Posts Tagged ‘buy used’

How To Buy A Used Car: The Definitive Guide

Car Keys

The average yearly cost of car ownership is $8,500. This includes; financing, registration/license fees, insurance, and gas. Don’t let that number scare you though, there is hope.

As a disclaimer, in order to get the most out of this guide you will need to re-think how cars are perceived; they are a necessity, not a luxury.

The following steps will show you how to save money on your used transportation needs. That’s right, used cars only in this article. Buying used and paying in full, upfront, is the most cost effective way to purchase a car. So, without further ado, here is your guide to buying a non-financed used car.

Start a car fund.

We recommend buying outright. This means fitting a car purchase into your budget. Cut out any unnecessary spending and start a car fund. Here are some great Personal Finance Spreadsheets from Google Docs to get you organized.

The key to this step is learning how to live with what you’ve got. Keep driving that clunker until it stops running, find a spare car from friends or family, even utilize the company car. Be prepared, saving up to buy a car outright will not be easy, it requires sacrifice, persistence and some luck.

Don’t start looking for a car until you have almost all of your money saved up. Don’t tempt yourself. If you find that amazing deal and buy on credit, then all hope is lost. You need to remember why you set out to do this; to never have a monthly car payment again.

Research. Research more. Then, research again.

At this point, based on the amount of money you’ve saved up, you’ll want to start looking for a car. Use websites like Kelley Blue Book Online, Auto Trader, and Consumer Guide’s – Used Auto for actual values and reviews on reliability. This will also help determine if you’ve saved enough money to buy the year and make of a car you’re interested in.

Lastly, if you have a mechanic you know and trust, ask his/her opinion on certain cars they’ve worked on that they think are the most reliable.

Stay Organized and Compare Cars.

Start a folder. Keep all cars that you’re interested in inside of this folder. The websites you went to on the tip above will help. Next, start a comparison sheet to help you find out which car is the best. Keep them organized by price, mileage, year, special features and contact information of the seller. Once you’ve narrowed it down to only a couple of cars, your job will be much easier.

Ask the right questions, save time and money.

At this point, you’ll want to put that contact information in your folder to good use. Here are some good questions to keep in mind when calling about the car you’re interested in:

Is the car still available? (Obvious, but this should be the first question you ask.)
Are you the original owner? If not, how many previous owners have there been?
What is the reason you’re selling your car?
Does this car have a clean title? (Make sure it is not a salvage title, you don’t want a car that has been in an accident or stolen. A lot of people will buy these cars at auctions, then fix them up and re-sell them. Usually a big no-no when it comes to reliability.)

This is a good step to take before you actually see the car in person. You get a good sense of the owner and the car without having to make the trip out to see them. Your next step, before meeting up face to face with the seller, is to arm yourself with as much info for negotiating as possible.

Visit Kelley Blue Book Online and keep the prices of the car you want in mind. If someone is selling a car for $10,000 and you see it listed on KBB $ 8,000, chances are you can get them to drop their price. When you feel confident in all of your research, it’s time to meet with the seller and inspect the car.

The Meeting and The Inspection

Once you find the car you’re looking for, set an appointment with the seller. Here are a few things you should keep in mind for the meeting:

Bring a folder with all the info you’ve gathered in your research, a pen, and something to write on.
Meet with the seller during daylight, this helps you to notice anything wrong easier.
Write down the VIN number, (located on the driver’s-side dashboard, underneath the windshield) you can enter this in a website like CarFax to see the history of the car.
Check transmission fluid. It should be reddish and slightly transparent. If it smells burnt, it needs a transmission fluid flush. ($40 – $300)
Check the oil. Golden in color is good. If it’s color is black, this means the seller hasn’t had changed the oil in a long time, this is a bad sign.
Bring a mirror so you can check under the car for any leaks, dents, or scrape marks.
Bring a cloth and magnet. Place the magnet over the cloth. If the magnet sticks in some places, but not others, it means the car has probably been fixed with Bondo, or some other type of filler material. The car has been extensively repaired. Avoid it.
Check the tires for any noticeable and uneven wear, if so it means the alignment is probably out. This is a very expensive repair.
Bring a dollar bill. Go around to each door and hang the dollar bill outside of it. Close the door. If the dollar bill slides out with ease, the car has most likely been damaged.

For much more information on used car inspection you can go to samarins.com How to inspect A Used Car – An Illustrated Check-List.

Since you’re face to face with the owner, here are some questions to ask:

Ask for the maintenance record.
What is the service history like?
Has it been driven off-road, on the highway, around town?
Ask to see the title. If it’s a salvage title, and you don’t mind driving one, you can negotiate for a much lower price.

Once you’ve asked all the questions you need, you should ask to take the car for a test drive. While driving, listen for unusual noises, such as clunking over bumps or squealing when turning the steering wheel. Also check if the car pulls severely to the left or right, if so, it has an alignment problem.

Once the inspection and test drive have been taken care of, arrange for your mechanic to look at it. This costs about $80, but a professional opinion could save you thousands of dollars in repairs down the road.

Negotiation 101

Once your mechanic has given your potential new ride his approval, it’s time to start negotiating with the seller. Don’t be the first to offer a price. Go over anything your mechanic may have found, then ask the seller what their best price is. If you did enough research, and looked into the marketplace, you can counter their offer.

Don’t let your emotions get the best of you. If you show your excitement for the car, you will be at a disadvantage. You need to come with the facts, and try to be as removed as possible. Remember, most people selling their car will not put down a reasonable offer.

The Final Steps

Once the purchase has been made, you need to remember to ask the seller for these things:

Owner’s Manual
Service History
Registration
Handwritten Invoice
A minimum of 2 sets of keys

Hit The Road, Jack

Well, you’ve got your new (used) car, and we hope it gives you many years of great reliability. We hope this guide helped you in your quest for the best car for your money. If you have any suggestions, stories or questions, please feel free to comment below.

Tags: auto care, buy used, comparison shopping
Posted in Featured, Travel | 3 Comments »

How to buy Used Shoes: A Guide to Used Sneakers, Boots and Children’s Shoes.

The debate on whether or not it is a good idea to buy used shoes has been around for quite awhile. Here is some insight into helping you shop smart when it comes to buying used shoes.

General Tips on buying Used Shoes

How do I pick the right pair of used shoes?
Where should I buy used shoes?
What are the different kinds of wear, and how do I fix them?
How do I clean used shoes?
Leather Shoes vs Sneakers – What is the difference when buying used?
Tips on buying rain boots and snow boots.

Tips on buying Used Shoes for your children.

What do the experts say about buying used shoes for my children?
How do I know what used shoes to buy for my children?
How often does my child’s shoe size change?
Hand Me Downs for Children.

How do I pick the right pair of used shoes?

If you have a name brand of shoes that you know fits well, stick to that brand. Different brands of shoes fit people differently, and the safest way to know that you won’t have to return that pair of used shoes you bought is to buy a brand you trust.

Where should I buy used shoes?

The best place to buy used shoes is in person at a thrift store or garage sales. You will get to try them on before you buy them, usually there is a better return policy, and you can see the wear and tear the shoes may have gone through up close. You will find a better variety buying online at ebay or craigslist, but you’ll want to make sure you know exactly what size of shoe you’re looking for. This is wher knowing what brands fit you will really comes in handy. Also, pay close attention to any photos the seller may have, this is the best way to see any wear and tear before you buy.

What are the different kinds of wear, and how do I fix them?

The most obvious type of wear on sneakers is where the sole glues to the shoe. This is the weakest part of the shoe and usually goes first. I find the best way to fix this is buy applying a small amount of hot glue on the inside of this area, then letting it dry. This technique works the best on suede and canvas, but should not be used on leather.

On leather shoes especially, width is a very big concern. If there is typical wear on the buckling, this means that the wearer’s feet were too wide. The same can be said for someone wearing shoes that are too wide, irregular wear on the buckling is a sure sign of this. Make sure you take a lot of consideration into foot width, if you buy too wide, or too small, you will wear out your shoes much quicker.

How do I clean used shoes?

Invest in some disinfectant spray. A big bottle, and a couple of sprays can go a long way into lasting you throughout your used-shoe buying career. For an even cheaper alternative use rubbing alcohol. Here is a great article on this topic: How to Clean and Disinfect Used Shoes.

Leather Shoes vs Sneakers – What is the difference when buying used?

Choosing the right kind of footwear is very important. Sneakers tend to have more give and can be a better choice, whereas leather shoes with tight laces can be a lot stiffer, making it harder to find a good fit.

Tips on buying rain boots/snow boots.

These are great shoes to buy used, as they rarely get worn all the time, and they’re usually outgrown after the season. Obviously make sure the fit is exactly to your needs, or if you’re buying online, make sure you know the proper measurements. Another useful online buying tip is to use the geography of the seller to your advantage. If the person is selling snow boots, but lives in southern California, chances are these boots are a lot less used than the seller’s in Minnesota.

What do the experts say about buying used shoes for my children?

This is a highly debated topic. The argument seems to be split right down the middle. Some podiastrists say that buying used shoes for your child can harm their foot development due to the wear on the shoes. While this is true, other podiatrists argue the point that children outgrow their shoe sizes so fast that there is hardly any time to wear them out.

Buying Used Shoes for your Children

If you are going to buy used shoes for your child, make sure they are “first generation” of use. You don’t want to buy shoes that have been handed down 3-4 times, as this will have plenty of wear and could end up harming your child’s feet.

How do I know what used shoes to buy for my children?

Make sure you check the tops of shoes you’re buying for your children, as these will receive the most wear. Be very choosy about the types of shoes you buy for your children, you want to make sure that they have as little wear as possible, this will help prevent any problems your child’s feet could have with very worn shoes.

It is not necessary to buy shoes for your baby before they are walking, this is even potentially harmful to them.If you need to keep their feet warm use either booties or socks.

How often does my child’s shoe size change?

Children go through three or four size changes in the first two years. they outgrow shoes before they outwear them.

Hand Me Downs for Children.

Keep a box full of hand me down shoes that will allow your younger children to grow into. This is a good way to know exactly how much wear these shoes have gotten, as opposed to having to trust someone else.

Remember, buying used shoes really isn’t that different than buying the brand new ones (keep in mind how many people try on shoes that are sold as “new” at department stores). In the end, the most important thing to remember is that a better fitting new shoe is much better than a used ill-fitting shoe.

Please take all of these tips at your own discretion as everyone’s feet are different, and may react to many different types of shoes. Use common sense when buying used and hopefully some of these tips will help you along the way.

Tags: buy used, kids, repairs
Posted in Featured, Shopping | No Comments »

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