B4 - Sunday News, August 9, 1981 So you want to buy a used car? A popular theme among used car dealers is that “Everybody drives a_ used car!” True—but some cars are more used than _ others. Spend at least as much time buying a used car as you would a new one. First, decide in advance what you want—and stick to it. You know before you visit your first car dealership what you can afford. Second, consider getting your car through the news- papers’ want ads. While used cars purchased from the owner have to be in- vestigated as thoroughly as those purchased from a dealership, you can get good buys that way—and you save shopping time and gasoline. You often hear that when you are buying a used car you are buying someone else’s problems. When you are buying from the origina! owner, you can ask him why he is selling. The classified section of your newspaper has another advantage: By checking the listings of ‘individuals and dealers, you can determine the age and make of cars you can afford. Note that “clean” cars bring more money when you are selling and cost more when you are buying. They are worth the price. Most of the car’s deprecia- tion occurs in the first two years of a car's life. As indicated. however, the condition of a car is vastly more important than its age. There are some 20- year-old cars that are in much better shape than cars a tenth as old. The smaller the car, the better. There is a vast dif- ference in the number of parts of small and large cars. Generally speaking, too, the smaller car will be much more miserly on gasoline consumption. If you plan to keep the car any length of time, you don’t need all the options such as power steering, automatic transmission, power brakes, and air conditioning. They will cost you money in fuel consumption and repairs. However, if you are mere- ly going to fix the car for resale or keep it only a year, then resale value is impor- tant. The best time to buy a car is during the day. Why?’ Because “what you see is what you get,” and daylight beats artificial light, no matter how much there is of the latter. Where can you buy a used car? Find out from friends and acquaintances who have had a satisfactory experience in purchasing one. You might never end up buying a car from a friend or acquaintance. Just make sure it's from someone who values your friendship! The pmmary areas for checking a used car you might want to buy, in no par- ticular order, are clutch, electrical systems, engine, brakes, rust, paint, latches. steering, transmission. tres. shock absorbers, wheel alignment, use. and the drive train, including the transmis- sion, differential and universal joint. 1. Check for paint blisters under floor mats and in the trunk. A new paint job may include a cover-up. Look through the car to determine if the exterior paint color is the same as the trunk, door posts and other spots. 2. The odometer should indicate about 10,000 to 12,000 miles annual use. Much more than that is excessive. On the other hand, much less than that indicates excessive stop-and- go city driving, which is tough ona Car. Check the service stickers on the door panel edge and the records in the glove com- partment to see if they match the odometer. Other wear points are the driver's seat and pedals. 3. The tires should show even wear. Depending on the age of the car, all four tires should have been made by the same manufacturer. If the four aren't quadruplets, there is a possibility of bad wheel alignment, ball-joint suspension or other problems. 4. Check the shock ab- sorbers by pushing down on the fenders. More than one bounce indicates that the shocks will have to be re- placed. 5. Inspect each of the car's lights. 6. Check door, trunk. hood, and glove com- partment latches, locked and unlocked. 7. Press the brake pedal. It should have some resistance and not travel ail the way to the floor 8 Your under-the-hood inspection should include a careful search for leaks Look particularly at) con- Auto Body Repairs What To Do? necting points such as hoses. The radiator coolant should not look oily or rusty. 9. Now start the engine. Are the gauges and lights on the panel operating correctly? Any abnormal sounds? If you hear a rattling sound when you set the emergency. brake and press lightly on the accelerator, the problem is the engine bearings. Dark gray or blue smoke issuing from the tailpipe in- dicates the car is an oil burner. 10. You are ready for the driving test. Check the play in the steering wheel. Is it normal? Does the automatic transmission change gears normally? If the car has manual transmission, the gears should mesh = smoothly. Drive back and forth several feet a few times while listening for any unusual sounds. For example, a clanking might indicate a bad universal joint. 11. Have someone else drive while you check the wheels for turn-ins, turn-out or wobble. 12. Try to get the name of the previous owner. He can tell you of any problems he had with the car. There is probably nothing " mentioned above that sellers cannot find a way to hide temporarily—at least, until the car is in your possession. There are two ways to pre- vent this. The first way. mentioned earlier, is to deal with a firm or individual that has been highly recommended to you by someone you know well. The second is to have the you know. Few car buyers car inspected by amechanic do this. Mileage Maker! BILL DOCKSTEADER makes Best-in-town Honda deals at Bill Docksteader’s Kingsway HONDA! 445 Kingsway 879-7414! 01727 FOR FAST SERVICE AUTOMARA UPHOLSTERY AUTO-CARPETS e TOPS BOAT-TOPS ¢ INTERIORS FIRST CLASS WORKMANSHIP 988-1810 Aft.hrs. 988-2527 3628 E. Esplanade, N.V. The more you look, the more you like. 10th & Alma, Vancouver orvdon \MPORT AUTOS LTD. 733-8105 TR¥ US! .... TRY OUR SYSTEM! 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