Greetings friends of Steem!
In this post I want to share some useful tips that can be very useful when choosing a used car.
Nothing is similar to the exciting feeling of acquiring a new car from the dealership: that shine of the paint, that smell of new car inside, that excitement of removing the plastic protectors of the upholstery... actually a number of emotions that brings a new vehicle However, sometimes due to circumstances that depend on our budget, we must decide to acquire a used car.
A car that previously had one or more owners, even if it was well kept, will show signs of continuous use, which to a certain extent are inevitable in the body, interior and engine bay. For this reason, when we are to choose between several options we should know that there is no a perfect used vehicle, but what we must do is select the one that has the least amount of imperfections.
Here I offer some basic tips that I am sure will be of great help to determine the best option when buying a used car:
- Exterior and Interior Appearance
Two factors that greatly influence the price of a car that is not new are the aesthetic conditions of the body and the passenger compartment. Starting from the outside we must always check that the body panels look right. A good place to check if the car has suffered a major crash is underneath, inside the trunk and inside the engine compartment, because most body shops do not do much work in those hidden parts. A lightly faded or scratched paint is acceptable, but if there are indications of using a lot of automotive putty it means that the car was the victim of a strong impact. The lack of ornaments or accessories from outside does not affect the operation or integrity of the car but it devalues it.
From experience I have learned that it is better to choose a car with its original paint with the normal signs of age than one recently painted, since many times the paint is used to hide major defects.
Once reviewed the external part, we should enter the car and inspected carefully the upholstery and plastics of the interior (A good indicator of wear are the pads of the pedals), the carpeting, and most importantly, verify that each and every one of the accessories (lights, windscreen wiper-washer, radio and HVAC system), indicators and instruments work perfectly. Insert the key into the ignition switch and turn it to the ON or RUN position (depending on the make) and observe, the meters should react indicating that they are operational, the warning and indication lights should turn on, recently there are many warning lights in the dashboards but there are 3 that should glow without exception and these are the OIL PRESSURE, REFRIGERANT TEMPERATURE and CHARGING SYSTEM.
Now turn the key again and crank the engine, it should start after a few seconds to indicate that it is fine tuned, if it does not start on the first it is not so serious but more than two attempts without success indicate a minor problem, once the engine has started the 3 lights I had mentioned should go off and the meters should indicate the actual fuel level, engine rpm, coolant temperature, and oil pressure and charging voltage if the cluster includes them.
Another thing that I have learned with experience is that there is no excuse for a dashboard that does not work well more than the carelessness of the owner or bad mechanics. Totally unacceptable.
- Leaks
Now let's make a visual inspection of the engine. Very dirty or rusty parts can be evidence of a mediocre maintenance that will give problems sooner rather than later. Any leaking or dripping of fluids in a car is a sign that it needs repair. It is for this reason that it is very important to inspect the engine in detail from the top and bottom. A black or brown fluid may indicate a leakage of engine oil or manual transmission, a green, blue or red aqueous fluid may be due to a refrigerant leak and an intense red oily liquid would indicate a leak in the automatic transmission. Also particular attention should be given to leaks in the back of each wheel which would mean a loss of brake fluid which is not only serious but dangerous.
With the engine running check the exhaust pipe, if it is cold it is normal to see water vapor coming out of it and also certain drops of water which indicates that the combustion inside the engine is as clean as possible thanks to being well tuned. What is unacceptable is the bluish-white smoke that is evidence of wear inside the engine that consumes oil and needs to be repaired soon, or a black smoke that is proof of bad combustion, the result of a bad maintenance routine.
- Drive It!
Try to perform a test drive in the streets and on a highway that allows you to go fast within legal limits, in this way you will have a better idea of the operation of the engine, transmission, steering, brakes, and suspension of the car at low and high speeds. It is very important to keep your eyes and ears open to detect any excessive noise or unusual behavior.
These are the three basic aspects that we must consider before deciding if we want to proceed to buy or not a used car, however if you are still undecided with your findings during the inspection, it is always advisable to seek the opinion of a mechanic of your full confidence to check the car. As a professional, is easier for him to discover any problem and determine if the price of the car is worth it.
I hope this information helps in the selection of a car if you want to buy a used one. Thanks for reading, do not forget to comment, follow and vote! Greetings and until next time!
I wish to thank all that support me everyday in this comunity 
Greetings. Se you next time!
Based upon the book Manual del automóvil Manuel Arias Paz 55th Edition: A