subject: Four Tips To Find The Best Used Car [print this page] Well begun is half doneWell begun is half done. So, enough of the confusion thats going to lead you nowhere! Start off the right way and youll see how your search for the used car gets over effectively saving you both time and money. Go through the four simple tips in this article that will help you in your used car search.
1. Go Online
Why run from one dealership to the other when you have it all online. Any search engine will give you plenty of web sites offering used cars in your area with complete details of the car. Also, dealer listings are also usually separated from the individual listings. You get the contact numbers on the web sites. Make a note.
2. The First Call
Prepare a questionnaire before actually making your first call. The following questions may prove helpful:
Can I have the car details (model, variant, manufacturing year, registration, mileage, insurance, number of owners, nature of tax paid, etc)?
Where has the car been driven the most, city or highway?
What price do you expect for the car?
Is the price negotiable?
Dont expect pleasant replies, though. You may get inaccurate answers too. If the seller seems hesitant to give any details about the car, just scrap the car from your list. It isnt really worth your time.
3. Prioritise
After the phone call, you have the details of all cars in your list. It is not advisable to go and visit all of them. So, prioritise. Here are some quick ways to prioritise.
Age check: Avoid going for cars older than 6 years. They may not help you for too long
Mileage check: A car usually runs around 12,000 km a year. So, multiply the age of the car by 12,000 and compare the number to the car's claimed mileage. However, powertrains in the current cars are designed to last for Lakhs of kilometres taken care of very well.
Dealer / Seller check: If possible, just run a quick background check on the internet to know more about the person or dealer whose car youre getting ready to buy. It can give you a fair idea about the cars runabouts.
Beware: A phone call or the internet may not give you right info about odometer readings, accident damage, and serious mechanical damage. Finally, also be careful about deals that are too good to be true. Anybody putting a car up for sale will know the market price and will definitely not demand lesser than that. It can be an indication of major flaws in the car.
4. Set up the first visit
Now that youve shortlisted just the best deals, make a second call to sellers you intend to visit. Let the seller know that its your second call. The market is filled with more buyers than sellers. So, ensure that the seller takes you seriously. Next, negotiate over the phone before actually visiting the seller. Tell the seller that you may buy the car then and there if the deal proves good enough. If by the end of the second call you feel its worth visiting the seller, set up the first visit.
