10 Tell Tale Signs a Used Car is a ‘Lemon’

Buying a used car isn’t easy. The user car retail business is one with a significantly alarming scam rate. If you area first time used car buyer, you are more than likely to pay more for the car than it is actually worth as dealers can differentiate between a new buyer and a skilled one effortlessly.

We bring you a list of 10 signs a used car is a lemon, as is the term for a vehicle that is trouble. Read on if you don’t want life to give you a very expensive lemon.

1.  The Dealer Insists on the Window Sticker Price

The window sticker is the price a dealer places on the vehicle. If your dealer insists on bargaining on the window sticker, chances are they have inflated the price drastically to get you to negotiate and come down to the price they want.

Don’t even give the window sticker a second look and ask for the invoice. The invoice shows how much the dealer paid for the car and what you should be paying for it. The dealer will resist showing you the invoice, so you’d be better off doing your research on the expected price point before making your way to the dealership.

2. If the Warranty Sounds Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is.

Sometimes dealers offer supposedly exceptional warranties on used cars to blindside the buyer into purchasing a vehicle not worth half the asking price. If the engine is heavily damaged or the car has other mechanical issues that make it unfit for long term use, then the warranty is going to do you no good.

But the dealer won’t tell you that. They will not point out the damaged parts but will focus on all that the warranty covers. If you see that happening, you need to walk away and come back with a trusted mechanic to double-check the vehicle and identify any and all issues the car may have. A mechanic can also help you identify the actual worth of the car to prevent you from overpaying.

3. Worn Tires Map out the Cars Journey and Its Condition

If your tire tread is uneven, it shows the car has traveled far and wide. It also indicates that the previous owner did not pay attention to the maintenance requirements of the vehicle. In fact, tires can tell you what the car has been through. Worn out tires indicate long travel and excessive load on the vehicle. If there is cupping, then it could indicate a problem with the brakes as well.

A well-maintained car’s tires will show an even tread, and the tires will hold their shape well. Make sure you look at the wheels and not just the car.

4. Uneven Paint Job on the Body

Sometimes a poor paint job is harder to identify for those who do not have a trained eye. We recommend you take an experienced used car buyer with you to identify such problems. Make sure you note the side of the car, the bumpers, and the area near the headlights in particular as these are the areas that are most susceptible to damages and scratches.

If the paint looks uneven or the area looks dented, ask for the vehicle history before making the purchase. Sometimes, the damage doesn’t look like much but can actually cost you an arm and a leg later.

5. The Car Doesn’t Bounce Smoothly.

At the dealership, walk around the car and conduct a thorough visual inspection. When at the back, push down on the bumper. If the car doesn’t bounce back, chances are the suspension is heavily damaged. Repeat the same process at the front and walk away from the vehicle if it is stiff.

Repairing the suspension is very challenging and costly, and often dealers do a patch job that holds up only for a few days. So make sure you check the suspension stiffness before purchasing the vehicle.

6. Cars Locks and Windows Don’t Function Properly.

While it may seem like a minor problem, it could, in fact, indicate a complicated issue with the car’s electrical system. If the window only rolls down halfway or the one door doesn’t lock or unlock on command like the others, then you should get it checked before buying the vehicle.

Such problems only worsen with time, and you could find yourself unable to lock your vehicle at all or be unable to roll up your window once and if you do manage to roll it down.

7. Foul Odor in the Car

A well-maintained car will not have any odors lurking around. However, if the previous owner was a heavy smoker, you probably should reconsider the purchase. It is tough to get rid of the cigarette smoke smell from the car. In fact, it gets worse during the summer, and it may become unbearably uncomfortable.

8. Broken or Neglected Interior

Cracks on the dashboard, broken compartments, and sunscreens all represent years of neglect by the previous owner. Do not purchase a vehicle that looks like it hasn’t been cleaned or the interior hasn’t polished in forever. Dust can cause a substantial amount of harm to the vehicle’s interior, and unless you are willing to pay for a complete revamp, we suggest you look for another car.

9. Random and Excessive Modifications to the Body

Some modifications look cool and show that a car is well-loved by the owner, but others look like they were a DIY job. They look sloppy and take away from the look and feel of the vehicle. They also make the car unfit for the road.

Fake vents or increasing or decreasing the car’s height can end up spelling trouble in capital letters a few years down the line. You will also have to pay the extra cost of getting them removed if they don’t suit your aesthetics, and you don’t even know the kind of damage the body could have gone through unless you remove the modifications.

10. A Tampered Odometer

An odometer tells you the total mileage a car has traveled. The lower the mileage, the higher the price, and the better the condition the car and its engine will be in. You may be able to find a car with a lot of mileage but is in ideal condition, but that is a rare occasion.

Dealers often mess with the odometer to reduce the total mileage and increase the price. Again, this is not something you will be able to identify on your own, so make sure to take an expert with you.

Tampering with the odometer is surprisingly common, and dealers do that even on cars that are in ideal condition just to raise the price a bit more. If you can detect that the dealer messed with the odometer, you can use that as an edge to get a better bargain.

Final Word!

Buying a used car can be a very stressful process. Make sure you take an expert with you, or you may end up paying more than the car is worth. Dealers even sell cars with salvage or rebuilt titles without telling the customer until the purchase is made. Such a scam is harder to pull off, but it happens, and we are all susceptible to these frauds.

You can’t really make lemonade out of a lemon that you buy. It is always better to be safe than sorry, so make sure you aren’t making a hasty purchase decision. Refer to our list of 10 telltale signs a used car is a lemon and avoid paying a fortune to bring it home. We suggest you do your research about market value before you get to the dealer and always take an expert with you that can cross-check the dealer’s claims.

See our best offers on quality used cars, trucks, vans and SUVs for sale at PA Auto Sales. Buy A Used Car With Confidence.