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Find Out Whether A Used Car Is A Good Choice With These Tips

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Buying a car that has been previously-owned by someone else can be a great way to avoid spending too much money on a car that gets you around town. However, it's important to ensure that the car will work as long as you need it. In your excitement to get a good deal, it can be tough to pay attention to certain things that could help you make a sound choice. Use the two tips below to be confident that you're getting a great used car.

Consider Your Daily Activities While Testing It

If you're looking at used cars at an auto dealership, you are likely to get into the car for a test drive on the streets around the dealership. This might work out great, but the real test is whether you'll be able to use the car for your real daily activities. While you might not be able to drive the car to work or take it to the grocery store, ask the salesperson to take you on streets like those you'll encounter. If you spend your commute on the highway, for example, test the car on a heavily-traveled road where you can pick up speed and see if you like how the car rides.

Perform Door Jamb Inspections

Of course, if you want to purchase any kind of car, you'll want to know something about the car's history. An easy way to do this is to perform door jamb inspections. If the car was painted in the past the jambs will help you find out, as the door jambs typically will stay untouched and stay the original color, even if the outside of the car gets a brand new coat of paint.

Open all the car doors and inspect the jambs; does the color there match up with the car's exterior color? If the answer is no, you need to ask more questions about the history of the vehicle before you drive away with it. It could be that the previous owner simply wanted to change the car's color, or that it had to be repainted after there was an accident or some kind of damage.

When you make use of the tips set out in this article, you can get a better idea of whether a particular used car is right for your needs. Check out different auto dealers in the area; salespeople can provide additional suggestions to make certain you buy a used car that fits your needs.


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