What to Know About Used Car Shopping

Fox News

The economic principle I’m exploring is “People gain when they trade voluntarily”

My research question to help me study the economic principle is “What does the average person need to know before buying a used car?” 

The article, published in CarGurus, titled “What to Look For When Buying a Used Car” demonstrates this economic principle by showing what to look for in the interior, exterior, and on the test drive of a vehicle. 

First, you need to look at the exterior of the car. You want to make sure that there are no big dents on the body panels. A big dent or a lot of damage can signify possible frame damage due to an accident. This, obviously, could be a very expensive fix.

The article states, “Pay attention to any visible rust. A small spot here or there may be okay, but large patches should be a deal-breaker.” This is because rust can be very dangerous to you and other people's safety on the road.

Second, examine at the interior of the vehicle. If there is a lot of wear or damage to the inside, you might not want to buy it. Be sure to look out for strange smells because those can signify mold buildup, which is awful for your respiratory system. Personally, I would choose a car with a mold free interior and a messed up engine because of the negative health effects of mold.

The article says to “...turn everything on! Lights, windshield wipers, turn signals, audio system.” This will help you make sure that none of the important items aren’t working. This is extremely important to do because it is very dangerous not to check some of these things, such as headlights and taillights.

Finally, take it for a test drive. Ask the owner if you can drive the car. If they say no, it could be a sign that they are hiding something from you. When you start the car, listen for weird noises, smells, or vibrations. These can show problems with the engine.

The article says “Try to put the car through a stress test of sorts. If possible, drive it on flat ground, hills, and different types of roads.” This would give you a great idea of how the car handles and drives. This is crucial to buying a car because if the car doesn't handle correctly or to your liking, buying it may be a bad choice.

In my next blog post I will research the question: How does lack of understanding of cars lose people money in the selling process?