Buying A Used Car
Mercedes Porsche Mechanic | Midtown Auto Repair | Services | Sacramento
P. 916.382.7700
At Midtown Autoworks one of the services that we offer our customers is helping them buy a used car. We do pre-purchase inspections and can answer any questions that you may have before making the decision to invest in a used car. However, if you are looking to do some pre-purchase research for yourself, here are a few simple things that you can do.
Vehicle History: This is pretty basic. Gather as much information as you can on the car. Run the vehicle identification number. You will see if it has been in an accident. You will see if there are any liens on it. You will see if there were any recalls on the model. This is basic information that is easy to get on your own.
Mileage and Interior Electronics: Check if the car has high or low mileage by dividing the number on the odometer by the vehicles age. To give you a sense, average cars run about 12,000 miles a year. If the car has high mileage, it is more than likely that it has more wear and tear on its mechanical components. Also, take a seat in the car and play around with the radio, air conditioning, seat controls, and other controls in the cockpit. See if the car overheats or has any kind of faults when you are pressing all of the buttons. Play with it before taking it on a drive and you will learn a lot about the condition of the car.
Check under the hood and Test Drive: Pop the hood and check for any leaks, cracked hoses, or belts. If there is any rust or significant damage to any car part under the hood, mention it to the owner or bring it in to our team here at Midtown Autoworks so we can take a look at it. Lastly, one of the most important thing that you should do is test drive the car. Make sure it runs well. Make sure you like it. Make sure you can maneuver, accelerate, and brake safely. Park it, reverse it, speed it up, and slow it down. Buy a car that you love driving. Test drive the car and make sure you love it before pulling the trigger.
Do your own research, test it out, and consult with us before you buy your new used car. For more information on purchasing used cars, contact us here at Midtown Autoworks.