Board logo

subject: Purchasing a Junk Car: The Manual Inspection [print this page]


Purchasing a Junk Car: The Manual Inspection

Buying a junk car holds more responsibility than simply driving the vehicle home upon purchase. Undisclosed damages and defects can reel in a haul of expenses, making the car more expensive than what the buyer bargained for. Proper assessment, which involves manual inspection, is necessary before agreeing to any deal, otherwise the car could conk out weeks after its purchase.

A junk car has many sections, and inspecting all of them is necessary, to ensure that it is worth its selling price. Defects and damages found lead to deductions, perhaps a change in used or junk car dealers. A watchful eye on little details as well as a good knowledge about cars and car parts are needed, so as to not miss any chance to reduce the selling price. A wise consumer, after all, would like to make the most out of his or her money for junk car.

The Car Exterior

The car exterior is pretty large, giving unscrupulous sellers a lot of room to conceal damages. To counter this, a buyer must sweep the exterior's every section. The normal starting point is the paint job. Sellers can hide rusty sections for a little fee by covering them up with poor quality paint. Fortunately, the grooves created by rust aren't completely hidden.

Bumpers, tire guards and the other sections of the car's lower half are often neglected by both owners and dealers of junk cars. Unless undisclosed by the seller, dents and other defects found can be tantamount to discounts. Moreover, these sections are notorious for accumulating rust.

Small dents and misaligned fenders are hardly noticeable, especially if they are covered with glossy paint. Careful observation is necessary to detect them. What some buyers do is run their fingers over the hood, fender and other parts of the car frame to check for irregularities.

The Car Engine

This is the part where the knowledge of car parts comes into play. Beneath the hood is an array of mechanisms that work in conjunction with one another. Unmaintained cars often bear leaks and rusty areas. To make sure that the engine is running up to speed, start the car. If it takes several attempts before the engine runs, there must be something wrong.

The Car Interior

Driving is a pleasurable experience, largely due to the car interior. Neglected junk cars are likely to have problems with the upholstery as well as some of the mechanisms beneath the dashboard.

The Test Drive

Last but certainly not the least, a sold junk car should score well in the test drive. Prospective buyers can check if the brakes and the transmission are responsive. This simulates the general driving experience after purchase, so be watchful on how the car responds to the controls.

Not everyone has the time or the patience to conduct a manual inspection. Prospective buyers can still make the most out of their money for junk cars by bringing along a mechanic. For a small fee, the mechanic will do all the dirty work and can even pre




welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net) Powered by Discuz! 5.5.0   (php7, mysql8 recode on 2018)