It can be painful when you spend your hard-earned money on a car only to find out it is a lemon car. Not only will that car cost you a lot of money in repairs, but it is also dangerous. For instance, if it has a faulty braking system, and you miss that when buying the car, it could put you at risk of collisions on the road.
The good news is that you can avoid buying a lemon car with the right approach. To help you avoid buying lemon cars, here are the ins and outs of purchasing from refurbished auto auctions.
Learn the History of the Car
When buying a salvage car, strive to know as much about its history as possible. The idea is to learn as much about the car as possible, including possible defects that could turn it into a money pit. This is especially the case for high-end cars whose repair and maintenance costs are significantly higher than the average car.
For instance, BMW maintenance is a costly undertaking. As such, if you come across a salvage BMW M3 for sale, it would be best to focus on its damage history as much as possible. The same goes for any of the other top-of-the-range cars. You will also notice that salvage cars with an unknown damage history tend to be cheaper at auctions. However, the potential risk of buying a lemon car also escalates with such vehicles.
Check to See if the Model Has a Recall History.
Before you buy a salvage car at auction, make sure that the model does not have a recall history. A car model with a recall history can be more problematic when it comes to reliability, overall maintenance costs, and even on how car insurance companies will treat the used car.
Such issues are amplified when the damage affects the engine. Staying away from vehicles with possible engine damage will likely save you a lot of money in the long run.
Make Sure to Test Drive the Car
While inspecting a stationary car can give you an idea of whether it is repairable, the best way to determine its actual condition is to test drive it. If the vehicle can hit the road even for a few miles, do it. While on the test drive, make sure to listen to any funny noises from the car, then have a mechanic check them out. If the noises point to extensive damage in the car, it would be best to avoid such a unit altogether.
Compare Prices with a New Unit
No matter how competitively priced a salvage unit looks at auction, don’t be quick to buy. Take time to research and compare its price with the new version of the car. If the salvage car is cheap, but the price of repairs would put it almost at par with the price of a new unit, there would be no point in buying it. Repairs would also not be worth the time wasted in such a scenario.
Equip Yourself with Basic Mechanics Skills
When looking to buy a salvage car, you will likely rely a lot on a mechanic. However, the mechanic is human too and can miss things that can lead to you buying a lemon. To be safe, pick up some mechanic skills of your own and work alongside your mechanic when checking the car. By collaborating, you can catch issues that one person can easily miss.
Recap
Buying a lemon car is a terrible feeling. Not only is it a money pit, but it also makes you feel stupid. By following the steps above, you can find the right car for you.
