Car shopping is always a stressful time of life, even if you are getting a brand new model from Mazda Hartford or Volkswagen Peoria.  But before you go spend a lot of money and spend more than you should on your financing, consider buying a used model.  Vehicles like the Ford Escape are made from excellent materials that last for a long time.  Follow the advice of the used car tips below to ensure that you walk away the winner in a car deal, rather than owning a sour lemon!

Make sure you thoroughly inspect the interior of the vehicle.  Sit in the seats and adjust them.  Check all the bulbs, lights, and interior controls to make sure they work.  Look for stains and rips in the upholstery and carpet.  If the carpet smells like mildew, run!  Flood damage is not worth your time unless you are a repair professional.  Make sure all the interior matches and that parts have not been sporadically replaced.

When you turn the vehicle on, play with all the controls.  Turn the air conditioned on full blast and then the heat on full blast.  Besides maintaining the desired temperature, do you notice foul smells or offensive noises?  If the windows/locks are power, test them when the car is on to make sure they are operational.

If at all possible, try to inspect this vehicle first thing in the morning after it has sat all night.  If you are buying from a private party, set up the meeting time but then arrive half an hour early.  People who are trying to sell you a damaged vehicle might be in the process of duct tape repairing it when you arrive unexpectedly early!  Testing the vehicle early in the morning will give you a good sense of what how the vehicle performs on a day to day basis.  It is sad, but people are not always trustworthy.  Do some homework on the vehicle year and model you are going to check out.  Write a list of common complaints for that model.  Bring a checklist with you and make sure you are satisfied with what you see, hear, smell, and the conversation you have with the vehicle’s owner before you agree to buy.