有关二手车的一些注意事项

新生咨讯 | New Comers   December 26, 2007 at 12:01 amAdmin

About Used-Cars
Sun Jianan, Zhao Wei

The International House also provides a lot of information about buying a used car and maintaining a car. You may go there to ask for relevant handouts. – Xue Qiang, June, 2000

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1. Gather information

Determine your budget (should cover car price, tax, tag, insurance)
Determine what kind of car you want (check Consumer Report for recommended and not-recommended used car – www.consumerreports.org ; www.consumerreports.org/Categories/CarsTrucks/index.html ; Edmund’s Advice for Buying and Selling Used Car – www.edmund.com/edweb/usedinfo/contents.html.
Find available used cars from news paper – Raleigh News Observer – http://www.news-observer.com, Durham Herald Sun, Duke Dialogue, triangle.forsale (news group)
Low or reasonable total mileage
Reasonable price
Automatic transmission and standard transmission
Check the price of the car – Kelley Blue Book – http://www.kbb.com, Edmunds – http://www.edmund.com.
Retail price, Trade-in price
Other consideration (other devices, special upgrade, mileage)
Call to ask more information and make appointment to check the car t otal mileage, gas mileage, any accident, color (exterior/interior), first owner…
Idea used car: reliable model, low mileage (less than 10000 mile/year), run smoothly, few work required after purchasing, good price (not much more than trade-in price).
2. Check the car

Overall appearing (paint, rust, dent, scratch)
Shocks and struts (push down the bumper and observe vibration of the car)
Condition of the tires
Interior (if interior is worn but the total mileage is low, it is suspicious)
Signal lights, radio, tape player, dash board signals (engine and oil lights)
Step on the brake pedal, and make sure the pedal will not continue sinking down
Ignite the car (should be easy to ignite when car is cold, and without strange sound)
Open the hood and listen the engine (should not have any strange sound – particularly metal banding sound), also the engine should not vibrate)
Belts (condition?), battery (age?),
Leak fluid? (motor oil, transmission oil, brake fluid)
Air condition (any noise when the air condition is on, cold enough…)
3. Question to ask

When was the motor oil changed last time? (every 5000 miles)
When was the air filter replaced?
When was the battery replaced?
When was the brake pads (front) and brake shoes (rear) replaced?
When was the tune-up done last time?
When was the last time front wheel alignment done?
When was the last time tires balanced and rotated?
Has timing belt replaced (most cars with mileage around 60000 miles, some 90000)?
Has the coolant ever been flushed? (around every three years)
Has transmission fluid been replaced? (30000 to 40000 miles)
Have water pump, alternator, starter ever been replaced?
Is the car burn motor oil?
Do you have the repair and maintenance records of the car?
4. Test drive

Does the car accelerate smoothly? Does engine have proper power?
Does the car stop smoothly?
Is there any noise from any part of the car?
Does the car track straight on a level road?
Does the car accelerate proper when the air condition is at the maximum output?
Test brake – stop straight at normal speed and high speed? Any vibration or pulling?
Does the car have good ride and handle?
Does the cruise control work (if the car has cruise control)?
5. Have a mechanic inspect the car (normally around $50.00) – (emission test)

6. Negotiation: – There is always another deal out there if these one doesn’t work out

Be sincere and courteous. Do not show your eagerness.
Estimate how much you have to spend in repairing the car if you buy it. (oil, timing belt, tires, spark plugs and wires, air filter, hoses, radiator flush, transmission fluid, brake system, battery…)
If the car is more expensive (above $8000.00), most likely it will take a while for the owner to sell the car. So, take your time and offer a price with more discount.
If the car is less than $5000.00, and in a great condition. Most likely, it will not be there for too long. Offer a more realistic price.
Do not fall in love with the car. If the owner does not accept your price, you might just leave your phone number to the owner and walk away.
If you will pay cash, you will have more bargain power (not apply car less than $5000)
7. Close the transaction

Get the Vehicle Identification Number, and purchase insurance.
Purchase insurance on-line, or from local agent
Liability, Collision, Comprehensive
The owner has to have the title of the vehicle notarized. Pay off the money when the owner pass the notarized title and car to you.
Bring the title and insurance number to Division of Motor Vehicle (DMV) to transfer title to your name. You need to pay some tax and fee. A new license plate will be issued.
8. Safety driving tips

In general driving with the speed that you fell conformable (not on high way – minimum speed required)
Always keep good safe distance with the car in front of you
Do not drive next to a 18 wheeler (big truck).
Do not stop suddenly unlesss you are sure there is no car behind you.
Do not leave your car title in your car. Only the registration card is needed to keep in the car.