Best Used Cars to Buy

When you imagine a classic car perhaps you imagine an MG or perhaps a gleaming well-adored Jaguar, but it is unlikely that the Mitsubishi Colt would be first on your mental list. Nevertheless, at nearly fifty years old the Colts you can purchase new these days are the result of half a century of sophisticated, brilliant style and design, making them an unseen present day classic.

The very first Colt models were debuted at the 9th Tokyo Motorshow in 1962.The five-seat, two door Mitsubishi Colt 600 was driven by an air-cooled 594 cc twin cylinder OHV engine coupled with a top speed of 62mph. Made in Mitsubishi’s Okazaki manufacturing facility the passenger car, a successor to the well-known Mitsubishi 500 Super Deluxe, placed second and third in the under 600 cc category of the 1963 Malaysian Grand Prix.

The Colt 600’s smart sleek and stylish look was born from the demand to manipulate local Japanese tax and insurance rules, and in most non-urban areas it was exempted from the prerequisite to certify that ample parking was available for the car.

Following the success of the 600 model the larger compact Colt 1000 was launched in 1963, followed by the Colt 800 and Colt 1500 in 1965, and the Colt 1100 in 1966. As Mitsubishi Motors started to expand internationally the English were initially treated to an altogether different interpretation of the Colt brand, as all Mitsubishis were sold under that marque in the United Kingdom by the freshly established Colt Car Company.It wasn’t until 1984 this naming protocol was phased out, establishing Mitsubishi firmly as a brand name into Britain.

In the 70s Japan was hit by a fuel crisis and a lot of car makers responded with economic updates to their lines. Mitsubishi’s response was the three-door front wheel drive Mirage with innovative ‘Supershift’ transmission and a unique large-windowed design. Although not called a Colt in Japan the range was exported to the USA as the Dodge Colt and Plymouth Champ and the innovative Colt specifications scooped the best United States Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy rating that year. In Britain the Mirage again fell within the marque of the Colt and was distinguished from other models by engine size, with the names Colt 1200 and Colt 1400.

This was just the beginning of the story, a tale which continues today with the current Colt models, such as the revolutionary MiEV along with the intelligently developed Colt Cleartec, giving everyone the chance to drive a classic bit of history which is leading the way in to the future.

So you are in the market for a used car or truck. Can you tell a great deal from a lemon? Do you know how to get the best deal? Where do you start?

There are so many things to consider when buying a used car, including all the things you would want to focus on if you were buying new. But there are special issues to cover when purchasing used. For most people, the main goals are saving money and making sure they don’t end up with a lemon on their hands. The following 5 tips will help you to avoid a possible money trap.

#1 – Do your research

You have many options. The Internet makes searching for used cars to buy easy, but remember to spend the time to really do your homework. If saving money is your top goal, try to remain flexible in your search. There might be a great deal on a different make or model than you were thinking of. Or in a different town altogether.

#2 – Speak with the seller
So you’ve identified a vehicle of interest. The next step is to speak to the seller (even if only by email) and ask a few basic questions:

#3 – Inspect the car

Once you gotten all the information and narrowed your list to vehicles that “appear” to be a good deal, you need to see those vehicles in person. Ideally, you should bring someone else with you. Even if they don’t have a better understanding of cars than you do, the extra set of eyes – and a more emotionally detached set of eyes – can’t hurt.

Here are a few tips to make sure someone doesn’t make lemonade out of you:

1. Always schedule a time to see the vehicle during the day, when there is good light to spot any visible flaws.

2. Ask your friend to look as thoroughly as you do.

3. [spin]Take your time with your examination. This a crucial step you don’t want to rush and overlook anything. Don’t let the seller hanging around make you feel rushed.

4. Observe all the bodylines, do the hood, trunk, and doors line up with the rest of the car? If they don’t this could be a sign that the car was in a serious crash.

5. Look for signs of repainting by checking for over spray in the trunk and the engine compartment. Overspraying would be a sign that the car has had bodywork done, most likely following a crash.

6.Check for rust on the undercarriage and inside the car and trunk. Rust on the inside on bolts and other metal fasteners is a possible sign of flood damage.

7. Check the tread wear pattern on the tires. Uneven wear could be a sign of a suspension problem.

8. Test all the power options, including locks, trunk, windows, lights, etc.

9. Turn on the air conditioning and the heater (not at the same time!), as well as the defroster.

10. Look for any signs of leaks in the engine compartment (Oil, coolant, etc.)

#4 – Take a test drive

Now that the vehicle has passed a simple visual and touch inspection, it’s time to find out how the moving parts all work (a car is of little use if it won’t move properly). Don’t be shy to ask the seller to come along. If there are unexpected noises that pop up while you are on your test drive, you might want to ask him about them.

In a vehicle with an automatic transmission watch for signs of slippage. When you accelerate, there should be no hesitation between the engine’s acceleration and the car’s. If there is, it is a sure sign of transmission wear (with a costly repair just around the corner).

Test the brakes, both regular and ABS. The car should stop straight and quickly, without pulling to one side and without any vibration. The one thing more important in a car than going is stopping

#5 – Negotiate the price of the car

OK. The car passes your visual inspection, it passes a road test and your independent mechanic (don’t forget him) gives you the green light. No lemon here. But how to get the best deal?

Buying a used car from a used car dealer and a private seller they are two very different experiences. This is most apparent when it comes to negotiating. Dealers are seasoned negotiators; private sellers are not.

Here are a few tips to help you with negotiating:

1. Use the knowledge you gained when researching. The price of a used car is based entirely on its condition, mileage, reliability, performance and popularity

2. Try to remain positive and confident and if you need some handholding bring along a friend for moral support.

3. If you think you will need some financial help, speak to your bank first and see what kind of rates you can get. If you don’t know what you can afford, you cannot negotiate with confidence.

4. You will most likely end up paying more than your offer Make your opening offer low, but one that is still realistic..

By following these five steps and keeping your options open you are bound to buy a good used car that will not only meet your needs but also your budget.

Obtain helpful info in the sphere of 0 car finance – please make sure to read the site. The time has come when concise information is truly at your fingertips, use this opportunity.

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