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You Get What You Pay For…Sometimes More
The old buyer beware chestnut of if something sounds too good to be true…that it probably is, stands to be especially true today with the problem of finding some affordable and reliable wheels to get you to work or around town.
There’s no denying that used car prices are absolutely nuts today. And on top of that, anything that can be started and rolled down the roadway is fair game for used car dealers and personal sellers hoping to flip what otherwise should have been left dead after an accident, or a flood, or after a normal life of years of wear and tear that have taken its toll on a vehicle.
The point to this is that while fears of finding a used car that sounds too good to be true raises a red flag and should send you walking away looking for something more believable, it can be an opportunity to find a used car by just being at the right place at the right time. It happens and I’ve seen it---sometimes people sell a good car for the oddest reasons and just want to unload it quickly.
Related article: Why You Should Avoid Used Cars That Smell Like a Cat Litter Box
In cases like this it can pay to run to a mechanic and have a prepurchase inspection down before another buyer comes along and snatches what might have been a good vehicle after all. Yes, you will have to pay for the inspection, but I like to think of it as a necessary investment when it comes to buying a used car that can save you a lot of money down the road.
Related article: The Most Important Used Car Test You Should Do Before Deciding to Buy a Used Car
Why Pay a Mechanic to Inspect ALL Used Car Purchases?
As alluded to in this article, the caveat to taking a chance on all used vehicles sold is that you will need some assurance that a vehicle is not just drivable and can get you from point A to point B, but that it is also safe.
While anyone can test drive and visually inspect a vehicle the equivalent of the metaphorical “kicking of the tires” it sometimes takes a trained and experienced mechanic to recognize when something is askew with a vehicle---especially when DIY repairs and jerry rigging may have been done that are not immediately obvious, but are ticking time bombs of disrepair and then despair for the new owner.
Onto the Humor Part
To further the case of why a prepurchase inspection is so important, here is a Just Rolled In 2021 compilation video that serves as a good lesson in why you should be suspicious of ALL used vehicles being sold just because too many car owners do the craziest things to their own vehicles that would boggle even the most rum-soaked brain.
That said, here is it and have a great weekend!
Customer States Compilation (The Best of 2021) | Just Rolled In
And finally…
For additional articles about used car warnings, here are some selected pieces for your consideration:
• Used Car Dealer Scam with Superglue and Drywall Screws
• Rattle Can Repair Scam Warning for Used Car Shoppers
• Used Car Seller Tricks to Resurrect a Flood Damaged Car
COMING UP NEXT: Catalytic Converter Theft and The Vehicles That Are Targeted Most Often
Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.
Image Source: Pixabay
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