So you’ve bought a  “new” used vehicle, or you are thinking of buying a “new” used vehicle. How do you know what you’re getting? It is hard to know what you’re getting because people sell cars for different reasons. Think about why you’ve sold cars. Did you just want something new or were there problems that you wanted to run away from? Maybe it was a little of both.

Most used cars with 25,000 to 35,000 miles are often lease returns, corporate program cars or vehicles that have done duty in rental fleets. Most buyers feel pretty confident because they are newer and may still be under warranty. But how well have they been maintained?

If you plan on owning a car for a long time, you’ll keep up on the maintenance so that you can avoid expensive repairs down the road. But, if you know you’re only going to have the vehicle for two or three years, you may not be so committed to maintenance. It would be easy to think that skipping an oil change here and there wouldn’t ruin a brand new engine. Then it’ll be someone else’s problem when it comes time to pay for the damage. It would be very tempting to ski the 30,000 mile service if you knew you would be turning in your leased vehicle in a couple of months.

If the vehicle didn’t come with maintenance records, you need to assume the worst. Most likely the coolant system and transmission have never been serviced. The cabin air filter has probably not been changed and a fuel system cleaning may be in order.

For as little as $20 Rock Hill Automotive will perform a used car inspection for you so that you are fully aware of what you are buying before your purchase. We will check the air condition, battery/electrical system, engine air filter, all belts and hoses, and more to ensure you are getting a fair deal. An inspection at Rock Hill Automotive is well worth the cost before your purchase.

And if your “new” used vehicle has more miles on it, an inspection is even more important. Check your owner’s manual or talk with one of our service advisors about what should be done. Please don’t forget the timing belt – that can be very expensive if it fails. They will help you with a plan to take care of any critical services and get the rest caught up by prioritizing your needs and getting it taken care of over the next several months. And remember to keep your maintenance records. They’ll help you get top dollar when it’s time for you to sell.

Give us a call, we will be happy to help you.

Rock Hill Automotive