Well, you had to finally do it. The trusty daily driver has given up for good, and you had to go and purchase another mode of transportation. For many of us, that means looking around, researching, reading and trying to make the best auto decision we can in the used car world. Chances are, you already had a particular auto in mind when starting the search. Many factors were already in place before the search began. But now, you have decided on a good choice, and now it’s time to bring it home and give it a good going through.
 Picking Up Your New Car |
The first thing many people will do is to give it a good wash job, unless the previous owner did it for you. This is a great way to closely inspect the car. Don’t skip steps, and give it an entire cleaning. Under the hood, the interior, and the trunk. While you have gone this far, go ahead and clean the windows inside and out, and apply vinyl protestant to the dash. Unless the previous owner kept all maintenance records, and you know the engine has a fresh oil change, now is the time to do this. This will serve two purposes. One – you will be familiar with what tools will be necessary to do this in the future and you will know where the oil filter is located. Sometimes these filters can be in the most unusual spots. Second – you will establish a base line maintenance schedule for the car. Now you know for sure when the next oil change is due. While changing the oil, check the fluid levels and condition of those fluids. If something is low, top it off. If it smells burnt, have it checked out. A little hint here, if the brake fluid is low and needs refilled, chances are you will be looking at a brake job in the near future. The reason for this is, once the brake linings have been worn down, the calipers and/or wheel cylinders have to be extended further, thus requiring more fluid from the master cylinder. Give the tires a good going over. Things to look for are irregular wear, low tire pressure, and bulges in the side walls. If any of these conditions are present, have them addressed at once. If the car has sat for a period of time, cracking might present, also. Thankfully, tires for the average auto are very reasonable these days. Keep a close eye on the gauges for the first few weeks of driving, and before you know it you have another safe and reliable auto for your everyday needs.
You make some very good points, especially about washing/inspecting the car. However, I would pay close attention and perform a careful inspection before leaving the lot or the home of the original owner. Furthermore, ensure that the dealership fixes whatever items need repair before you leave, while they are motivated.