(Q)
What questions should buyers ask by telephone to better determine if a vehicle
is worth their time to investigate?
(A) How many miles has the
vehicle been driven
(the average is about 11,000 to 12,000 miles
per
year)?
-
Is the transmission an automatic, a semi-automatic,
or a manual? If the transmission
is not what the buyer
wants, there is no need to ask further questions.
-
Has the vehicle been repainted and if so, why? It is best to avoid repainted vehicles.
-
When are the next state inspection and emissions standard test due? The vehicle
should have a minimum of at least eight months remaining until the next required
state inspection and emissions test.
-
How often were the engine oil and the oil filter changed, and who performed the
service? An acceptable answer would be every 3,000 to 3,500 miles or about every
three to four months.
-
Are you the original owner of the vehicle?
Original owners tend to take better
care of
vehicles.
- What
is the reason that the vehicle is being
sold? It is encouraging if the individual
is
the original owner and if he or she is
planning to again buy the same
make of
vehicle.
(Q)
What if the owner is lying when answering questions
about a vehicle?
(A) It is worthwhile to obtain as much information about a
vehicle
as possible, therefore, buyers should ask questions.
The interior and exterior
inspections, and vehicle test-drive
help to verify the information provided
by the owner.
(Q)
How long should the vehicle test-drive take?
(A) It is worthwhile
to test-drive a vehicle for a minimum of 20 minutes on two separate occasions.
The test-drive should include a variety of roads that buyers will drive day-in
and day-out. (CONTINUE...) |
