Tucson Used Cars

Your search for a used car should begin with you and your friends. First, consider your needs. Do you need or want certain features in car (for example, do you need your car to have added safety features because you will be driving children, or do you need a green car that offers great mileage)? Write down what you are looking for in a car and talk to friends and family about their cars. Which older cars are they pleased with? What unexpected troubles are they having with their cars? Next, read up about car models that interest you at web sites. Consult guides such as carsdirect.com, cars.com, Lemon-Aid, Consumer Guide, Consumer Reports, Epinions: Cars and Motorsports, the U.S. National Automobile Association website and others. This will allow you to learn more about the cars you are interested in, so that you can talk knowledgably about the cars to a dealer or seller. Consult Kelley Blue Book to find out how much various cars are worth.

Doing your preliminary research is important, because it tells you a great deal about what you are looking for and what you can expect from a previously owned vehicle. However, once you have learned about cars, you will have to actually start looking at cars you might be interested in buying. You can do this by going to a local dealership, but most savvy shoppers now go online to buy. This is because web sites give you lots of advantages when you buy a car:

1) Research and cars in one place. Quality web sites such as usedtucsoncars.com, carsdirect.com, and cars.com have handy tools and research features that allow you to research as you shop. You can look at actual used cars being sold by dealers and sellers and run side by side comparisons or check out blue book values for that car. Some sites also have car reviews, financing information, car loan calculators, detail descriptions, and more.

2) Lots of options. usedtucsoncars.com allows you to compare previously used vehicles being sold across many hundreds of web sites – that’s tens of thousands of cars. Cars.com provides listings from 13,000 dealers plus many other sources. These sites simply allow you to browse many more cars than a local dealership, which can squeeze in only so many cars in a lot.

3) Easy comparisons. When you shop online, you can easily order searches by car type, price, and so forth. Plus, you can open several browser windows and instantly compare as many cars as you like.

4) No hard sell pressure. Websites like the ones mentioned above allow you to shop from the comfort of your own home with no sales pressure at all. You get to look at the cars you like for as long as you like – with no sales person peering over your shoulder, pressuring you to buy something you don’t need.

5) No worry about whether to go to a dealer or private sale. Websites such as usedtucsoncars.com allow you to search private listings from individual sellers and dealer listings.

6) Comfortable shopping. With websites like the ones mentioned above, you can shop at any time of the day or night, in your pajamas, even. You do not have to take time away from work or other activities and you don’t have to brave the elements.

7) Saved time and money. Why pay more while spending countless hours and lots of gas money driving around lots? Websites like the ones mentioned above allow you to pinpoint used cars at a great price quickly and without any hassle.

Buying a used car causes a great deal of stress and anxiety for many shoppers. Some used car buyers hear horror stories and worry that they will end up with a lemon. To lemon-proof your car-buying experience, just follow these tips:

1) Figure out your ideal car before you shop. You are more likely to find the right previously-owned vehicle if you know what you are looking for. Determine how much power you need and what sorts of models might fit your lifestyle and needs. Research different models so that you know which ones would give you the driving experience you want.

2) Figure out financing. Determine how much you can afford to pay for a car (be sure to allow for incidental expenses, and additional expenses such as insurance costs and your first few tanks of gas). Determine your absolute limit for purchasing a car and write this down. Then, research financing alternatives. Visit your bank to find out about the best rates on offer and your best financing options. Find out which dealers offer financing and see whether the financing compares well with the rate your bank can offer.

3) Visit a few dealers or go online to compare a few cars in your price range. Check the mileage and ask the dealer whether they are selling the car with a warranty. If the car is being sold “as is” ask why. If there is a warranty, take a copy of it home and read all the fine print.

4) Inspect the car visually. Check for rust or holes in the body of the car. This sort of damage can be very hard to repair. Then, check for oil in the tailpipe. Do not buy a car with oil in the tailpipe, as it can indicate a considerable problem with the motor. Look out for poor quality paint jobs, which can indicate that the car needed body work or was not carefully maintained. If the tires are worn unevenly, that could be a sign of alignment or suspension problems. Look out for any cracks or chips in the windshield – you can usually get the seller to pay for repairs to these as insurance will cover it. Check that the horn, lights, radio, turn signals, fan, windshield wipers, and all electrical components work correctly. Any electrical problem could be dangerous and very costly to fix. Look under the hood and see whether the fluids are low or the transmission fluids or oil are dirty. There can all be signs of poor maintenance.

5) Take the car on a test drive. The clutch should not make any noise and should not slip, even when you suddenly accelerate 3rd or 4th gear. Make sure that the exhaust isn’t noisy or pluming out dark smoke. Check the brake cable by seeing whether the emergency brake will hold on a hill and then release easily. Check to see that the car doesn’t shake, pull, or wander in various driving conditions. Brake under different conditions, too, and make sure that there are no strange sounds or pulsing – all of which could indicate expensive brake work.

6) Have a professional look at the car. Even if you feel that everything checks out, a professional can tell you about hidden problems or issues that could cost you a great deal of money. Never agree to buy a car without a professional inspection carried out by a mechanic you trust and have chosen yourself. If a seller does not agree to an inspection, walk away.