9 Black Friday Used Car Shopping Tips

Black Friday is quite literally upon us. This is the one time each year when people are willing to inflict pain on others to get what they want. Thankfully, the car industry isn’t as bad, even though there are some deals to be found. While this article isn’t necessarily restomod specific, chances are good that we can’t all drive our classics around every day.

Chances are also good that you’re like me and cannot afford a new vehicle, having to opt for used, or “pre-owned.”

As someone who has bought several used cars throughout my lifetime (and across the world), I can say that there is a way to do it to make sure you don’t get burned. Here are a few tips to buying a used car, that have helped me over the years:

Research your ride:

Everything has changed since the internet came about. Nowadays, you can find just about anything you’re looking for on there. Doing a quick search on the car you’re looking at to find out any problems or recalls that were specific to this particular model can only help you out. You can also research the competition, to see if there is a better option out there.

The more you know when you go into the dealer, the better off you’ll be. This is especially true with price. You need to have a solid understanding of what the car you’re looking to buy is worth before you even step foot anywhere near it. More on this in a bit.

Research the place:

Let’s say you found a car you really like. You researched it, and they are generally reliable, though every model can have lemons. It hopefully has great reviews and minimal issues. So now, the best bet, would be to research the place where you plan to buy.

Do another internet search, only do it on the dealership this time. Read several reviews, both 5-star and 1-star, to get a good feeling about the place. Keep in mind that you can’t please everybody, and some people just like to complain. So, it’s safe to say that a few negative experiences are fine.

If there are multiple bad experiences, stay away.

Craigslist can be tricky.

I’ve had good and bad experiences on Craigslist. What makes it difficult is that you can’t really research who you’re buying from so you have to trust the person to tell the truth. It’s a good idea to ask for service records if they’ve got them. Personally, I’m horrible at record keeping, but I rarely ever sell my cars. I either drive them into the dirt or trade them in for a slightly newer model.

Bring someone in the know:

No matter where you’re buying a used car from, whether at a dealership or private sale, always bring someone to check the car out for you. I was a mechanic for several years so I usually just bring myself. I’ve also been asked by friends on multiple occasions to check cars out before.

Don’t be afraid to ask a dealership to put a car on the lift for you to check out. I’ve done it before, and if they are serious about selling you a car, they’ll do it for you. I almost bought a Pontiac Firebird Formula with some serious damage. Had I not checked underneath, I would have bought a real turd. If they say that you cannot look, go somewhere else, because they may be hiding something.

Get the details:

They keep excellent records now. So, know what you’re getting yourself into by asking for the report.

Test drive:

The test drive is crucial to making sure you get a good car. Test drive the car for as long as you can, and pay attention to everything. In fact, one thing I like to do, is have someone else drive it first while I ride shotgun, so I can listen to how the car sounds.

Check the radio to make sure it works well and to make sure there aren’t any blown speakers. Then turn it off for the rest of the time. The last thing you want is to be distracted by your favorite song and miss a knock.

Inspect everything:

Think about it like this, would you buy a house without an inspection? I bought a Z/28 once without checking out everything. I was just ecstatic to have the car. I didn’t notice the tear in the seat, the window switch that was a different color than the rest of the interior, the paint chipping on the hood, etc.

From that point on, I decided to inspect everything. If you don’t, you’ll notice little things down the road that will irritate you. That tear in my seat continued to grow, until the entire seat was damaged.

Download KBB:

Smart phones are all the rage these days. Kelly Blue Book has an app that lets you research cars at your fingertips, as well as check out what you could expect to pay for any given car based on its options and condition. Whenever I buy a car, I download this application so I can check them out on the go.

Haggle:

Don’t be afraid to haggle. I personally don’t haggle well because my chosen form of communication is by writing. So, I usually bring my wife with me who has done a great job of getting dimes and cents off the cost of the car. If they aren’t willing to move on price, find someone who will.

One of the ways that you can be successful in haggling, is by looking the car over in detail, and keeping a mental note of everything you find wrong with the car. Tires balding? You’ll need to buy new ones. Brakes look low? You’ll need new ones. Rust damage? You’ll need to fix it. Get the point?

Buying a car sucks. It’s one of the longest, most tedious processes out there. Make sure you’re taking the time to get a decent one so you’re not banging your head on the wall later, wishing you actually checked it out in further detail.

Now I need you to do me a solid. Please, if you haven’t already, like our Facebook page. Then, when you’re done with that, let us know how you buy used cars.