Test Drive 3: Questions for the
Owner
When responding to an ad for a used
car, you should always make a call to the seller first.
The purpose of the call is to learn a little more about
the car and find out who is selling it.
Listen carefully to get a sense of
how this person cared for the car. If he or she sounds knowledgeable
and forthcoming, that may be an indication that the car
has received good care.
Curbstoners and used car dealers
often place classified ads, and it is often difficult to
distinguish their ads from those of a private seller. To
get an idea of who is selling the car, tell the person who
answers the phone that you're calling about the car for
sale -- but don't identify the car. If the person replies
"Which one?" you know that you have either a professional
used car dealer or a curbstoner. Another tip-off that the
seller is actually a dealer is if there are a number of
cars listed in the classified section with the same telephone
number.
It is especially important to try
to contact the owner if you're buying a car through a used
car dealer. Most reputable dealers will give you the name
and phone number of the former owner of the car. If they
can't or won't help you get in contact with the previous
owner, the car may have come from an auction or another
undesirable source.
In either case, ask the owner these
questions:
- How long have you owned the car?
- Did you buy the car new?
- Has the car been in any accidents?
If so, what kinds of repairs did it need?
- What is the mileage?
- Generally, has the car been driven
around town or on long trips?
- Was this the only car in your
family?
- What do you like best about the
car?
- What major repair work has been
done on the car? (If you assume that major repair work
has been done on the car, the owner may be less
defensive and possibly more truthful.)
- Have you ever had any problems
with rust? Has the car ever been repainted?
- Why are you selling the car?
- Did you follow the manufacturer's
maintenance schedule (found in the owner's manual)?
- Has the car ever been recalled
(see vehicle pages for verification)? If so, do you have
receipts to verify that the defect was corrected?
- Where did you generally get your
service performed?
- What would I need to do to put
the car into top shape?
- Are there any liens on the car?
(If so, the owner owes money on the car.)
TIP: Damaged Cars
Each year, the practice of selling
rebuilt cars and passing them off as undamaged used cars
costs consumers over four billion dollars! Not only do we
pay far more than we should for these damaged cars; improperly
rebuilt vehicles pose an extreme safety hazard. Because
state motor vehicle departments do not communicate well
with each other, it makes it relatively easy for criminals
to get "clean" titles they can use to resell these vehicles.
Until the state motor vehicle departments decide to cooperate
fully with each other or the federal government steps in
with a rule, your only protection is to have a trusted mechanic
carefully examine a car for signs of significant damage
repair.
from The Car Book 1998 by Jack Gillis
