That used car looks all shiny and new. The interior has that new-car smell. It’s the color you wanted. It’s the model you wanted. It’s love at first sight – kismet. In no time at all, you’re pulling out of the dealer’s parking lot in your new-used automobile with a satisfied smile on your face. But will that smile last?

Overtime, that used car will require maintenance and repairs. It’s inevitable. Driving a car on the roads, particularly on McHenry County roads that endure the annual beating called winter, is abusive to any automobile. How well your new-used car holds up depends greatly on the shape it was in the day you happily drove it off the dealer’s lot.

A pre-purchase mechanical inspection is a must for a new-used car

 Long before you arrived at the dealer, they bathed and preened that used car to increase its curb appeal. That’s part of their job – to make used cars look as new and desirable as possible. When they’ve done their job well, and they usually do, it’s all that much easier for potential customers to fall in love with the dealer’s inventory of used cars. It’s your job, as a consumer, to look beyond the shiny finish and the new-car smell, to recognize the true condition of the vehicle you’re thinking of buying.

Unfortunately, most people who purchase used cars are not experts on things automotive. Even if they have a general knowledge of things mechanical, getting under the hood, under the car and giving the vehicle a thorough inspection is difficult out on the pavement of the dealer’s lot. They really want a trained technician with the experience, training and equipment to perform a proper pre-purchase mechanical inspection.

Bringing the used vehicle you’re considering to a trusted auto-repair technician offers you an opportunity for an in-depth overview of the condition of the vehicle. They’ll be able to tell you if there are any mechanical issues you’ll need to address now or later, and when to expect to perform different aspects of maintenance, including the condition of:

• Brakes
• Steering & Suspension
• Exhaust System
• Engine
• Fuel System
• Electrical System
• Difficult to see rust or damage to the body

Without a pre-purchase mechanical inspection, you’re liable to discover, all-too soon, that there was an expensive problem that requires your attention and additional money. A pre-purchase mechanical inspection can’t guarantee that you won’t have problems but it can go a long way to identify any issues you’d want to know about a used car before you buy.