Acquiring a used car is an adventure; selecting the make and model you want, tracking down just the right car, inspecting it for mechanical defects and then negotiating the price are all part of the used car experience. I enjoy the thrill of the hunt for just the right used car, and I see the task as an exercise in detective work to determine exactly what kind of life a used car lived before it came up for sale.
Is there paint overspray on the trim? That means the car has been repainted and likely in some sort of an accident. Are the tires all the same brand and model? If not, there could have been some wear issues related to the suspension. Has the stereo been replaced? If it has there is a good chance that the car’s wiring harness has been modified to accommodate the new stereo. While this is not always a bad thing, it could signify that a less than tidy installer did a hack job on the car’s electrical system that could manifest itself in electrical gremlins down the road.
My most recent used car purchase is a 1990 Honda Prelude 2.0 Si 5 speed that I bought to be my teenaged son’s first regular daily driver. A very clean, straight and well cared for car; it represented a good value for the price and a solid source of transportation for a young man. The Prelude is not a road burner but it offers a modicum of style with an acceptable balance of economy with snappy performance. At first I was disappointed to discover that this particular generation of the Honda Prelude is not well supported by the performance parts aftermarket. But I figure that this will save my son from spending his limited pocket money on go-fast parts and keep his car within the realm of sanity for street use.
But more than a new-to-you car, getting a used car can also be a treasure hunt. I always look forward to the sense of discovery when I clean under the seats, the glove box and explore the darkest corner of the trunk. Usual finds in a used car can be assorted change, pens, hair clips and bottle caps. Trunks can yield spare parts, extra tools and “personal� items of dubious legality. Many military commands will offer a free inspection with drug sniffing dogs to personnel who have bought a used car so that the new owner does not suffer any surprises if stopped and searched by the cops.
My very favorite find in a used car was in the trunk of a 1968 Triumph Spitfire that I bought while I was in college. There I found a negotiable Cashier’s Check for $150 that I viewed as the previous owner’s repayment for taking that car off of his hands. After only a few days of ownership I came to realize that I was dreadfully underpaid to relieve him of that miserable lemon.