Buying A Used Car: Ask The Right Questions
When you want to buy a used car, you have to know how to ask the right questions. Some questions are more pertinent to your situation at the time than others. However, when the dealer delivers certain answers, you know which direction to take your line of questioning to next. There is a certain flow-chart style to asking a used car dealer questions. It should look something like this.
Only One Owner?
When a car is advertised as having only one owner, and the miles are low, you have to know who it belonged to. Do not fall for the "little old lady drove it to church" line as that is mostly a myth in car sales. If the dealer tells you, and it seems honest, go with it. (Just make sure you ask to see the report on the history of the vehicle to confirm what the dealer said.) Sometimes businesses purchase cars and then rarely use them, making the miles low, and ownership singular for a long time.
What Is the Lowest You Can Go (on the Price)?
This is a rough question to ask, but you have to be direct. Beating around the bush will not get you the answer, and it may divert your attention away from asking it. Be direct. If you are direct, the dealer is likely to be direct as well.
If he or she says he/she cannot go any lower than the sticker price, ask why. Replacing parts on a car to make it safe and road-worthy is a valid answer. Considering the fact that you can always double-check this answer, you know the dealer is not lying. Take into account the car's current value, plus the cost of parts by the dealer, and a little extra for profit, and it probably does come out to the price the dealer has on the car, or close to it.
When Was the Last Time the Fluids Were Checked?
The last thing you want is to roll off the lot with your "new" car, only to discover that all the fluid tanks are dry. Pop the hood, then ask this question while you are doing the fluid checks yourself. If nothing else, it is funny to see the look of amazement on the dealer's face as you do this (especially if you are a woman). If everything looks full, the lack of an answer or the correct answer from the dealer is reassuring.
