How to Avoid Buying a Lemon: No Need to be Sour With These Tips for The Everyday Driver

When life gives you lemons, you throw that lemon right back in life’s face and get the car you wanted in the first place. The fact of the matter is, no one wants to find out they bought a lemon from their used car dealership, and the best way to handle that unfortunate situation is not to have it happen in the first place. Luckily, we have the tips that will save you from that dreaded fate and keep you away from those dreaded sour lemons. Oh, and for those of you who are unfamiliar, a lemon is a car with more hidden issues then your family on Thanksgiving. Anyway, to the tips!

Don’t Be Hasty

Unless buses, taxis, Uber, your family, your friends, and your co-workers all have a massive meltdown on the same exact day at the exact same time, it seems unlikely that you will ever be in an immediate need for a personal vehicle. Finding the right vehicle will always be worth the struggle as long as you take your time to make sure you do the process right and without rushing. Sure there is a chance you can get lucky and find the car of your dreams right away, but the chances are sadly slim.

There will always be more used cars for sale in Cincinnati, and walking away is not a crime. The worst that can happen from taking another day to research is that someone else will buy the car and even then you will still walk away with an even better idea of what you truly want.

Research

Don’t be afraid to just totally nerd out about these cars. Start with the basics such as body type, engine, cost, and mileage then move on to things like features and add-ons. Unless you have been living under a rock, you should have noticed how the internet has become an outstanding resource on every topic the human mind can think of, so don’t be afraid to use it. Another bonus is that you don’t even have to leave the house, and for those who haven’t tried yet, researching in pajamas feels fantastic!

Check Title History

You wouldn’t take someone home to meet the parents without digging into their past or checking their social media page a bit first, would you? Well, a used car should be no different. Just get the vehicle identification number (VIN) and run it through a few sites to get a feel for what the vehicle has already been through. You may find out why it was returned in the first place

Keep It Simple Stupid

Pucker up, because it’s time to K.I.S.S. This stands for Keep It Simple Stupid as coined by the famous show “The Office,” and never have truer words been spoken. When you are investing in a used car try not to go overboard on random add-ons or flashy features, make sure you get the essentials locked down and take everything else as a bonus; otherwise, you could be puckering up from the taste of some sour lemons.

Personal Inspection

You would be surprised what the human eyes, ears, and nose are capable of picking up on. When investing in a used car in Cincinnati, you should always use ALL of your sense to look for anything that may seem off. This could be a strange smell, a subtle sound, or even an unrecorded dent or scratch in a low-key position. Oh, and don’t be the person who refuses to take a test drive first. Here are some items you shouldn’t forget to check:

• Brakes
• Tires
• Wheel
• Exhaust
• Lights
• Windshield wipers
• Mirrors and windows
• Seatbelts
• Horn
• Gas Cap

Professional Inspection

You do have the right to have the car inspected by a professional you know and trust BEFORE you finalize the deal. Don’t ever feel pressured into feeling like this is wrong to do, because the only thing it is, is smart, and those who fear the smart are probably hiding something.

Never Purchase “As-Is”

When a vehicle is sold “as-is” it is a big red flag meaning that the dealer does not trust the vehicle enough to offer a warranty, and if they don’t trust it, why should you? There is always more fish in the sea, and you may just find a better option out there that won’t try to pressure you into a risky as-is investment. As many “as-is” vehicles for sale typically come with lower price tags, try to resist the temptation. It is more than likely, that this vehicle will require quite a bit of work before being able to pass an inspection or further down the road. So, to sum it up, an as-is sale can mean only one thing, you are about to get a lemon.

Know the Lemon Law

The lemon law is there to protect you if there was absolutely no way you could have avoided investing in a lemon. These tips are meant to drastically minimize your chances of getting a lemon, but nothing is foolproof. State and federal laws have been put into place in order to protect those who have the unfortunate situation of driving a lemon. Here are some ways your car may qualify under the lemon law:

• You notice a substantial defect covered by the warranty that occurred within a certain period of time or number of miles
• You have attempted a reasonable amount of times to remedy the issue without success

Lemons are everywhere, and it’s up to you to learn how to spot them. That being said, when you are ready to make the investment, Kings Ford sells used cars in Cincinnati that you can have faith in. At Kings Ford, the pursuit of automotive knowledge from a caring Cincinnati automotive community will always be the main focus. You won’t be sour as long as you are informed. So, come on down to Kings Ford and check out our impressive inventory of high-quality used cars in Cincinnati, today!