6 Quick Car Buying Tips

Buying a new vehicle is an important decision and you want to make sure you're getting the right one. Here are some simple tips that anyone can use, even when purchasing used cars without having to have a whole lot of mechanical knowledge.

1. Check the tires for excessive or uneven wear which would be sign of costly and dangerous front end problems.

2. Check under the oil cap to see if there is a milky colored oil sludge, which could be an indication of water in the crank case. A very alight crack in the head could produce this, which would leave the vehicle driveable. However the condition can worsen and is definitely a costly repair, even if it is a partially blown head gasket.

3. In a parking lot turn the wheels all the way to the left or right and drive forward in a circular pattern and in reverse. Take a reliable friend that can help by listening for any noises on the passenger side as well during this procedure. Many modern vehicles and four wheel drives are equipped with transaxles and CVC joints, of which a clicking noise is an obvious indication of needed repair for these components.

4. Put a white cloth over the tailpipe. If it gets black quickly, it could indicate a major engine problem such as worn rings or other engine parts.

5. Look for signs of collision repair work by checking if any body panels don't match correctly and also if there is paint overspray or areas of color that don't match. Areas to look for are under the hood, trunk lid, inner fenders and door jams. Also, if possible, look under the vehicle at the undercarriage for frame damage or repair work, which will greatly reduce the value. Not to mention if the frame has been weakened it could be a major safety issue. Look for paint overspray on chrome and windows. These signs could indicate undisclosed accident repairs.

6. If so equipped, make sure the airbag and ABS lights go on when the ignition key is initially activated - these should not stay on during driving. This could indicate a potential costly problem in those areas.

These are 6 easy tips to assist you when purchasing used cars. However this is not a complete list by any means, and we recommend that you brush up on your car knowledge by surfing the web and gleaning useful information from forums, blogs and news sites.