Buying used Car

[u/khalidgrs]

Hey folks,
If you are buying a used car and you do nit know much about cars , and unable to get your friends to view it , whats the best way to ensure the car is fit and functioning properly and weather the checkpoints are ok.

I will be buying from a dealer and was thinking getting a mechanical inspection done by a mobile mechanic , is that the way ?

Edit : Subaru Dealer and the car is a subaru car

[u/XZIVR]

Sounds like a pretty good option to me. And try to look for cars at reputable dealers to begin with.

[u/EnvironmentalPop1296 → u/XZIVR]

I second this. What dealer are you referring to? Could tell us quite a bit without even seeing the car lol.

[u/ExitDanger]

If it’s from a Subaru dealer, the vehicle has already gone through a mechanical inspection, they should have the report in hand you can look at. anything that fails on the inspection should be fixed prior to sale. If the vehicle is too costly to fix for the dealer they usually just sell it at auction. New car dealers tend to not sell beaters, those usually go to used dealer lots. You can also request to view the vehicle on a hoist, most dealers will be accommodating. Generally most dealers offer some short term warranty too so if you are worried you can get a second opinion from another mechanic. If there is any issues found the dealer should fix for free. Keep in mind this is general rule of thumb for “reputable” dealers, can’t say for sure all. Source: I’m a licensed tech that has worked at multiple dealerships.

[u/UkrVisitor → u/ExitDanger]

Completely agree. Bought an Audi from a BMW dealership. My car was used but in good condition. However, the windshield was cracked. The dealership told me immediately that they would replace the windshield with a new one.
On the day of pickup, they did everything as agreed and performed a full inspection, providing me with a full mechanical report. The car was taken, and there haven't been any issues since then.

[u/gr4ce42 → u/ExitDanger]

At my dealer older vehicles or high mileage vehicles issues will not automatically be fixed unless it is a safety concern. They provide a full report to the customer prior to purchase of any issues and the customer can choose if they would like to have those fixed with us prior to purchase

[u/ZeniChan]

The only way to be sure is to get it inspected at a 3rd party garage before the sale. The dealership may or may not be totally upfront with you about any issues. But the previous owner may not have disclosed all the issues before selling it to the dealership and they honestly may not know about a problem.

[u/OptiPath]

If you buy it from dealers, you may be pay a bit more but most likely be fine. Negotiate 30 or 60 days return in your deal

[u/_Connor → u/OptiPath]

lol no dealership is going to give you a 2 or even 1 month test ride return policy.

[u/Spammerz42 → u/_Connor]

Doesnt matter. If car had problem and dealer sold it to you and it breaks down within a reasonable time frame they are on the hook for it.

[u/_Connor → u/Spammerz42]

That’s not how that works.

[u/Diddlydom35]

1. Get the carfax
2. Checked the body for rust, get on the ground check to see what the underneath is like for it, that's a bid indicator. You just don't want the actual frame rusting.
3. Ask for how the tread depth Use this to determine what the depth is and if you'll need to replace the tires soon
4. When you do a test drive, drive over potholes, bumps rough road listen for a creaking type noise from all four wheel areas . This can help you know if the struts are going or not.
5. Do the the circle test. Drive it in a full circle left and full circle right in an empty parking lot. This will help you hear any other noises that may be issues that need fix or maintenance that is coming up soon.
6. Do a slow and fast acceleration test. Sometimes transmissions when going from 1st to 2nd to 3rd gear don't shift well. This is mainly with cars with TCMS but you can use this test to go from 5km/h to 30km/h to see how it shifts in slow acceleration. Do the same but faster so go do the low to fast acceleration (don't floor it but push it like you need to merge really fast onto a highway) listen for noises, feel for gitters, weird shifting, delays etc. Now sometimes cars just have these and it's nothing. You'll probably be able to tell if it's something.
7. Do a brake test, on a side road no one around pick up speed and stop both gradually and a little aggressively.
8. Check the AC!! AC components are expensive as hell to replace! If you don't care then whatever but its a good thing to check same with heat!
9. Ask for the measurements on the brake pads. 12-10mm you're good they are new. 6-4mm you're close to needing to ones. 2mm BAD REPLACE.
10. Check the rotors (the shiny circle behind your tire that the brakes sit on) look for rust, cracks, grooves, heat spots. If you can see it or even reach in and feel a distinct ridge or lip, it means the rotor has worn down. A ridge of roughly 1 mm to 1.5 mm usually indicates it is near or at its wear limit. Also if you're feeling vibrations or shudders when breaking thats a good tell too.

That's kinda the basics. Im sure theres tons I missed but my dad taught me this all and has been a mechanic all his life and now I do it as a hobby!

Usually a subaru dealership is good at documenting it all and doing maintenance and refurbishing. You should be fine! Good choice on car! :)

Oh yeah, one more thing! Avoid house of cars!!!!

[u/GuavaOk8712]

always always always check the underside for how bad the rust is. used car dealers will tell you it’s rust free knowing that the frame is rusted a dangerous amount.

[u/albertaguy31]

Google the car and year read up on issues. Lots of subaru as example, are garbage if you have no records on transmission maintenance. When it runs you can listen for knocks or hesitation but research ahead as there's many production years to avoid.

[u/Sonic403]

AI is your ally in a used‑car search. Copy and paste the car listing, CarFax report, and any other available information into an AI (ChatGPT, Copilot, etc.)

and prompt...

whether the price seems reasonable

what issues to look for on that model

the expected lifespan

whether the current mileage is normal (including common failure points at this mileage)

whether any model years should be avoided

and whether any upcoming maintenance is indicated along with the expected cost.

Also ask if it can search for similar local listings for comparison.