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Car Parts to Watch out for When Buying Used Cars
There are several factors to consider when buying used car. But ultimately that everything buyers need is to get the best-looking car at the cheapest price possible. This is good since new cars are really that expensive. However, the problem lies here. If you only seek for the “best-looking”, you might only focus on the exterior and interior of the car. You might focus particularly more on the color of the paint, the smooth, scratch free and dent free the body, the rust-free interior, and the cleanliness of the seat and dashboards.
Same through when you look after the price. You only focus on how much would you pay without really examining thoroughly what type of car you are buying. This gives major problem in the end. You might be very excited to drive home your car but you probably neglect the most important aspect: the parts’ durability and reliability.
When we say, “used car”, we mean cars that have covered several thousand miles or maybe several hundred thousand miles. And when cars are used, the parts of course are used. And when these parts are used, their efficiency depreciates and their value decreases. Added to that is the fact that these car parts have mile limits. When these parts have reached their individual limits, they have to be replaced. These parts include alternator, brake rotors, brake drums, brake calipers, clutch, headlamp, sealed front bearings, shock absorbers, starter, timing belt, and timing chain.
To guide you more about the mile limits of these parts, check the table below:
Clutch, 75,000 miles
Shock absorbers, 75,000 miles
Brake rotors, 80,000 miles
Timing chain, 100,000 miles
Timing belt, 100,000 miles
Starter, 100,000 miles
Headlamp, 100,000 miles
Sealed front bearings, 125,000 miles
Alternator, 125,000 miles
Brake calipers, 150,000 miles
Brake drums, 150,000 miles
Consequently, when the vehicle reaches the 100,000-mile mark (or equivalent to 5 years), it is susceptible to major repairs. And more often than not, repairs are very expensive. When the vehicle has reached the 150,000-mile mark, there are parts that should also be replaced. The paint for example must have deteriorated over the time. The upholstery needs to be replaced and the interior flooring should have already suffered badly. The tires that should be replaced every 30,000 miles should be on its way to its 5th set already. And parts that are replaced on the 75,000-mile should undergo its second replacement.
The point here is, when you are buying used cars, you should ready yourself to take on the consequences of spending more on these car parts every now and then. This is not say though that you should not buy used cars. What we are trying to arrive at here is to make sure that when you buy used cars, you should consider these parts during the check. And the best and the easiest way to know it is by looking at the mile reading.
When you get the reading, you can project the time when you need to replace these parts. To help you out on the decision-making, you can ask a friend who knows about the ins and outs of the car or a professional mechanic. They would give you better views what car to buy and what is not.
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