![]() Many people buy cars without ever looking at the engine, but even if you’re not a mechanic, you can learn a few things from raising the hood and taking a few minutes to look around.įirst, look for any signs of leaks like discoloration or light corrosion at the junction between the cylinder head and the block or other areas in the engine compartment. Do they seem to line up well with uniform gaps? Are the trim pieces like chrome emblems and grille well-aligned, bright, and shiny? Is the paint chipped, cracked, or scratched? Does there seem to be any sign of serious damage, like mismatched paint? These items are important differentiators when you choose between two similar cars. Look at the exterior body panels and doors. Once you have assessed the “big picture” color and styling items, get to the details. Again, an emotional reaction is part of the process. In grander parlance, its exterior design will look good to you or perhaps not so good. Most of us have visceral reactions to color, and that’s why the vast majority of vehicles these days are purchased in very neutral or nearly “non-colors” like gray, silver, white, and black.īeyond your reaction to the car’s color, you will also respond to the car’s shape. ![]() The first things people notice about any car are its exterior color and its shape. ![]() Photo by iStock Photo Go over the exterior. Instead of taking a rational look at each of the contenders, they get caught up in emotions and feelings and never really take the time to consider each one on its merits. “I really like the blue one.” “That salesperson seemed much nicer.” Of course, there is room for emotions in a car purchase. You’re paying a lot of money, so you might as well love the choice you make, but it is worthwhile to make certain you like the choice as well as love it. The title of this article is “How to Compare Two Similar Used Cars,” so perhaps it should go without saying that you make certain you compare the two cars, but you’d be surprised how few actually do that. In the end, using the techniques described here, we landed on what we think is the perfect vehicle for her. Then it was a matter of choosing the better of two very similar examples. In our case, we chose the brand, model, and even the trim level. So don’t use a coin flip to decide the one you choose. Instead, go through a process as I did recently when we settled on a used crossover SUV for my daughter. We’ve all been there when buying big-ticket items, and if we’re honest with ourselves, sometimes we have made the wrong choice. Even though the vehicles are closely matched - and at this stage of your buying process, they probably will be - it is likely that one is a significantly better choice than the other. You’ve done your research for the right used car, and you’ve narrowed the list down to two.
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