ROMAN KNOWS CARS

As I've mentioned here on the blog before, I'm currently in the market for a used car. My good friend Roman, whom I've known since college, is a real pro at buying cars. Here's some of Roman's advice for those of us who are evaluating used cars:

1. All cars should start without having to touch the gas pedal.
2. Don't even put your feet in.
3. Just turn the key.
4. They do not have to start immediately, but no gas pedal.
5. You want the engine not to be shaking too much when you watch it under the hood.
6. A little shake is okay.
7. If it's cold outside, it is normal to shake more.
8. Once an engine is warm, NO shaking; just a smooth idle.
9. Except a Benz. If it's a diesel, it is going to shake, which is normal.
10. No hesitation when you push the pedal down to go forward.
11. Hesitation could mean automatic transmission trouble.
12. Records, records, records.
13. Where did they get the car?
14. How many owners has it had?
15. Don't buy anything that has had the transmission rebuilt.
16. Don't buy anything that has had the motor rebuilt.
17. They never last.
18. A new or used motor put in, by a reputable place is a possibility though.
19. Always offer less than they are asking.

So, what do you think of Roman's advice? What else--from a global perspective--would you suggest to someone who is evaluating a used car?

Avoid cars with power seats/windows/etc. Those motors cost tons to replace when they die.

If it has it (and not many cars don't these days), Check out the ac. You don't want to lay down $500 or more for a new compressor.

Uneven tire wear could be an expensive alignment problem.

If you're buying used from a dealer, talk to the previous owner. They may be forthright about any potential problems it has. They aren't the owner/seller, so they have no reason to "stretch the truth."

Carfax is your friend.

Just a note on starting the car, the advice is good however if the car is a manual transmission (stick) you have to get in to press in on the clutch to start it...hit the clutch not the gas.

Get a Hybrid.
1. You donít have to touch the gas pedal to start it.
2. You do have to put your feet in and step on the brake.
3. You just press a button, put it in gear and drive off.
4. The engine doesnít shake at all until you drive off, as matter of fact it does nothing until you do drive off ( Unless it has to charge the battery or heat the interior in winter, so the gas engine will cycle on and off. ).
5. When you open the hood the engine just sits there not doing anything until you do drive off ( A lot of warning labels about not sticking your hands under the hood until the car is turned off as the gas motor may start. ). The gas engine will start around 5mph.
6. It will shake a little when you stop at a light because both motors will shut off while you wait for the light.
7. If itís cold outside the engine warms up right away because it stores the coolant in a thermos bottle that will keep it warm for a week in 0 deg. weather.
8. See questions 4 and 7
9. True, when the gas motor does run.
10. Its always in gear, with the CVT and the electric motor once it is put in gear it is always in gear, the electric and gas motors just turn off but it is still in gear.
11. See question 10.
All the rest are just as true for a used hybrid.

Hey, did I say all that? Yup, that sounds familiar. One clarification, on #1, I should have said that with all cars built after around 1982, you should not need to touch the gas pedal. It was around that time that most cars became electronically fuel injected. That means, that when the ignition key is turned to the on position, a signal is relayed to an electric pump to shoot gasoline into the cylinders. Prior to the early eighties, the initial movement of fuel into the cylinders was begun by your foot "pumping" the gas pedal.

I agree with all the good stuff above pretty much and LOVE hybrids. American carmakers are lying like mad to keep consumers disinterested in them. Meanwhile, Toyota, perhaps the greatest mass car manufacturer ever in terms of quality, is gobbling up market share and honing the hybrid technology.

Carfax or any news you find about a particular car being in an accident does not rule out a good car. Some accidents do serious damage and others do not. Also, a professionally done repair by very good body men and mechanics can eliminate all of the damage. The records will clear up unevenly worn tire's origins. By that, I mean, if you see unevenly worn tires,(a bad thing), you can look to see when the car was last aligned. Most cars driven in a big city with lots of potholes and railroad tracks will need an alignment just about every year. Sometimes you can get a great deal on a car from an individual who thinks their car is junk because they have deferred all sort of minor maintenance and repairs (such as an alignment, $79.00 at Pep Boys, new struts, tires, etc). You just figure the cost of all those minor repairs into your offer.

Woops, fyi, those are my words above.