What is a subtle red flag when checking out a used car?

Question

Erhan · Accepted Answer

Ratings (for used car dealerships) can be an excellent start to finding red flags, but you have to know what you are looking for...  Do they have an equal amount of 5 star and 1 star ratings? 1a. If so, are are the 5 star rating descriptions vague while the 1 star rating descriptions crazy detailed with very similar stories? Do the ratings on every social media and used car web site have similar patterns? Does the manager from the used car dealership comments on multiple (if not every) negative rating or comment with a similar story that comes across as combative towards the rater?  If you see these patterns, while not a deal breaker, be very careful. If there are only 10-15 rating scores given, rule this out as a way to determine anything...However, if there are more then 50 rating scores given, definitely look for any patterns that seem odd...

Soleil · Answer

new paint job. it could have been in a crash and then fixed and painted the same color. You can check the body lines with you finger for a little edge to see if there was a tape line..

Kelebek · Answer

Stick on chrome trim.

Entela · Answer

Bring a flashlight and check the undercarriage for oil splattered around.

Agca · Answer

If all the pictures for it on Facebook or Craigslist show the car wet. They could be hiding a paint or clear coat problem. Also if they post a bunch of pictures of everything but one section. Check that section first. I was going to buy a truck. Seller said it had never been painted. I asked him why Driver's side of the bed had a Platinum sticker and the Passenger's side did not. Never heard from him again.

Johanna Bumgarner · Answer

Their story on what they did with it before selling it. My dad went to check out a truck when I was a teenager. The guy who owned it talked about driving it up a mountain every winter to go skiing. I looked at the undercarriage of the truck, and it was rusted all to shit. I told my dad I noticed that and we disappeared like a fart in a hurricane.

Sabine Gottschalk · Answer

Step in front of the car, look at it from the sides, notice if things dont align on the sides from that perspective. They dont? The car was crashed and put back together.

maryna · Answer

uneven gaps between panels, fresh paint, rust spots, failed inspection, shady looking people, unknown service history, when seller just won't shut up during test drive(or playing loud music during testdrive). list goes on

Emmilotta · Answer

"The odometer reading is suspiciously low in relation to the overall "worn look" of the car. "

CIRA · Answer

The engine is already warm when you take it for a test drive. Generally means it has problems with a cold start and they've let it warm up so you don't see that.

Xenos · Answer

Extremely clean engine bay and engine.

Giovanna · Answer

It's not from CarMax.  Not an advertisement. It's just that I highly appreciated my car buying experience from them than from local sellers, that charged more for lesser vehicles.

Celia · Answer

if you see any weirdly textured patches of paint, even slightly, tap on the patch, and then the rest of the car. if the patch sounds different, it might be bondo, and the car may have been in a wreck, make sure to ask about that. sometimes private car dealerships will sell cars covered in bondo claiming they're in good condition, for WAY more than they're worth. Also, if the inside of the car smells weird, make sure to check and see if the foam in the ceiling is disintegrating. if the ceiling can be pinched, and it feels soft and gritty, the ceiling has at least sort of disintegrated. foam only lasts so long.

Maynard · Answer

Lots of 'spare parts' included in the sale. Never buy someone else's project!

DANUTA · Answer

No motor, I think you need one of those

Quentin · Answer

A very clean Engine bay. If it looks like it has been cleaned it may be because something was leaking. I'd rather trust a dirty engine bay then a pristine looking engine bay.

Ute Kortig · Answer

Funky smells, uneven tire wear, mismatched tires.

KEMBERLY · Answer

US confederate flag

Leonie Faerber · Answer

little flag of the soviet union

Sipel · Answer

There is half of the same model car in the backyard.

Quigly · Answer

it was put on sale shortly prior to a needed registration check. not sure how you call those in other countries, but basically the yearly inspection you have to do at the mechanic before getting it registered again legally to drive for another year. Some people sell because they know it won't pass again...

Juliane Braun · Answer

No plates or Registraion, car theft is a problem here and its common to sell it to Out of Towners

Demetria · Answer

No service records. Unevenly worn tires. Totally plugged cabin air filter. Wear on gas/brake pedals doesn't match the mileage.  Sales staff warm up engine before you arrive. (Have the sales staff start vehicle when cold so you can see if there's lots of smoke in the exhaust.)

Mohadeseh · Answer

"There was a Life Pro Tip in the last two weeks that said when you turn the car on that all the warning lights should come on. If they don't they have disconnected some to hide an issue. Check the tire tread. I've got a tire with dry rot from sitting in one spot for awhile. Also, if you have a tread gauge, new tires come with 9/32" of tread. Or you can always do the penny check. If you're looking at a buy here pay here place. If they will only tell you the amount of the downpayment but not the cash price for the vehicle run away. "

Ella-Maria · Answer

Is there sludge on the underside of the oil filler cap? This could indicate poor servicing or predominantly short journey use

Prissie · Answer

Reminder that in the UK can check a cars full MOT and tax history online for free.

Kamila · Answer

A bomb, don't turn it on until you fully check it.

Jasmiina · Answer

Low oil

Casey · Answer

Price. If it's too good to be true, it probably is.

Marina Rothschild · Answer

Corrosion. As soon as a car corrodes, it's a losing battle that's difficult to stop. Heavy corrosion where there's literally holes in structurally important parts, will write off the car (I had a car that corroded around the seat belt bolts. The sills are another important area. And I heard a horror story where Lotus Elise cars were written off when they corroded at the suspension mounting points).  In my opinion, corrosion is why you don't see many old cars on the roads these days.

Ulla-Marja · Answer

Empty Stop leak bottles in the trunk.

Isabella · Answer

The Vauxhall logo has a pretty subtle red flag.

Helmi-Sofia · Answer

A small coloured piece of felt on a pole

What is a subtle red flag when checking out a used car?

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