A Used Car Isn't Always the Cheapest Option
New cars can really break the bank, so opting for a cheaper, used one is the obvious choice. However, even they can cost you through the nose, especially if you fall into one of these pitfalls.
Skipping the Pre-Purchase Inspection
Pre-purchase inspections (or PPIs) are essentially a health check-up for your car - preferably performed by a trusted mechanic rather than a doctor. The idea is that they can detect any issues under the surface that your own modest once-over might have missed. The price can seem steep, but it might save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
Bad Fuel Economy
It doesn’t matter how gorgeous and curvaceous that SUV with the sunroof is, if you don’t get decent miles to the gallon - or MPG - on that baby, you’re going to be haemorrhaging money. Older models, neglected engines and poor design can leak MPG and end up costing you huge sums annually.
Ignoring Timing Belt Replacement
Before you buy a secondhand car, you need to check if it uses a timing chain or a belt - they’re very different. A chain can last a long time, while a belt wears out quickly and snaps at the drop of a hat. They can destroy your engine in the process, especially if the vehicle has an interference engine.
Worn-Out Suspension
No one wants to know how the sausage gets made, yet suspension is an important part of cars and performs a vital duty to your wheeled warrior. It keeps everything running smoothly, and if your car’s vibrating like a toddler on too much juice, it can be an expensive fix. Don’t skip suspension checks!
Electrical Gremlins
Your future car shouldn’t look like it could be an extra on “The Exorcist.” Anything that gives you polterguest vibes - radios playing in reverse, flickering lights, electronic components that ghost you - are red flags that your car’s possessed by the spirits of water damage past.
Rust Problems
Rust is basically metal rot, but the fact that it turns your car an ugly color and texture is the least of your worries. It spreads like the plague, and while it’s bad (and expensive) enough on the surface, it'll kill your vehicle if it reaches interior parts.
Headlight/Brake Light Wiring Issues
That sinking feeling you get when you replace a headlamp bulb and the light still doesn’t work? That’s faulty wiring, and it can cost you multiple times over if you try to go out after dark and the cops pull you over. Test every light, or you’ll be drowning in fines and shame.
“Check Engine” Light Guesswork
“The BIg Bang Theory” made the check engine light a joke, but it’s actually quite serious - it’s there to let you know something’s amiss. Anything can trigger it, from something as fixable as a loose gas cap to a full-on failing engine, so don’t play Russian roulette with your cash.
Out-Of-Date Transmission Fluid
Transmission fluid doesn’t stay good forever - it breaks down over time and loses its lubrication, then you’re stuck with goop gumming up your car’s innards (especially if it’s an automatic). It takes a couple of hundred dollars to change transmission fluid, vs thousands to rebuild or replace it. Yikes!
Aftermarket Mods Gone Wrong
There’s nothing wrong with aftermarket parts if they’re done right. However, the used car you buy might have been owned by a previous fan who tried to emulate the “Fast & Furious” movies before realizing it was harder than they thought. Bad mods can botch the vehicle and leave you thousands of dollars in debt.
No Maintenance Records
If there’s no paper trail for the used car you’re looking at, it’s probably been concealed for a reason. Assume the worst! Every skipped oil change or missed service will cost you more, so if a seller tells you there’s no maintenance records but it’s fine? Walk away slowly.
A/C That Barely Works
The realization that you didn’t check your secondhand car’s air conditioning can come back to haunt you when summer descends and you’re in a heated metal container. There are multiple reasons the A/C could fail, from needing a recharge to a complete system failure - the latter can cost $2500 or more.
Leaky Seals and Gaskets
Turning your garage floor into a modern art painting using the medium of oil is a very real concern if your used car is dripping mysterious fluids. Seals and gaskets aren’t sophisticated tech, but they’re still expensive - it costs thousands of dollars to reach the rear main seal if there’s a problem.
Premium Insurance on a “Cheap” Car
Just because your used car was a steal, doesn’t mean that the purchase ends at the price tag. Some models - particularly sporty ones or those with a high rate of theft - seem like a bargain until you realize you’d have to sell your house for the car insurance.
Battery & Alternator Woes
When your car starts to ghost you, it could be a sign your battery’s dead… or it could be something more serious, like a problem with your alternator. Flickering interior lights, dimming headlamps or power steering/brake errors are signs electric gremlins are partying and need to be evicted by a professional.
Emissions Failures
Some areas won’t even let you drive legally if you fail emissions tests, so if a seller’s trying to tell you “it just needs a reset” you should probably run away screaming. Whether it’s an oxygen sensor fault, faulty catalytic convertor or an EVAP leak, it’s all money leaving your bank.
Hidden Accident Damage
Some sneaky owners hide car damage under cosmetic touches, like smoke and mirrors… before the smoke starts pouring from the car and the mirrors snap off. PPI can help make sure your frames aren't bent or suspension misaligned before your car metaphorically implodes.
Blown Head Gasket
When white smoke begins pouring from your exhaust it’s a telltale sign you’re being haunted by the spirit of the bowl head gasket, a classic (and expensive) common failure. Ignore it at your peril though - if it goes unchecked you’ll either need a new engine or a new car.
Neglected Brake Systems
The brakes system is the last thing you should neglect on your car - it’s not just expensive, but downright dangerous, and the problems can escalate the longer you leave them. It starts with weak or noisy brakes, then before you know it you’re replacing rotors, calipers, brake lines and expensive master cylinders.
Limited Availability of Parts
That quirky or unusual car might look fun and funky, but how easy is it to get the parts? The same goes for rare and exotic models; they’re great eye-catchers and feel exclusive, but if you can’t source the parts (or they cost more than the car itself) you might want to reconsider the vehicle. Mechanics might even charge more to fix the rarer models!
