The most critical part of shopping for a used car is inspecting it. Consider this: You are going to find out what shape the car is in sooner or later. Isn't it better to find out before you buy? If you don't take the time to find out exactly what kind of shape the car is in before you sign on the dotted line, you could be courting real trouble in the future. Remember: In buying a used car, the only surprises are the bad kind and the more you know before you buy, the fewer surprises are likely to be in store for you.

Organize your approach in advance.
There are many potential pitfalls to watch for in checking out a used car. Although this section cannot hope to cover every aspect, we can point out some of the more important areas to be considered. Our advice is if you don't know much about cars--particularly the mechanical parts, try to enlist the aid of a friend or a professional who does. Even if you have to pay them, the time and expense their expertise can save you in the future is well worth the price.

The inspection can best be broken down into four broad categories: exterior, interior, drivetrain and electrical. Of these, the most important are probably the drivetrain and the electrical. The condition of the body comes next. The interior, although aesthetically important, is not as critical (seat covers and floor mats don't cost as much as engines and transmissions).

Beware of detailing.
One thing you want to be especially watchful for is "detailing." Detailing is an extremely comprehensive cleaning procedure employed by nearly all professional used car dealers and increasing numbers of private sellers, designed to make the car as much as possible look like new. It is done by professional detailing shops that exist in nearly every major town. It used to be that used cars sold by dealers were detailed, while private sellers rarely when in for such things. Lately, however, detailing has evolved into a profitable service for the yuppie crowd with their expensive cars and too-fast-to-care-for-their-car lifestyle. Because detailing erases many of the telltale signs of leaks and component failures, be especially cautious when examining a car that has been given the treatment. How can you tell if a car has been detailed?

Portions of this section detail specific things to look out for when inspecting a prospective used car purchase. We recommend that you make up a checklist based on the points mentioned in order to avoid overlooking any important factors that should influence your decision. The checklist will also help you avoid falling into the "emotion trap," where you could tend to minimize a major problem because you really like the body style or color. Armed with the knowledge from this book and a checklist, you can do a good job of narrowing the field down to the better prospects.

Besides making sure the drivetrain, body and interior are in good condition, you should also examine for signs that the car is legitimate--that is, not stolen.