Topic: Used car buying tips from an good guy...

[TopGun]

I met this chap whilst looking for a cheap pick-em-up truck for my dad to do his Home Depot trips with.

We hit it off right away, and I found him very informative on how to find a cheaper vehicle...and he told me about his website.

This is from a long-term car sales pro...so it's pretty open and honest.  He's also honest about how spelling and grammar are not his forte...so bear that in mind.

http://www.usedcartips.org/index.html

[mwqa]

A friend of mine has a son who was looking for a cheap beater. He found what looked like a good deal at a local curbsider, who was quite honest that he was selling cars for a dealer 'buddy' of his. The car was a Toyota Corrolla, 1998 I think, it had been driven by an old man and only had 150,000 kms on the clock.

I couldn't remember why curbsiders were people to stay away from, but recommended that they carproof the car before buying.

It turns out the car has an unresolved insurance claim on it for $2500, so it obviously had been in an accident. They walked away from it.

Lots of good tips on this chap's website

[Brigitte]

When you turn the key, but before you start the engine, the instrument panel will light up and you should see all available indicators. One of them should be "Check Engine", "Service Engine Soon", a picture of an engine, or some equivalent. If you see other indicators but not this one, then it either does not exist (unlikely in any car made in the last 10-15 years), or it has been disconnected.

That would never have occurred to me!  Good to know.

[Gardiner Westbound]

Additional to the check engine light, I look for the oil pressure, electronic stability control (if equipped), anti-lock brakes, and airbag lights.

[Ray Paulsen]

When you turn the key, but before you start the engine, the instrument panel will light up and you should see all available indicators. One of them should be "Check Engine", "Service Engine Soon", a picture of an engine, or some equivalent. If you see other indicators but not this one, then it either does not exist (unlikely in any car made in the last 10-15 years), or it has been disconnected.

That would never have occurred to me!  Good to know.

 

Brigitte, thanks for the visit to my website, there are 20 questions that 99% of buyers ask repeatedly every day when buying a used vehicle, here is my answer to just one of them " have this one occurred to you - or another good to know ? "

How long have you had this vehicle in inventory ?

Why ask the salesman the Q, if you are shopping at a reputable dealership they do the oil change within 3 days and the sticker date will be posted most likely in a corner of windshield or door frame.

The fun part here is if the salesperson is a scammer and says a few days or weeks, but the sticker says months.

[FiestaTT]

Thank you for sharing with us Mr. Paulsen

[stevek]

Good website. Interesting how he recommends buying used at a franchise dealer that sells the same brand, because they will treat you well hoping for repat business, even if you pay a little more because it's a dealer.

I don't know if that opinion would be generally accepted here.

[mmret]

Very nice. Some interesting tidbits in there.

My worse test drive ever was appraising a customers trade in, I could not fit into the drivers seat, opened the rear door and removed a huge cardboard box that was jammed against the back of driver seat, got in the car moved driver seat back for comfort turned the key put vehicle in drive leaned back and instantly became aware why the box had been put there in the first place.

Laying in the back seat looking at the roofs interior the car had already started it's own test drive and left the dealership, when I was able to sit up the car was headed towards the gas station across the street I could only lean forward being stretched out to grab the steering wheel, as I did the car jumped the curb and kept going, at this point I should have turned the ignition off since I was in no position to hit the brake pedal with my feet in the back seat.

Being in a panic mode my only concentration was steering, I was blessed on three fronts

Crossing the street without getting side-swiped and no pedestrians
The car kept the same level of speed
Service station being quite large with no heavy traffic

I was able to drive in circles while trying to get myself planted in the front seat which I found was impossible while moving and steering at the same time, on the third or fourth lap around the service station my senses finally overcome the initial shock and I turned the ignition off.

Wowowow.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I missed this thread. Ray's got a pretty good site there.

[Julie]

I missed this thread too.  Hey Ray, thanks a lot.  Appreciate what you're doing, don't care about the spelling mistakes.  You can see the substance through it.   

[Scarecrow]

Interesting website, Mr. Paulsen.

I see that you recommend Carfax and AutoCheck.  But what are your thoughts about CarProof?

I've never personally used any of these services, but CarProof seems (on the face of it) to offer the most comprehensive information, especially for the Canadian market.  Or am I mistaken...?

[airbalancer]

Interesting website, Mr. Paulsen.

I see that you recommend Carfax and AutoCheck.  But what are your thoughts about CarProof?

I've never personally used any of these services, but CarProof seems (on the face of it) to offer the most comprehensive information, especially for the Canadian market.  Or am I mistaken...?

His second and last post was last November 2010, last on February 12, 2011, I do not think he will answer your question
Maybe triy his website