VIN is the same.
4) If suspicious, contact the local PD and ask them to run a VIN check

 

[NoTine42]

Carfax catches some/many but not all problems

It seems some fraudsters know a buddy in a different state that can magically re-issue a clean title.

Carfax + competent mechanic that can look for warning signs is about all you can do.

 

[AgentUnknown]

Carfax doesn't catch everything. Prepurchase inspection is best. Worth the 50 100 bucks to know.

 

[LevelSea]

"Have you ever seen a grown man naked?"

 

[Phanuel]

What are some good questions to ask?




Moved from OT.

Anandtech Administrator
KeithTalent

https://soundcloud.com/stevelehto

Listen to Ep. 25, then go and listen to ep. 29, ep. 3, and ep. 19.

25 and 29 are the big ones.

 

[pauldun170]

What are some good questions to ask?

Assuming your budget is extremely limited and you are looking at the bottom of the used car market.

No question is really going to help you other than
"Does it have a clear title"
"Is it currently inspected and can it be driven on public road"
"Can we meet at my mechanic to check it out?"

 

[thedarkwolf]

It has been a while since I've owned a car with a rebuilt title but it had rebuilt printed on it somewhere so it was pretty obvious.

 

[Torn Mind]

Not questions to ask, but rather things to do:

Bring your own multimeter. This is for alternator and battery testing.
Check the dipstick. Those cars without a dipstick, well...hmm.
Have jumper cables/portable jump device.

 

[Phanuel]

He bought a 98 Passat apparently...

 

[nerp]

Run your own title check and make sure the odometer shows steady increase in mileage and the ownership history isn't ridiculous.

 

[pauldun170]

He bought a 98 Passat apparently...

98 Passat for $1400?

I guess we should be expecting a lot more garage posts from him in the future.
Wonder what engine it has in it?

 

[FeuerFrei]

- Ask if it's been driven today. If "no" ask him to start it up for you. Ogle the tailpipe as he does. Note any blue smoke.

- Ask him to recite all work he can remember doing on it.

 

[Phanuel]

98 Passat for $1400?

I guess we should be expecting a lot more garage posts from him in the future.
Wonder what engine it has in it?

He hasn't responded in a day, I think the car has taken him.