Test drove a 2002 Ford Focus Wagon with 72,000 miles. The car drove well. I then took the car to a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection. He noted the following: rear main seal leaking oil - 600.00 to repair, oil pan gasket leaking, front brake job required. He also told me that most of the lower part of the engine compartment and much of the front end suspension area was coated in fan belt dressing, and that he could not do a visual inspection because he simply could not see the parts that needed to be inspected. He surmised that the dealer was trying to hide something. His verdict was to not purchase the vehicle. I handed the keys back to the dealer and walked away.
"Always take any car that you are thinking about purchasing to a mechanic for an inspection"
- Smart! Almost all used cars are garbage.
"Smart" yes!
"Almost all used cars are garbage." - wrong.
I have bought many used cars and only one of them was garbage. I was not smart enough to have it inspected. I was not smart with the other five either, but all of them did reasonably well.
Be smart!
Good idea. Also, an online vehicle history report (carfax, ect) can tell you a lot. I bought a used Honda Accord (supposed to be reliable, my other Accord was!) and it's been a money pit, nothing but trouble. I later got online and found out it had been in a flood the year before. It definitely pays to do the research.
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