By David Leonhardt and Corey Rozon Pre-owned and used cars may be a good investment. Since a car depreciates so much the moment you drive it off the lot, a used car is the most economical way to go. However if you have ever wondered about the best way to buy a used car to ensure that you are not buying a lemon, the following article contains six helpful tips to help you from ended up with a Junker. 1) The first thing you want to do is ask the seller why they are selling their used car. Put them on the defense, this way they will have to come up with a quick answer, if they hesitate they may have something to hide. It is best to ask this in person, so you can judge not only their tone, but also their body language. Most people are terrible liars. 2) Next ask the seller to point out all known defects and problems. When doing your own inspection if you find obvious problems that the seller did not mention they might hiding something and there could be more wrong with the vehicle then they are letting on. 3) Always try to see the used car at the seller's house. The tidiness of their house will let you know what kind of car owner they are. Furthermore you'll be able to look at the driveway and hopefully the garage. Look for stains and leaks in the driveway and garage. Rust colored stains indicate a leaking radiator, black or brown puddles and stains indicate oil or transmission fluid leaks and purple puddles indicate transmission fluid leaks. If you see these, you are probably wise to just move on. 4) Ask for all the maintenance records, proof of oil changes and tune-ups. If they don't have it, for all you know the oil has never been changed. 5) Look at all the seams in the car, the gaps should be the same distance apart at the top of a panel as they are at the bottom. Uneven gaps or small dents can suggest accident damage. The paint should match on all panels, and beware of body-kits and custom paint jobs. They may look cool, but they could be hiding damage to the chassis below. Look for over spray on plastic parts, around lights, mirrors and edges of the engine bay. 6) Look for flood or water damage by looking for rust on door hinges, on the spare tire, crowbar, jack and metal holdings under the seats. If you find any rusting in these places, it may have had extensive water damage and it is best to move on. Remember taking the used car to get a proper inspection by a mechanic prior to purchasing it is the most effective way of ensuring you won't get stuck with a lemon. However if you want to save yourself a lot of headaches the best way to buy your used car is from a reputable dealer.
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