How to Avoid Buying a Lemon Vehicle
Buying a vehicle that turns out to be alemoncan be a costly endeavor and one that brings much hardship. Not only do you lose the money that was originally used to purchase the car but potentially any additional money that is put towards repairs on the vehicle. Due to the large number of "lemons" on the market every state has adopted some type of lemon law that protects buyers from this financial risk, but there are some steps you can take on your own to avoid the problem altogether.
The first step you want to take whenlooking for a new vehicleis to do your research. Whether you plan to buy a new or used vehicle the risk of buying a lemon is still there as many vehicle models have a history of inconsistency even when purchased brand new. Research various cars using the Internet to try to narrow down the list of ones that you are interested in, and then read reviews of them. You can find out a lot about a particular make of vehicle by going on-line and reading the owner's forums relating to them. If you research the car you are interested in on-line and find page after page of sites dealing with repairs to them and listing complaints by their owners this may be a sign that this isn't the car for you.
When you are at the lot before you even take the car for a test drive be sure tolook it overthoroughly. Some main points of interest include checking out the engine to see what condition it is in, it is also a good idea to check the condition of the fluids when doing this. If you are looking at a used car be sure to check the condition of the oil, most car lots will change the oil before selling a vehicle but if you check it and it appears dirty or worse, move on. Other points of interest include the wheels of the car, look for signs of uneven wear as this may be a sign that the vehicle has a suspension issue.
It's also a good idea to see what the normal maintenance issues on the car may involve and how intensive the labor may be. There's nothing worse then going to change the spark plugs on your new vehicle and finding that they are buried beneath the upper intake manifold and require hours of labor just to reach. If possible also check the vehicle history report of the car in question and always avoid buying a car or truck that has been in an accident or damaged by weather elements. By buying your new vehicle at a reputable dealer you can avoid many of the pitfalls of buying a car as these dealers work very hard to ensure that their reputation stays intact.
If at all possible when taking a car for a test drive have a mechanic available who can look the car over for you. Mechanics have precious knowledge regarding certain vehicles and their opinion is invaluable when purchasing a car. If the car you are looking at is a model that they often see in their shop it may be a good idea to turn around and take it right back to the lot. By following these precautions you can greatly reduce the risk of buying a lemon, therefore saving yourself a great deal of time and money.
