For those who are not familiar with car buying, inspecting a used car can prove to be a daunting task, but if you know what to look for then, you are going to have a much better time. Even a novice, when following directions should have no issues finding a used car that will serve you well for years to come. First, you need to make sure you find a list of reputable car dealerships in Buffalo Grove or your local area; then you can go from there.
Engine
No one is expecting you to do a tear down of the engine when you are buying a used car; the dealership would probably frown on this as well, but you should listen to it. Make sure you start the car and let it idle for a few minutes. If you can, then let it idle until it gets to operating temperature. Yes, this will take a while, but it will let you pick out anything that sounds off. You want to listen to it all the way from cold to operating temperature to make sure there are no underlying issues. Particularly, you are listening for inconsistent idle, high pitch pinging sound, or a knocking sound. Any of these are bad, particularly pinging and knocking. In most cases, this should rule the car out for you if you are reading this. Inconsistent idle is likely a failing sensor.
Transmission
Once the car is warmed up, take it for a test drive. Take it on the interstate if you can and let it shift through all of the gears. It should shift smoothly with no jerking or grinding.
Body and interior
When inspecting the body and interior of a vehicle look for rust or signs of water damage. Even if you cannot see rust, if you find substantial water damage in the inside of a vehicle this is indicative of future problems and should be avoided. Unless you are looking for the absolute cheapest vehicle possible, in which case you are not at a dealership, treat any amount of rust as a potential deal breaker until you have it inspected. In most cases, rust can be repaired, but it can also be a silent killer of your vehicle.
If you are worried about buying a used car, just follow this simple guideline, and you will find a good car that will serve you well for years.
If you are looking for car dealerships in Buffalo Grove then check out Arlington Heights Ford for you maintenance and repair needs. You can find them at http://www.ahford.net. Follow us on twitter.
