Buying a used automobile can be risky business if you
don’t know what to look for. There are a lot of people
out there eager to sell unsuspecting buyers cars in
poor condition that have been shined up to look like
quality automobiles. Here are a few tips on what to
look for when purchasing a used car to avoid getting
stuck with a bad investment.
Check for body damage. Sellers will often claim a
car has never been wrecked when it actually has. A
previously wrecked car can have serious problems
down the road so spotting the signs of collision repair
before you buy can save a lot of money and headaches
later. First, inspect the gaps between the doors and
fenders, trunk and quarter panels, etc.
Check to see that all these gaps are uniform in size
all the way around. Differences in gap size can be an
indicator of collision repair and frame damage.
Second, use your knuckle to tap around all the body
panels. Listen for a difference in sound as you knock
on the metal. If synthetic body filler materials have
been used to repair collision damage you will hear a
significant change in the knocking sound. Third, open
the doors, hood and trunk. With them open check the
hinge mounts and brackets for tool scuffs and
different color paint on and around the bolt heads and
mounting brackets. Also check around the bolts where
the front and rear fenders mount to the chassis to
see if there are tool scuffs or different colors of
paint. All these are signs of previous damage repair.
Engine
Check for leaks. Many used vehicles have chronic
fluid leaks that the seller may try to hide as best
they can. There are a few quick and simple ways to
check for fluid leaks without extensively inspecting
the entire drive-train. First, check the heat pad on
the underside of the hood for splatter stains. This
can be a dead giveaway that the car has been leaking
coolant or oil while the engine is running. Second,
visually inspect the engine for extensive buildup of a
clumpy dirt-like substance. These deposits are a
combination of dirt, grease and various engine fluids.
They occur when fluids leak out and attract dust, dirt
and road grime causing a clumpy buildup around the
leak. Last, when test driving the vehicle park the car
for several minutes both with the engine running and
turned off. After allowing it to sit, move the car and
check the pavement where it was parked for any fluid
drip spots. If a car has a leak it will usually show on
the pavement where it has been parked.
Check for interior damage. Interior damage and
wear spots can tell you a lot about what a car has
been through and how well it was cared for by the
previous owner, so pay close attention to the inside
of the car you’re interested in. First, ask the seller
to remove the sill plate that holds the carpet down
along one of the door openings. This is a simple
procedure, often the panel just pops off or is
secured by a few screws. Once the sill plate is
removed check under the edge of the carpet for
excessive dirt or sand buildup. This is a sign that the
car has sustained flood damage of some sort. If so, do
not purchase the car. Flooding causes damage that is
far more extensive than what you can see on the
surface. Also beware of carpet that has been glued
down. This usually is not the original carpet and
signifies that something has happened to the car.
Second, check the area under the pedals. The degree
of wear in this area will give you an accurate idea of
how much the car was really driven. The condition of
the interior door handles and the sturdiness of the
gear shift lever can help in this assessment as well.
Third, inspect various surfaces is the car such as the
seats and radio controls. Discoloration and surface
wear on the radio controls indicates excessive use
and neglect of maintenance and cleaning. The seats,
especially leather, can be a great indicator of how
well the car has been taken care of. If the
upholstery is faded, hard and cracking it is a good
possibility the previous owner neglected to regularly
clean and maintain the vehicle.
Verify the history of the car. Sellers often
deceive potential buyers when it comes to the cars
mileage and overall history. A company call CarFax
offers an excellent way to verify these things. A
report from CarFax can provide actual mileage of a
vehicle as well as the recorded maintenance history
and title information. This will let you know if the
car was ever a salvage title automobile or theft
recovery. It also prevents the seller from rolling
back the odometer. I highly recommend getting one of
these reports on any used vehicle you are interested
in buying.
Hopefully this information will help you with your
next used car purchase. Use these tips and if
possible take a certified mechanic along to help check
out your the vehicle and you can avoid getting stuck
with a lemon.
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Nice one.

Very good tips.

nice tips, thanks.

Bros,
ANy idea on ford escape (2003 - 2005 edition) generally you can give us?
Price, Maintenance, Fuel consuption, reliability etc.