Used Car Purchase Inspection Tip from Toyota Mechanic

Used Toyota Shopping Climate

Finding a used Toyota today means that you can expect to pay nearly double of what that used car or truck would have cost you pre-COVID. Which means that you have to be especially careful of that used car purchase.

Related article: Scam Alert: What Dealerships Don’t Want You to Know About Used Car Inspections

However, those used Toyotas can be elusive to find and might not be a good deal after all as pointed out recently on why buying a used Toyota in 2023 might be a bad idea.

Furthermore, your search could lead you to internet sellers on Craig’s List or other local neighborhood selling sites where the vehicle stands a good chance of being questionable and you do not have the luxury of a thorough inspection by a mechanic because it’s a first-come, first-sold used car climate.

Test That Toyota on the Spot

The solution to this problem is to be prepared to test that Toyota or other used car on the spot to make a quick inspection of the vehicle to rule out whether this is a potential keeper or one to pass on.

That was the message in a recent Toyota Maintenance YouTube channel episode where the host---Peter---talks about what it takes to buy a used car today and offers his recommendation of a quick test you can do using a 2001 Toyota Tacoma with 213,000 miles on it as an example.

And no, we are not talking about doing a compression test (which we learned earlier is the most important test you can make) because that seller is unlikely to allow you to dig into his engine in his driveway.

Rather, Peter talks about a simple visual test looking into the interior of the exhaust pipe as an easy way to rule out obvious engine problems.

That said, follow along with the host in this short video as he explains his used car inspection tip.

Related article: Exhaust Smoke Diagnosis Explained in Detail

Used Car Purchase Inspection Tip

And finally…

For additional articles related to checking out a used car before buying one, here are a few for your consideration:

• Learn to Inspect That Used Car Like a Car Care Nut

• An Important Used Car Hidden Damage Warning for Used Car Shoppers

• Consumer Reports on How to Buy a Used Car Includes these Recommended Models

Timothy Boyer is Torque News 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 @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.

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