How to avoid buying a jalopy

JAKARTA (JP): More can go wrong when buying a used car than when purchasing a new one. There are many things that have to be checked out to make sure you are not saddled with a jalopy.

The following are tips on how to pick up a decent secondhand car.

The guidelines are collected from various sources, including dealers, repairmen and automobile publications.

1. Reading classified ads in certain dailies, like Pos Kota and Kompas, is a must. Pay extra attention to weekend editions. A week of exploring is enough to start out on the leg work.

2. It is advisable not to buy a used car which is more than five years old, unless that's what you're looking for.

3. Read the odometer. At normal use, a car travels a maximum distance of 15,000 kilometers per year. Based on this scale, you can calculate the estimated age of a car. Sellers often attempt to stretch the truth about the age.

4. If you're looking for a specific color, be prepared to pay extra. In many cases, white cars do not cost extra. But high prices are usually asked for cars of popular colors, such as metallic dark red, dark blue and dark green.

5. Outside performance doesn't account for much. The color of a five-year-old car would have changed due to the elements, but the body should be in good condition and be rust-free. A thorough inspection, therefore, should be conducted. It is advisable to take the car to a mechanic.

6. Turn on the ignition. A good-quality engine should turn over at the first turn of the key. Listen to the sound. A good engine purrs. Let the engine run for about 10 minutes and check whether the engine temperature goes up. The temperature meter's needle should remain at the middle line.

7. Examine the edge of the muffler. There should be no wet or black spots of lubricant on it.

8. Now check under the car. Look whether there is oil oozing from the engine or any other part. Check for rust on the engine or if there is any sign of welding.

9. There are ways to discover whether the car has been involved in an accident. The body should be checked for signs of repairs. Also examine the internal part and frame of the hood, trunk and roof. Also the grille and bumper bar. Stand one or two meters away and check whether the body is in good shape and straight. A crooked body means the car has been involved in a major accident.

10. Make sure all doors can be opened and closed smoothly.

11. Double check the function of the interior parts, instruments and accessories, including the dashboard, speedometer, revolution counter, seats, audio system, door handles, lock buttons, air-condition controls, fuel indicator and gearshift.

12. The other most important part is examining the engine number, which should match the figures written on the car's documents. If possible, go to the traffic police department to check the number in order to avoid buying a stolen car.

13. A test drive on a highway and a busy street is a necessity. Go with the owner, so you can ask more about the vehicle's history, including where it undergoes regular service.

14. Before selling their cars, owners often take out the expensive accessories, such tires, wheels and the audio system, and replace them with cheaper ones. This gives them a better price for their car. Buyers are attracted by competitive prices more than they are by good quality accessories.

15. Sometimes owners or sellers hide defects on cars by putting something on them, such as stickers or car deodorizers.

16. Last but not least, don't believe wholeheartedly what an owner or seller tells you.

Other than the above tips, there's an important key to buying a car: "Put not your trust in money, but your money in trust." Have a happy drive. (arh/bsr)