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checking out a (cheapish) used car
What's your itinerary?
Me? Given the experiences I've had, this is the basic looking over I would give it: 1) pull oil dipstick - look for yogurt, indicative of blown intake or head gaskets. Could also look for metal particles. 2) pull tranny dipstick. If fluid is black or close, or brown and not clear, I'll probably walk. Most used cars these days have brownish fluid, it's unavoidable. Needs to be clear though mostly IMHO. 3) look under car for leaks, excessive rust. 4) look at coolant. One car I saw recently had green and orange coolant mixed. Gag. WATER IS A NO NO. Unless perhaps it there isn't excessive rust. 5) test drive of course. See if it shifts properly or gives any indication of a failing/slipping tranny. 6) look at fluids again after driving. I don't know, seems to make sense. Once everything is mixed up. Care to add anything? Clearly tires matter, lots of things matter. But a strong engine and tranny matters most. |
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checking out a (cheapish) used car
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checking out a (cheapish) used car
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checking out a (cheapish) used car
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#5
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checking out a (cheapish) used car
I'm a GM fan also. I steer a little shy of the 4 cylinder models lately, maybe has to do w/certain horror stories I've heard lately. Not suggesting they aren't solid though. Had an 88 4 cyl Baretta, 2.8 Baretta, 3.4 Lumina (NOT!), 3.1 Lumina (a marvel), and a 3.4 Venture (oi vay). The 3.4s and supposedly the 3.1s even are prone to gasket failure, to the 3.4 I can personally verify, but now I hear that also w/the 5.7 LT1!!! I guess you just got to know how far certain engines can go before a partial (top engine) overhaul is required.
Good stuff Paul. I'll be adding that stuff to my list when practical. |
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checking out a (cheapish) used car
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#7
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checking out a (cheapish) used car
Pay for the CarFax. Or the equivalent, there's another good place out there, I forget the name.
I failed to do this last time, at a dealer, and it turned out to be a bad mistake. |
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