Looking for a Used Car in Austin, Lakeway, Round Rock and Cedar Park and Surrounding Areas ?
These Six Tips Can Help
Does the idea of shopping for a used car make you cringe? You're not alone; even among the most experienced auto buffs used car shopping stirs mixed emotions, from anxiety to gusto. Although many shoppers fear ending up with a "lemon," they still enjoy the anticipation of landing the perfect car, truck, or at a fair price.
Be prepared To make sure you get the car looked over by a mechanic before making an offer.
The Car Care Council suggests the following tips for consumers who are eyeing the used car market.
Austin Money Savers Tip If the car you are purchaing is a 1996 or later, it has OBD II (On Board Diagnostics) Don't pay for a "pre purchased diagnostic check," just make sure the light works when the key is first turned on.
Mind over matter – Finding the right vehicle can be an emotional decision. We tend to fall in love with our cars, a relationship which can become "love-hate" when the used car becomes some-what of a clunker. For this reason it’s important not to let your heart override your common sense. Shop with another person to ensure that a second opinion is close at hand.
Clean out your comb – Used cars are just that…USED. The new car warranty is either gone or waning, so make sure all guarantees are in writing. Go over this paperwork with the proverbial fine tooth comb.
High mileage/high value– Don’t be frightened off by high mileage. Shoppers who traditionally have ruled out older cars with high mileage now are discovering these can be excellent buys. The median age of a vehicle now exceeds 8 years, an increase of 50% during the past decade. Vehicles are more durable, and we’re putting more miles on them. "People are keeping their vehicles longer," confirms R.B. Grisham, Executive Vice President, National Independent Automobile Dealers Association. "Add to this the higher price of new cars and you can see why the used car market is overtaking the new." A high mileage vehicle (100,000+ miles) may be relatively trouble free for years, says the Council. If they’ve had proper care, major components, including the engine and transmission may be good for many more miles.
Don’t skip "history class" – A big factor, of course, is the vehicle’s service history. Beware of the private seller who boasts, "I never had had to do a thing to it." It could be an accident or a breakdown waiting to happen. Sooner or later lack of maintenance will catch up…sometimes with the new owner.
Play the Price Is Right— At your bank, library or auto parts store you can borrow or buy an appraisal guide. These books, published by National Auto Dealers Association, Kelly’s Blue Book, Edmonds and others, help determine if the seller’s asking price is in the right range. This information also is available on the Internet.
A checkup before a check – Used car shoppers should invest in a thorough inspection of any used vehicle. Due to the complex systems in today’s vehicles, analysis of these sophisticated systems demand more than a trained eye, they also require specialized equipment for total evaluation.
Did you know? You can take the car you are interested in past any Austin Auto Zone store. They will plug a meter into your dashboard which will indicate if there are any problem with the electrical system. And it's FREE!
"It’s not that the buyer should ‘borrow trouble’ or look for an Achilles Heel to use against the asking price," explained Donna Wagner, Vice President of the Car Care Council. "But he/she should do everything possible to avoid buying a bomb. A valuable ally in this procedure is a well trained and equipped technician."
What do you think?Our goal is to get more and better information out to Austin residents everyday. We can't improve without your help....Please let us know what you like, dislike and what we could be doing better. Email at feedback@austinsmartconsumer.com
Be prepared To make sure you get the car looked over by a mechanic before making an offer.
Austin Money Savers Tip If the car you are purchaing is a 1996 or later, it has OBD II (On Board Diagnostics) Don't pay for a "pre purchased diagnostic check," just make sure the light works when the key is first turned on. 
Did you know? You can take the car you are interested in past any Austin Auto Zone store. They will plug a meter into your dashboard which will indicate if there are any problem with the electrical system. And it's FREE!