BUT BUYER BEWARE

Used cars can offer good value

EVEN THOUGH new cars and trucks are actual-
ly cheaper today than they were ten years ago
(taking into account the ercded value of our
dellars) the price of an average compact sedan is

now about $14,000.

A nicely equipped mid-
size sedan is in the
neighborhood of $20,000.
And if you want something
foreign and exotic, be
prepared to mortgage your
house.

For those not prepared, or
not able, to invest this kind
of money in a new car, one
alternative is to buy a
reasonably-priced used car in
good mechanical condition.

When you consider that
new cars generally lose 20 to
25 per cent of their value in
depreciation the first year
and about 15 to 20 per cent
the next, a late model used
car can make a pretty good
value.

Cheaper used cars also
cost less to finance and in-
surance premiums can be
lower.

tt is also possible to find a
better-equipped used car for
the same money as a new
car. For example, $10,000
will buy a new, small
economy car, or a well-
equipped late-model mid-
sized car.

You can find out the value
of most used cars dating
back to 1982 by checking the
Sanford Evans Gold Book
of Used Car Prices, available
at your local library. It
reflects average retail selling
prices on car lots.

About half of al! used cars
are sold by new car dealer-
ships. These are often late-
mode! cars that were traded
in on new models, and are
often in good shape. Many

even have remaining war-
ranties or extended war-
ranties.

Private sellers are the next
largest source of used cars,
and many of these sales are
between family members or
friends. This is often the best
way to buy a used car,
because the buyer knows the
history of the car.

It is also possible to get a
good deal from a_ private
seller by buying from some-
one who has obviously taken
pains to maintain the car.
You can often tell a lot
aboui the condition of a us-
ed car by the person who's
selling it.

When shopping for a used
car, consider the type of car,
the mileage, the overall con-
dition, and of course, the
price.

Statistical information
about reliability records,
recalls, and owner’s degree
of satisfaction is available in
the CAA’s publication
Autopinion, which is
published annually, and
costs just $4.95. Consumer
Reports and Consumer
Guide, both U.S. publica-
tions, also have reliable in-
formation on almost every
make of car and light truck.

This kind of information
can guide you to the type of
used cars which are likely to
be more reliable over the
long term.

However, even a well-built
car can be abused without
proper care and
maintenance. To determine

vs "S",

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whether a car is in) good
condition, there are a
number of on-the-spot
checks you can do while
looking it over.

Check the odometer. A

with this type of background
often sustain greater
mechanical wear if not regu-
larly maintained.

Look at. the
bodywork. Are

paint and
there

AutoMotion
Greg Wilson

cident.

Deulers are required to tell
you if a car has been in a
serious accident.

Check the wear on the
tires. Uneven wear can signal
poor wheel alignment and
may mean abuse and expen-
sive suspension work.

If the engine oi is zummy
or has bubbles in it, it could
mean a blown head gasket,
worn piston rings, or worn
valves. This could mean an
engine rebuild.

Check the transmission oil

listen for unusual noises,
such as grinding gears, noisy
clutch, pinging engine.
Brakes shouldn't squeak,
should not feel spongy, and
the car shoukl brake in a
straight line.

Acceleration should be
even without — hesitations,
and steering should be stable
and not wander from side to
side.

Check for blue smoke
from the exhaust pipe. It
may mean the engine is bur-
ning oil,

mismatched colors, fenders
eut of fine, or suspicious
ripples? 1f so, the car may
have been in an accident, or
rusty bodywork may be
painted over. Ask the seller
if the car has been in an ac-

typical used car is driven
about 16,000 kilometres per
year. If the car has been
driven more than that, it
may have seen hard use
(perhaps used for fleet,
rental or sales use). Cars

‘

‘90 TOPAZ
Auto, 4 DR, AM/FM stereo,
interval wipers.

$11,770

tk. “TP 433

‘90 ESCORT
Tinted glass, AM/FM cassette,
ait conditioning.

$10,440

Stk. ES 485

°90 GRAND
MARQUIS

5.0, auto, air cond., pwr
windowsilocks, speed contro}

$21,990

Stk. #GM 481

90 LINCOLN

Continentai, Signature series.
Fully loaded

543,998

Stk. #L 438

90 RANG

$9,860

Stk. #RA 300

°90 F250

6 cyl., 5 spd, conv. group,
AMIFM stereo, sport wh/covers

$13,880

Stk. #T 277

NORTH VANCOUVER 986-0388

90 BRONCO II

17,990

Stk. *BR 249

"90 F250 4X4

Super Cab, XLT, air, cruise, lock, windows,
7.3 diesel, camper pkg, tu-tone

$27,988

Stk. *T 284 Stk

with the engine idling. The
color should be ceddish but
not brown or black.

Radiator coolant should
be green or clear (water). A
brown color and accompa-
nying sludge can mean big
problems with the coolant
system and engine. Radiator
hoses should feel firm.

Test drive the car and

Before you make that
final decision to buy, I
recommend you take the car
through BCAA's vehicle
testing station. A  com-
prehensive evaluation costs
about $65, but it could save
you hundreds or thousands
of dollars in repair oills
later.

*90 co UGAR LS
V-6, auto, air cond.,
power windows

$18,344

Stk *CG 437

"90 LINCOLN

Mark VII, LSC
Fully foaded

540,988

Stk. #L 542

°90 SABLE
GS, 4 OR, air cond., power

windows, speed cont. AM/FM
cassette, power locks

$17,990

Stk. *SA 405

790 LINCOLN

Town Car, Signature series.
5.0, JBL sound

541,888

Stk. #L 491

vo

790 F150

$11,990

Stk. #T 257

790 AEROSTAR

6 cyl., auto, 7-pass.

$15,490

#AE 234

‘NEST VANCOUVER 926-5541