4 Key Things To Look For When Buying a Used Foreign Car

Buying a used foreign car has its benefits and drawbacks. One of the major benefits of buying a pre-owned vehicle is the fact that you don't have to worry about falling victim to steep depreciation as soon as you drive the vehicle off of the lot. With this being said, finding a reliable used foreign car can be challenging. You'll need to be a resourceful buyer, do your homework, and look for the red flags before you buy if you want to invest in a vehicle that'll last. Here are 4 key things to look for when you choose to buy used:

1. Do Thorough Research On the Car's History

It's easy to get emotionally attached to a vehicle when you take it for a test drive. If you've always dreamed of owning a BMW, finding a used BMW in your price range can be enough to make you overlook important details. Get past your emotions and do all of your homework before you even see the car in person. If you're buying from a used car dealer, get the VIN of the vehicle at the top of your list and run a vehicle history report. This report shows you if the vehicle has been involved in an accident, if it's been maintained, and how many people have owned it.

2. See What the Consumer Reports Say

After you look at the report, you should do even more research to verify that the year, make, and model you are looking at doesn't have any serious recalls or consumer complaints. If a model has transmission problems, you want to know right? Sites like Edmunds have reviews on every vehicle you could imagine and checking these reviews could be the difference between buying a car that'll last, and buying a car that will be in and out of a shop specializing in BMW repair in Austin, TX. If the complaints are consistent across the board in forums and review sites, this might not be the car for you.

3. Don't Just Look Under the Hood, Inspect the Entire Vehicle

If you don't know much about cars, you might lift the hood up and take a glance just to let the seller think you know what you're looking at. You don't have to be a professional to spot some serious problems. Start by inspecting the sides of the front fender and the trim around the vehicle. If there's damage, the cars been in a serious accident and the frame hasn't been repaired. Look for rust under the car and around the wheel wells. If there's rust, run! When you look under the hood, don't just look, check fluids and look for leaks. If you really are inept with cars, you can always bring a mechanic with you to point out potential problems.

4. Check the Status of the Title and Registration

If you're buying from a private seller, you might just assume that the vehicle is registered and smogged. Don't assume this because it can cost you money. You should check the status of the registration through the DMV website with the license plate number, verify the title has no liens, and make sure there are no parking tickets or other fines that you'll be responsible for when registering. Make the seller pay for a passed smog and never sign the purchase agreement until the vehicle passes.

Buying a used foreign car is a big investment. If you want to make the right investment, do the research even if the seller seems trustworthy. You'll be happy you did in the long run.

Simple Things that will Increase the Value of your Vehicle

The value of a car generally goes down approximately 65% after about 5 years of normal driving. Once you have decided to purchase a new or newer car it is tempting to quickly settle for the best offer you can get on your old car. Before hastily putting a "for sale" sign on the back window and placing an ad in the local newspaper, you should take advantage of a few simple and fairly inexpensive tips that will enable you to get several hundred dollars more than you otherwise would. There are other things that you should always be doing in preparation for the time when you will want to sell your car.

Washing and Detailing

Although this should be obvious, it is amazing how many people neglect to do it. Improving the appearance of a car both inside and out will greatly improve its perceived value. Your vehicle may be in superb mechanical condition, but if it doesn�t look clean and polished the car�s resale value might take a hit. It is well worth the investment of detailing and washing the car, regardless of whether you do it yourself or have a professional do it.
 

Limit Upgrades

Strangely enough, upgrades often decrease a cars resale value. For instance, adding a custom stereo system probably seems like a good idea, but modifications usually lower a car�s resale value. If you do upgrade your vehicle, you should keep the original parts so that it can be easily reverted to the original factory condition. Many experts suggest that you resist the urge to customize if you want to get top dollar when you sell the vehicle.

Keep your Car in the Garage

If you live in an area with harsh climate and severe weather, you should keep it in a garage. If you don't have a garage, consider using a car cover. This will make a huge difference in how your car looks.
Maintenance
 

One of most important and practical things you can do to maintain top resale value on it is to strictly adhere to the maintenance schedule including regular oil changes per the guidelines in the operator's manual. Be sure to document all of these things. A shrewd buyer will be as concerned with the mechanical condition of the vehicle as they are with the looks of the exterior.
 

Repair all Known Issues

Used car buyers love hearing that they�re buying a car with new parts. It instills trust when the seller is willing to spend money on repairs even though they won�t personally benefit from them. Whether it�s a new set of tires, seat covers, windshield wipers or spark plugs, these repairs give the impression that all known issues have been fixed and the car won't be in need of immediate service.
 

As simple as these things are, they will make a huge difference in being able to sell the car for the highest possible price. You can usually get more money for your car by selling it yourself rather than using it as a trade-in on your next car purchase. When you purchase your new car, be sure to choose one that holds its resell value well.

Author's Bio:

Marc Tuttle is the Manager of Internet Marketing at Seat Covers Unlimited. Visit our site to view seat covers by Seat Covers Unlimited.

Precautions While Purchasing Used Car

The economic recession is one of the main causes for the development of used cars market. Nowadays, most of the individuals opt for buying used or pre-owned vehicles because according to them, it is not practical to spend on new autos when the economy is not in a good shape. If you are also considering purchasing a pre-owned car then it is good to check out some of the most significant aspects before actually finalizing the deal.

The very first thing that you should consider before buying used car is your budget. Now, after deciding your budget, next thing to consider is the size that directly depends on the number of persons you have within your family.

After preparing the list of cars you are considering for, you must pick a good dealer who has used cars of the selected models. Once you have short-listed the cars, next task you have to do is to check the years of registration of the cars. Purchasing a vehicle that has run almost more than 17,000 Kilometers is not worthwhile. While carrying out such task always remember to check the functioning of odometers.
Take a test drive along with your own mechanic; it will enable you to check the various parts including the engine plus the transmission whether they are functioning properly or not. In some countries such as the United States, you can avail Car Fax reports & from them, you can further find out the complete history of the automobiles. Through these reports you can also check out the particulars of the accidents if any. Car Fax reports also tell the service history of the cars.

You should always keep in mind to monitor the cooling system, the radiator, the alternator & the starter of the automobile, especially the second hand car. The radiator should be free from any kind of leaks. The working of the Brakes should also need to be monitored. It is always recommended that you should visit the dealer with your own mechanic.

Nobody desires a very cheap auto but at the same time one cannot actually go very far. It is then very much essential that one should inspect autos� general condition before actually purchasing it. Numerous things that include the make, design, model, & color should only be less important. If you want to buy used or second hand cars, you must consider its functionality as well as affordability!!!

About The Guest Author: 

Sofia Williams writes for www.lahondaworld.com. She is a freelance content contributor and likes to write about various spheres like Social Media, technology trends and her secret favorite � cars and automobiles. She is a keen observer and contributor for various auto forums and the online auto space.

How To Keep Your Car From Rusting

 

 

Don�t Let Your Car Rust

One day suddenly you find some rust on your car. Rusting occurs when iron or the steel reacts with water with the heat and the salt in the air.

Don�t worry if the rust is at a small place, under the car or at a place where it does not show. The paint is not only for the car to look nice but also prevents rusting. You should be careful in case there is a scratch as that could lead to a bigger repair problem. Make sure you keep your car away from oxidation.

How do you notice the rust?

�    When you clean or wash your car, check for rusting in the wheel wells and all the corners.
�    Look around the car antenna, mirrors, moldings, trims, under the car body with a torch or some light.
�    If you stay near the sea or the ocean or where it rains a lot check the metal of the car regularly for rusting.
�    Ask your service mechanic to properly check under the car for rusting when the car is on the hoist.

Observations:-

�    You might find the paint is darker at some places �� might be that it is rusted below the paint.
�    If you have a scratch or a place where the paint has come off, apply the paint and don�t let it rust.
�    Use the rust removers at the pitted areas.
�    Rust settles at place where there are salt deposit and dirty places.

How to handle the rusting:-

�    Rub sandpaper or a razor at the rusted area. Be careful you do not spoil the paint around the rusted area. You could use a brush to dust the scraped rust.
�    Apply the rust resistor so that the rust does not spread further.
�    Then paint it with a brush or a spray gun depending on the area after applying primer.
�    At some places where the rust is really bad and you need to change that area, take an estimate from the mechanic and decide if it is worth the money spent keeping the life of the engine in mind.
�    You can use the rust removing equipment available

How to avoid rusting

�    Wash your car once in 2 weeks and maybe once  a week where there is salt in the air .
�    Every six months you should wax your car.
�    Make sure that you clean your car from inside as sometimes spilled things can start rusting.
�    Wash your car properly under the car and in between the wheels.
�    You could use the rust preventing sprays if you live at places which have salt in the air, like the areas near the oceans and seas.
�    Keep your car dry as far as possible.
�    Cover your car if the car stays more in the open.
�    Try to keep the car indoors
�    Always clean the rust the minute you notice it.
�    Applying the primer with the machine electrically run, has a better and a long lasting result.

You can save your car from rusting and causing major damage by checking it regularly and repairing the rust the minute you observe it.

Author Bio :- 

John Polk writes for www.markkia.com. He is a freelance content contributor and likes to write about various spheres like Social Media, technology trends and his secret favorite � cars and automobiles. He is a keen observer and contributor for various auto forums and the online auto space.