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What To Look For When Buying Used Cars
While a new vehicle will cost you at least fifteen thousand dollars or more depending on the model, you'll only need to spend a fraction on that if you know where to look for used cars. If you don't mind trying to find a good deal, you can easily buy one for one thousand dollars.
First of all, you'll have to accept that you're trading in a lot for the price. A vehicle in that price range will typically be ten to twenty years old, so familiarize yourself with the models of the seventies, eighties and nineties. A less popular model of that time will actually make for a good deal because more popular models will be far more common and have a lower resale value.
Remember that it's what's inside that counts. Look at the cars engine, wheels and make sure everything (or at least most of everything) is functional. If the asking price is around a thousand dollars, chances are it will have dings and paint scratches all over. The important thing is that it runs well over long distances.
You probably won't find these kinds of prices at a used car lot. The overheads force the dealer to raise prices on old vehicles, but you never know. The best places to look are around your own neighborhood, especially around repair shops. Sometimes, people sell or abandon their vehicle when they can't afford the repairs, and it is easy for the shop to part with one for the cost of the original repairs.
If you're not particularly well versed with automobiles, bring along a friend who is. He'll be able to check the engine, electronics and oil. You don't want to drive out of the shop only to be pulled over for a faulty light.
Before closing the deal, make sure the papers are in order. You can get a good deal with these used cars, but you'll have to do more work to make sure everything is okay.