When you buy a used car, you have many options but it can be confusing sometimes. You have to know that finding good used cars in selma has nothing to do with luck. It has everything to do with an inspection. Knowing what to look for in a used car can ultimately help you save expensive repairs down the road.
The first thing to inspect is the exterior. When dealing with the car’s exterior, you are checking for the aesthetic appeal of it. You can consider body form, glass, lights, lenses, tires, and exhaust system. While you want an aesthetic appeal, it is not everything. You need to delve deeper.
It is time to check the car’s interior. Interior is critical since this is where you are going to spend most of your time. You should inspect the following things when you consider a car’s interior:
- Smell: as soon as you open the door, check the odor of the car. You need to determine if it has mildew or moldy smell. If there is, it is possible that there is water leakage.
- Seats: you need to ensure that the seats are comfortable. Start by checking for badly worn upholstery. Aside from that, you should also try out the seatbelts and the adjustments.
- Pedals: you will know if the car has not been driven a lot – it will not show wear and tear on the brakes. If you see that the rubber is worn out, there is a big possibility that the car has been used up a lot.
- Controls: do not neglect to check the control buttons and determine if all buttons are working properly. Essentially, you have to turn the ignition switch (without starting the engine) to see if the warning lights appear for a few seconds. Do not forget to try all the levers and switches.
- Sound system: it is important that you consider the sound system because it will serve as your entertainment while on the road. Start by turning it on and listen to the radio’s reception. You also need to check the CD, MP3, and iPod players. Do not forget to test the car’s Bluetooth and other connectivity.
- Roof: when you check the roof, make sure that it doesn’t show any signs of wet stains. Wet stains mean water leaks, which indicate a hole, somewhere.
- Trunks: the trunk should be free from musty odors.
Aside from these, you should also take note of the engine fluids and radiator. Engine fluids include engine oil and transmission fluid. Engine oil needs to be black or brown without residue or small particles. If you see honey-colored ones, it means that the oil has been changed recently. With the transmission fluid, it should have a pinkish color. The radiator should not show greenish stains because it can indicate possible leaks.
After the inspection, it is crucial not to close the deal yet. You need to take it out for a spin. In other words, you should test-drive the vehicle to see how it performs on the road. While you are at it, listen for clanking and groaning sounds. These sounds are big indicators of a larger problem down the road.
