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What things do you look for/check when shopping for a used car? (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 months ago by to c/casualconversation@piefed.social
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I'm going out with my daughter to look at a car for her. She's an adult, she's buying it, I'm just along mostly for moral support. Doing the dad thing. However, it's out of my wheelhouse, and I want to make sure we don't miss anything.

What sort of things to you look for or check when shopping for a used car?

Do you have any suggestions?

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[–] 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

First, know the brand/model you're shopping for so you can read about known issues.

For example, in some Toyota and Honda engine/transmission combinations there are known transmission cooler failures that had recalls or known failure modes. Verifying that had been addressed is important.

Otherwise I just don't buy anything other than Honda or Toyota, and maybe Mazda. The difference in reliability and ease of maintenance from those 3 to all the rest is dramatic. And if you drive one, you'll know immediately if it's alright.

It's worth spending more at purchase for these to minimize down time due to maintenance. Our Hondas just go, every time. We have some from the early 90's in my family - they ain't pretty, but they just work.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    Brand is a poor indication of anything. It is common for brands to put their label on someone else's car. There have been many instances over the years of cars from one brand being rated higher than the exact same car of a different brand, even though the only difference is the brand logo.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (1 child)

    To a degree, so definitely something to be aware of.

    For example, the Toyota Matrix is largely a Toyota Corolla, but was made as a joint effort with GM. Because of this it suffers from some poor design choices that come from the GM side.

    It's still a far better vehicle than any GM product.

    Around 2000 Honda bought the Isuzu Rodeo and rebranded it as the Honda Pilot. Because this is Honda, they didn't re-brand garbage but rather a vehicle that was already at 1990's Honda reliability. It was equivalent in overall quality to a 90's Honda Civic. Good vehicle, but on the lower end for ride quality, noise, etc. Those things ran forever (Isuzu built incredibly reliable engines).

    Today the Pilot line is fully engineered by Honda and shares parts, drivetrain, etc, with other Hondas. There's nothing Isuzu left.

    Even the Geo cars of the 90's (joint projects of GM and Toyota) were way better than GM cars.

    So while you make a point, it really has very little bearing on the Japanese big 3. Even their joint project cars are far better than American or European garbage.

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