First, the bad news: I didn\u2019t hit the lotto this year. Therefore, delivery of the new M-class Mercedes I deserve has been thwarted by the wiles of Lady Luck. As for the good news, I\u2019ve finally pulled together some notes on how to find a good used car. I\u2019ve found some good buys in my time, and I\u2019ve finally realized that being prepared is the best way to hit the jackpot.<\/p>\n
This preparation has come in two steps: I\u2019ve scribed a written checklist for buying a car, and I\u2019ve assembled a handy little tool kit for making pre-purchase inspections. Yeah, I was bored when I did this, so it soaked up an otherwise idle weekend.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not claiming to be an expert here. I\u2019m not an expert. But I like cars and I have found that having some method is better than having no method at all.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s my big concept, and Saipan\u2019s thin market emphasizes the fact: You don\u2019t want to be in a position where you have to buy a car \u201cright now.\u201d The used market is incredibly imperfect, so we\u2019re either on top of it, or under it.<\/p>\n
Today, I\u2019m going to take a general look at this gig. Lots of this stuff deserves more detailed attention, so I\u2019m trying to organize things along those lines for future screeds.<\/p>\n
Anyway, the first chunk of my checklist itemizes my humble little car-evaluation tool bag. Here it is: (1) A bright LED flashlight, (2) a cigar-lighter voltage checker, (3) an amateur-grade diagnostic computer code reader, (4) an air conditioning duct thermometer, and (5) a rag. This is probably self-explanatory, but maybe I\u2019ll flesh in some explanation in the future.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how my list organizes the process:<\/p>\n
1). Seller conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n The first thing I want to know is whether the seller is a liar. And the first thing I ask is if the vehicle has any history of accidents, damage, or re-painting. Like a good lawyer or a savvy cop, I often know the answer before I ask the question.<\/p>\n During this conversation I am totally focused on the seller. I\u2019m not talking over-the-shoulder as I look over the car. I\u2019m not inspecting the car yet. I\u2019m inspecting the seller.<\/p>\n If I sense anything hinky, I just politely go away. After all, I don\u2019t need the car. Therefore, I can choose who I deal with. That\u2019s the whole idea here, remember?<\/p>\n 2). The car inspection<\/strong><\/p>\n Most of my list is an item-by-item checklist for the actual mechanical inspection.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll spare you the details since I\u2019m taking a general swipe at things today, but in the future I may share a few items that are easy to forget but which I\u2019ve found to be really important.<\/p>\n One such item saved me from making a big mistake today, which is what inspired this article. But, for now, the point is that any method is better than no method.<\/p>\n As I look over a car, I have learned to write down any discrepancies instead of trying to remember them. Even a really nice car might have a dozen items worth noting. The time to ponder the importance of the items is later on, after the inspection is done. Also, I found that having written notes makes things easier when negotiating with the seller since it puts things on a more objective basis.<\/p>\n 3). Documents<\/strong><\/p>\n As a small and isolated market, Saipan is subject to its own dynamics. But if you\u2019re moving stateside, and many people do, then you\u2019ll want to note a few resources. CarFax.com offers written reports that can uncover issues in a vehicle history (e.g. accidents); this isn\u2019t perfect or ironclad, but it is useful. And Edmunds.com offers free data on market prices.<\/p>\n 4). Professional inspection<\/strong><\/p>\n I know good mechanics who charge under $100 for a basic inspection, so it\u2019s a good deal.<\/p>\n 5). Final negotiation<\/strong><\/p>\n I don\u2019t know why people worry about this so much. From my experience, if I\u2019ve done my homework, if I\u2019m dealing with a seller who is sane, reasonable, and not sleazy, and if I\u2019ve noted, in writing, the items that determine the vehicle\u2019s condition (as mentioned above), then the price seems to be easy to agree on. Then again, I\u2019m not a haggler, a low-ball tosser, or a hard negotiator.<\/p>\n The sellers I\u2019ve dealt with were the types of people who took very good care of their cars. They were not out to spend hours upon hours entertaining random strangers just to try to milk every last dime out of the sale.<\/p>\n By contrast, the bottom-feeders are part of a different eco-system, and I have no desire to be part of that swamp, either as a buyer or a seller.<\/p>\n