Used car buying guides from a mechanic
Plain, practical guides from an ASE-certified mechanic and licensed PA inspector: what to check, what it means, and what to do about it.
What to Check When Buying a Used Car (A Mechanic's List)
The order I'd check a used car in, from the phone call to the test drive, and which problems mean walk away versus negotiate.
How to Spot Rust and Frame Damage on a Used Car
Surface rust vs. structural rot, where to look on a salt-belt car, and the clues that a car has had collision or frame repair.
Test Drive Checklist: What to Listen and Feel For
How to plan the route, what the transmission, brakes, steering and suspension should feel like, and what to recheck when you park.
What a Pennsylvania State Inspection Sticker Does (and Doesn't) Tell You
A licensed PA inspector on what a fresh sticker actually means when you're buying a used car, and the big things it never checks.
How Much to Offer on a Used Car With Problems
A simple method for turning what you found on the inspection into an opening offer and a walk-away price, and knowing when no price is low enough.