Seven Ways to Avoid Buying a Used-Car Lemon

When we buy a car, here's what we do:

• Save up for it in advance -- starting when we buy the previous one for cash
• When our current car gets to the point where it's getting unreliable, a pain to fix, and/or costly to repair/maintain, we identify which models we might be interested in
• We check out Consumer Reports to see which of our favorite models have good reliability
• We test drive all of the cars from our list that Consumer Reports likes
• Once we decide on a model we want to buy, I head to the web to do any final research and start the buying process
• While negotiating, I use a variety of tactics to get the best price possible
• When I pick up the car, I make sure they don't try to tack on needless costs
• I pay cash for the car -- and start the savings process all over again
• I drive the car until problems/issues arise (which is usually 7-10 years), and then start the process all over again

Now I know that you can save a good amount by buying used cars, but I'm not mechanically minded and don't want the time, hassle, potential "lemon" problem associated with buying a used car. But I know many of you do buy used and many more would like to. For all of you, Bankrate offers some thoughts on how to avoid buying a used car that's a lemon as follows:

• Get a CarFax report.
• Beware of cars with out-of-state titles.
• If you're looking at a 4-year-old Ford, for example, copy the vehicle identification number and take it to a Ford dealer and ask if they will run the service record through their computer.
• Beware of cars with no records of oil changes and other routine service.
• Look for evidence of major body or paint work.
• Pull up some of the carpeting and look for sediment or signs of mildew.
• Here's an oldie but goodie: Check for excessive wear in the rubber brake pedal pad.

They end with another bit of useful advice:

Lastly, if a deal on a used car seems too good to be true, it probably is. Even in a bad economy, no one is going to give away a car that's worth $6,000 for $3,000.

Ok, all you used car buying experts out there -- anything else to add?

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