Portland has many used car dealerships. Just like any city, Portland has its share of dealerships that are reputable and dealerships that may be a little shady. If you want to protect yourself when buying a car it is important that you educate yourself on the finer points of used car buying. When you know what to look for when you enter a car dealership you can be sure to have a stress free and enjoyable experience. Here are a few things you need to know about buying used cars in Portland.

Most experts agree it is better to buy a used car instead of a brand new car. When you purchase a brand new car it loses $1000-$2000 in value as soon as you drive it off the lot. Cars depreciate faster than any other big ticket item. When you buy a new car you are basically paying thousands of dollars more for the new car smell and warranty. Why not knock off a few thousand dollars right away by purchasing a good used car?

It is critical that you do a lot of research before you visit a used car lot. Get on the Internet and compare makes and models of all the cars you like. Check out their reliability ratings, their average gas consumption and what each car will cost for upkeep. It is a good idea to check out the average prices of replacement parts for the vehicles you are interested in. If it looks like it will be expensive to fix the car, you should probably avoid buying it. Insurance is another thing you need to check out. Sports cars and luxury cars will cost more to insure than a sedan.

When you are buying used cars in Portland it is critical that you check any car you are considering thoroughly. Take a pen and paper with you and take notes about each car you look at. Write down any defects you may see. Write down the mileage of each car. It is very important that you write down the VIN of each car you are considering. This VIN can provide a lot of information when you run a Carfax report. This may save you from getting ripped off.

Don’t forget to check out the engine. If the engine looks extremely dirty or has a burnt smell under the hood this could be a sign of poor maintanence. Be sure to check all the engine fluids such as the transmission fluid, oil and power steering fluid. All fluids should be clean, and they should not smell burnt. Turn the car on and look at the exhaust. If the exhaust is blue this means excess oil consumption. If the exhaust smoke is black this could indicate excessive fuel consumption.

When you are shopping for a used car, know exactly how much you want to spend and don’t go over this amount. A great way to control overspending is to get pre-approval for a car loan. You will have a set limit and not be able to go over this price.

Buying used cars in Portland can be an enjoyable experience if you follow the advice given above. Learn everything you can about buying a used car, and you should be able to get a great deal.

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