8 Situations When You Should Never Buy That Used Car

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While some used cars deserve a second look, there are also those that you should not just walk away from, but run away from, whenever possessing any one of these eight red flags, warns this mechanic.

Whenever shopping for a used car, you have to keep an eye out for red flags that signal something amiss with the car being sold. That was the message in a recent Car Wizard YouTube channel episode where he warns viewers that a lot of bad used cars are sold based on one underlying theme you need to recognize: There is a problem with the car or the sale, that the seller tells you is only a very minor issue. Especially when it's a popular car reputed to be a good model.

Related article: Toyota RAV4 Engine Warning for Used Car Shoppers

Reasons Why You Should Never Buy That Used Car

Here is a summary of those red flags that too many used car shoppers miss, only because they need a car quickly and fall for the seller's sales pitch ―the idea that only a little minor work or investment will make it a great and affordable daily driver.

Red Flag #1: A used car with too many new parts. This is a major red flag because rather than focusing on the plethora of new parts you will not have to replace for many miles, you should be asking yourself, "What problem were they chasing that probably is not fixed yet, and the reason why the car is being sold?" A car with an assortment of parts replaced is a sign someone fired the parts cannon trying to figure out what was wrong with their car rather than using a troubleshooting diagram and good diagnostic skills.

Red Flag #2: Any seller who tells you what is wrong with the car. This is one of those situations where the seller downplays the car's problems and has already bought the parts for the repair but says he does not have the time to take care of it. More likely than not, the seller has already worked on the car and has given up.

Red Flag #3: "It's in the mail." Anytime a seller says he does not have the title for whatever reason he may give, it is always a lie, warns the host. It could be a stolen vehicle that the seller is trying to flip quickly as a great deal, or it could be a vehicle that has been salvaged, and the seller has not been able to get a legal title for it; or, very likely is the situation that he owes the bank money on the loan that financed the car and he is trying to pass the debt off onto you.

Red Flag #4: Curbstoning a used car. This is a situation in which a car seller might admit that he is selling the car for someone else, like an elderly relative or a friend who moved. In reality, he is engaging in an illegal practice where a dealer sells a car from a curb or parking lot and pretends to be either a private seller or someone with permission to sell the car on another person's behalf. If their ID does not match the name on the title name…run!

Red Flag #5: Used car dealer offers an extended warranty. A car may look good, and the price is a good deal to boot; however, during a test drive you may feel something is not right with the way the engine sounds, but it is nothing obvious. When you report this to the dealer, he reassures you that the engine is fine, but just in case, "Here is an extended warranty that will cover any problems that develop, and we will take care of it at no cost to you." However, the buyer will discover later that an extended warranty will not cover whatever problem develops with the car. The dealer was just trying to make a sale and get you out the door.

Red Flag #6: Check engine light is on. A common finding in used cars often explained away by sellers is an intermittent oxygen sensor or other sensor-blamed problem that would have been fixed except for any number of reasons they may give why they did not do it themselves, e.g., part order backlogged, Covid, etc. In reality, it turns out to be a multiple-thousand-dollar repair problem they are trying to unload on you.

Red Flag #7: "I lost the keys" or "The starter went bad." Here is a vehicle that although advertised as runs good turns out you are unable to start it upon arrival to check out the car for any number of excuses by the seller who tells you to buy it now before its gone and he will "fix" the problem for you later.

Red Flag #8: No cold air from the AC. You take the car for a test drive, and everything is working great. However, you notice that the AC is not blowing cold air, so you ask the seller about it. The seller will invariably always will say something like, "It just needs a few cans of refrigerant from Walmart," as he downplays the significance of what is really going on―like a bad compressor or serious AC system leak or another malady that is going to cost you a few thousand dollars to have fixed.

Related article: Reasons Why Your Car's AC Died and The Repairs to Fix It

For more details about the advice provided by the Car Wizard YouTube channel, here is the video below for your enjoyment and learning on how to protect yourself from a bad used car deal:

 

For some additional valuable articles related to buying a used car; here are a few for your consideration to protect yourself from a bad deal:

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWritesfor daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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