Tips on how students can purchase a used car

Aaron Pabon/Staff writer

Eissy de la Moneda/The Beacon

One of the many milestones in our lives that we are more than likely to make a mistake on: buying a car.
Many can’t afford a new Dodge Dart or the Scion FR-S, so we end up going for a used car. Dreaded for the mistakes we make in buying the car, some pay more than they should. Others end up with a lemon.
I have been in this scenario before, and it is not as scary as it is put out to be.
After reflecting on personal experiences, conducting research on the internet and talking to friends and relatives, here is a list of tips and advice on how to buy a used car.

Set a budget.

Obviously, before you consider buying a used car, find out how much you are willing to spend. If you are taking out a loan, calculate your maximum monthly payment, then commit to stay within that amount.

This can be simple or difficult, depending on your income. The general budget for a decent used car can range from $4000 to $8000.

Your budget should not reflect the total price you will pay for a car. For example: if you save up $8000 for buying a used car, don’t look for a car that is worth $8000. Try looking for a car that is worth $5000 or less. Because if you have a car that runs perfectly, but needs a new radio and bumper, you will have an extra $3000 to spend on such repairs.

Understand what kind of car you are looking for.

Generally, you are looking for a car to get you from “point A to point B,” but you should figure out exactly what you are going to use the car for.
Are you going to be driving only for school? Are you also going to drive it for work? Do you have a long commute?
Find a car that’s practical, not one that looks good. A Ford Mustang convertible might be good-looking, but the Volkswagen Golf will have better gas mileage.

Shop around.

Rarely do you find the car you need at the first lot you visit, so you may need to visit other lots.
It’s advisable to visit a reputable used car dealership like CarMax, or AutoNation’s Maroone. The used cars they sell are put through rigorous inspections and are the few used car dealerships that offer a warranty option.
When you do find a good car, look to see if it’s available at other car lots. You may find it with less mileage, or for a few hundred dollars less.
Before you purchase it, look up its value using the National Automobile Dealer Association Official Used Car Guide or the Kelley Blue Book — both of which are yearly books that report the value prices of all types of new and used cars.

Learn the car’s history.

Services like Carfax will give a Vehicle History Report. The Vehicle History Report gives you an idea of the amount of work that your car may need. The report gives you information on how many owners a specific used car had, odometer history, number of times the car has been serviced, and the amount of accidents it has been in.
Common damage for used cars in Florida are collision damage and flood damage.
Today, most the used cars found in dealerships are fairly new. This is because of a majority of the cars being repossessed or sold back close to their purchase date. If you happen to come across one of these cars, see if it still has the manufacturer’s warranty. If the car still has the warranty, see if it’s still in effect, and contact the manufacturer to find out if you can use the coverage.

Conduct your own inspection.

Take a walk around the car. Look for rust underneath the car. Check the tires and brake-pads for wear. Look under the hood for stripped or rounded nuts. All of these inspections help gauge how much work the car needs.
The most important inspection is the test drive. This will give you a feel on the car’s handling and performance. During your test drive, take a route that is similar to your daily commute. You want to make sure your car can handle the expressway and see if it makes funny noises while stopped in traffic. Check accessories like wipers, lights and air conditioning.

The two items that require the most attention are transmission and brakes. If the car has a manual transmission car, listen for a grinding noise. A grinding noise may mean the synchronizers need to be replaced. Test your brakes by accelerating to 40 mph or 50 mph, and the hit your brakes as hard as possible. This is to check the car’s performance in an emergency-stop scenario. If the car pulls to the right or left, you may have a loose brake caliper. If you feel any vibration when you brake, you may have warped breaks.

I strongly advise shopping with a relative or friend that has purchased a used car.
Happy hunting and drive safely.
-aaron.pabon@fiusm.com

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