Tom and Ray on used cars

wrote in article
>...
> That is one of Rodney Dangerfield's old used car jokes.
> cuhulin
>
>

Yes. but WTF did it have to do with the subject under discussion?

On Jun 20, 9:00*pm, RichD > wrote:
> I'm in the market for a used car, I note Tom and Ray offer a
> pamphlet,
> $4.75, "How to buy great used car.."
>
> Can I expect any 'secrets' which aren't available elsewhere? *Anyone
> recommend a good checklist for a used car inspection?
>
> --
> Rich

Secrets that are not available elsewhere in a little pamphlet for
$4.75? C'mon...let's be serious!! Tom and Ray I'm sure will offer
about the same stuff most other websites will.

If you are going to buy a car on your own you really need a fair
amount of technical experience. Or you should be willing to pay
someone for a pre-purchase inspection.

On Jun 23, "John S." > wrote:
> > I'm in the market for a used car, I note Tom and Ray offer a
> > pamphlet, $4.75, "How to buy great used car.."
>
> > Can I expect any 'secrets' which aren't available elsewhere? *Anyone
> > recommend a good checklist for a used car inspection?
>
> Secrets that are not available elsewhere in a little pamphlet for
> $4.75? *C'mon...let's be serious!! *Tom and Ray I'm sure will offer
> about the same stuff most other websites will.

That's what I figure. Some folks here
have been helpful.

> If you are going to buy a car on your own you really need a fair
> amount of technical experience. *Or you should be willing to pay
> someone for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should the inspection include?
What should I see on the report?


--
Rich

If it is a used car only a few years old, paying a good mechanic to
check out the car is a good idea.On the other hand, if it is an old
wreck like I drive, don't waste your money.
cuhulin

On Jun 20, 9:00*pm, RichD > wrote:
> I'm in the market for a used car, I note Tom and Ray offer a
> pamphlet,
> $4.75, "How to buy great used car.."
>
> Can I expect any 'secrets' which aren't available elsewhere? *Anyone
> recommend a good checklist for a used car inspection?
>
> --
> Rich

a few odds and ends to add on to any tips;

check the condition of the pedal pads. if they are worn inconsistently
more than the rest of the car looks, it's probably pretty worn but has
been spiffed up for sale. for whatever reason, people often forget to
replace the pads.

quick check for burning oil; coast down a longish hill with the engine
on and in gear but the throttle shut; floor it at the bottom. that'll
suck as much oil as possible into the cylinders and blow it out at
once, so check in the mirror for smoke or not.

generally, like people said, a real budget car will possibly not be
afforded good maintenance. likewise, a sporty model will likely have
been run hard. best bet is a pretty middle of the road plain vanilla
model, preferably owned by a mechanically inclined obsessive
compulsive. often somebody from another country will be raised more in
a culture of automotive maintenance. and often somebody with a family
will be less of a crazed street racer.

my overall judgement on japanese cars; they deteriorate by age more
than by mileage. assuming they've had the appropriate timing belt
changes and oil changes and such, i wouldn't pay a lot more for a
three year old honda with 25,000 miles than for one with 65,000
miles.

i don't like those extended warranties, etc.; obviously overall, they
must be monemakers for the company and therefore money losers for the
customer, but on the individual basis, from what I've seen, they can
be hard to collect from even when you do have a claim. your
transmission blew up? normal wear and tear. or they'll swap in a used
part from another model with the wrong gear ratios. (both of these
based on real cases i have seen)

i don't know how the above pertains to the "genuine factory selected"
used cars and their warranties though.

a surprising place to get decent used cars is rental places. you can
be guaranteed they've had all the proper maintenance at the right
times, and all the junk they auction out to the dealers, saving only
the creampuffs to sell themselves.