Looking For A Car? Check This Out Before Buying One

Things To Consider Before Buying A Car

 

If you're reading this, I would have to assume that you're either: A). looking for a car or B). reading blog posts for one of your classes. Luckily for you, there is no particularly right answer, I will try to educate you on the topic regardless of what end of the spectrum you fall under.

Miles:

It is safe to say that the mileage given on the odometer is a good indication of the car's age. It is said that on average, people drive around 12,000-15,000 miles on their car. Given that information, if you're looking into buying a 2014 Camry and it has 349,320 miles on the odometer, it is probably not a good idea to purchase this car. You'd expect a 2014 car to have 24,000-30,000 miles. Being below the mileage expectation is usually a good thing, but surpassing the mile expectation usually means that the car is taking more wear and tear than anticipated. The idea is, the more miles the car has, the more the car has traveled and been used. The more use the car has, the higher the chances of one of the car's components failing. Logically, the more you use something, the more it wears down.

 

Exterior:

Having low mileage on a car you're purchasing can be great! However, what good does a 1967 car with 3,000 miles do you if it looks like this?

 

Yes, the mechanical condition of the car is very important. Something that has to be considered is the car's aesthetics.  Keep in mind, you are going to be driving this around. Cars tend to be big investments, therefore its aesthetics should also be a priority during process of finding a car. Even small indications of rust can be bad, as rust can spread throughout the car. As covered in my last blog post, body work can be very expensive.

Interior:

You can find a car with decent mileage/mechanical condition and a great exterior, but don't forget about what's on the inside.

Would you rather have this?

 

Or this? 

 

If you're looking for a well rounded car, don't forget to take the interior into consideration. Having an interior that is in bad condition can make both you and your passengers uncomfortable. As we've established, nothing in the world of cars is cheap, so remodeling the interior can put you in debt very quickly. It is better to just find a car with an interior that isn't torn up.

Behind The Scenes:

This is something that I feel people don't always pay much attention to. Let's say you get a sports car. The actual car may be at a good price and the car may be in excellent condition, but cars are big investments. The cost is then amplified when you make a more fun choice, such as a luxury vehicle, a sports car or even a sports luxury vehicle. Take a look at some of these points.

Maintenance: 

-Car maintenance tends to be pricey, now imagine the cost of maintenance on a luxury vehicle. Some luxurious car makes actually set their engines up in a manner that will ONLY allow their certified technicians to perform the maintenance. So if you were thinking of doing this yourself, not a chance.

Gas consumption:

Yeah, I understand that gas is currently at $1.99 at most locations, but we all know that gas prices change more spontaneously than the current weather in Illinois. Given that ideology, you really have to consider whether it is better to buy a beefy eight cylinder engine or a smaller four cylinder engine. Yes, the eight cylinder engine sounds better (literally, the roar is much better), but the four cylinder engine will save you a lot of money on gas. Let's say your eight cylinder engine is getting 13 miles to the gallon and gasoline is currently at $3.99, do you really want every 3.25 miles to cost you a dollar? I'll tell you from first-hand experience, it sucks.

 

Paperwork:

This is a somewhat miscellaneous category, but there is a lot of paperwork to go with every car. Along with paperwork, there are also fees. Some of these fees include license plate renewal, insurance fees and even tickets. You can't do anything about the fees to renew your license plate, but the cost of your insurance is directly correlated to the kind of car you get. Be sure to call your insurance company to receive a quote before making the decision. As for tickets, you can also control your likelihood of getting a ticket simply by choosing a car. If you're driving a sports car, you'll find that cops will often target you, even when you're not doing anything wrong.

Make Your Car Look More Aggressive!

If your car looks too dull, check this out.

Cars that come straight out of the factory tend to have a dull look to them. If you read my last blog post, you are aware that it seems car companies do not want you to have fun with your car! They limit its performance from the start and they make your car look harmless. If you're looking to make your car look more aggressive in a relatively cheap manner, take a look at some of my suggestions.

Plasti Dip

I feel that this is one of the options that people have the most fun with. What exactly is it? It comes in a spray paint can, but it's definitely not paint; it's a durable rubber coating that LOOKS like paint. The great thing about these is that they can be found anywhere. 

Taking this one step further, there are tons of ways to apply this to your car's aesthetics. This is a great area to let your creativity flow! Some people choose to paint their rims using Plasi Dip, while others use it to paint actual parts of their car's body. Some even use them to tint different lights on the car.

The second image of the Mustang shows the center panel (between the tail lights) in black. In most cases, you have to purchase a black deck lid panel to cover the panel. With Plasti Dip, you can actually paint the panel for a much cheaper price(usually five to seven dollars for a can). Of course, it is recommended that you cover the tail lights and the area around the panel with tape, in order for the Plasti Dip to land ONLY on the panel.

Rims

Yes, new rims can definitely change the look of your car. The bad part is, not everyone has money for rims. Now, if you're in that situation, you can resort to using Plasti Dip once again!



Plasti Dipping your rims is simple. All you have to do is remove the wheel from your car, set it down somewhere that it is safe to spray paint, and then begin the process. Using this method can take away the look of a factory car, as black rims tend to look more aggressive!

The nice thing about Plasti Dip is that it is a rubber coating that goes over the rims. Which means that anything that is painted is not permanent! If you get tired of the color, simply remove the Plasti Dip (can be removed by hand once it is dry, but it is still durable for road use), and start over with a different color!

Brake Calipers

Nothing says "lame" like some unpainted brake caliper. This can easily be fixed with a paint caliper kit! The work is not too tedious, simply remove the wheel and paint the caliper using the paint and 

brush included in the kit.

 

It may not seem like much, but it can definitely make your car look much more aggressive. Especially if paired with a set of black rims (which can be easily attained using Plasti Dip).