What to Look Out For When Buying a Used Car | Kennesaw GA | Serving Marietta, Acworth & the Greater Atlanta Area

What to Look Out For When Buying a Pre-Owned Vehicle in Kennesaw, GA

When it comes to sticking to a budget, buying a used or pre-owned vehicle makes more sense for many customers. When shopping for a used car, however, there are certain things to watch out for. At Cobb County Toyota, we want your shopping experience to be as smooth as possible, so we're providing you with a few tips. Keep reading to learn more about what to watch out for when you're looking at used or pre-owned vehicles!

  • External Issues
  • Rarely will you find a used vehicle that has an untouched exterior. It's more likely that you'll see small dents or scratches, and depending on your preferences, these may not factor into your decision. However, there are other issues such as rust that can pose much more serious issues to your experience with a vehicle. You should also check that all the doors and panels match, and that the lights are working properly. Problems like these can turn a driving experience sour.

  • Internal Problems
  • Like the exterior, you may occasionally find a scratch or tear on a vehicle's interior. While small problems like these may not affect the overall experience of the vehicle, you should watch out for any sour smells or broken instruments, as these can indicate leaks or electrical problems.

  • Mechanical Performance
  • Unlike minor exterior and interior blemishes, mechanical problems are much less forgiving. If you hear a belt whine as you start the vehicle or notice the transmission slipping, it's often best to walk away. If you're unsure about a vehicle, have a mechanic look over it. It's a good idea regardless. Additionally, you'll want to look under the vehicle and check for leaks, and under the hood. It never hurts to be cautious.

    It's always a good idea to run a Carfax report on a used vehicle. Luckily for you, we have those available for our vehicles! That way you can buy with peace of mind.

  • Drive Quality
  • Even if you've found a used vehicle in great condition with no mechanical issues, it is OK to dislike the way it handles. You'll be behind the wheel of your car quite often, so it's important to make sure you test drive it on different streets and spend enough time to get a proper feel for how it handles.

  • Fair Pricing
  • Before you agree to purchase any vehicle, a good idea is to check its value on Kelley Blue Book. Be sure to take into account the year, mileage and condition to know if you're getting an accurate estimate.

    If you have any questions about the used car-buying process or would like to test-drive any used cars, please feel free to contact us or stop by Cobb County Toyota at 2111 Barrett Lakes Blvd., Kennesaw, GA 30144. We look forward to serving our customers from Marietta, Acworth and the Greater Atlanta area.