I’m looking into buying a cltruck with this description only to use for a few years. What issues should I look out for?

ANSWER : There are five "versions" of the 2003 Dodge Dakota and the price depends on the version you are considering. Given the mileage (200,000 miles), if this is the cheapest 2D version (not the SXT version or higher), $1,750 is about the average sales price (private party, not dealer) if the vehicle is in very good condition. Some key things to look for are underbody corrosion on the brake and fuel lines, condition of the brakes, engine and transmission running condition, and suspension. Be sure the vehicle drives in a straight line with no unusual vibration at high way speed.

A pre-purchase vehicle inspection is a good idea. That inspection, carried out by a certified Mechanic, dispatched to your location, will give you very specific data regarding any current problems that the car has. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a database of consumer complaints, official recalls and factory service bulletins for all makes and models, by year. I encourage you to go to the NHTSA website and enter the vehicle’s year, make and model and review the existing reports which will give you an excellent idea of what has been experienced by other owners insofar as faults in the particular make, model and year you are interested in. Obviously, what you want to be looking for in that database is an indication that the vehicle "make and model year" is not a "lemon" insofar as reliability. Please do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic if we can assist you further in your attempts to make a wise used vehicle purchase.

ANSWER : Hi there. I actually have a 2009 BMW 128i with 108,000 miles and I love it. The biggest issue for me that came up was a front oil seal was leaking, which was rather tedious to replace, but once it was, the leak was resolved and I have not experienced any issues since. The thing you’ll have to factor with BMW’s however, is when suspension or transmission problems occur, they tend to be rather expensive to repair; as it should be completed by a specialist. One thing you can do to determine what possible repairs will be needed sooner rather than later is to have one of our professional mobile mechanics come to the location of the vehicle to complete a pre-purchase car inspection.

ANSWER : Hi there. The problem with purchasing a mid-level luxury vehicle like an Infinity is that they are often overpriced vs. the actual value of the vehicle. Anytime you purchase a used vehicle from a private owner, it’s a great idea to have a mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a pre-purchases car inspection. If the current owner has an issue with this; it’s a good indication that the car has some mechanical problems and you should not purchase.

ANSWER : Hi there. This is a great question since I just went through this process myself to get a used truck for my job. My first suggestion is to first get a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic, like one from YourMechanic. The mechanic could possibly find a problem that may be very expensive and save you from buying an unreliable car.

To answer your two questions: "Where is the best place to buy one"? The best place to buy a used vehicle is where you can find a fair price without compromising reliability and quality. You may find an individual or a dealer that has a great deal. My vehicle was from an individual that needed a car for their job and had to get rid of his truck. They had all the service records and seemed to be very honest. I checked and found the vehicle to be a great price and a perfect match for what I was looking for.

Be wary of a very underpriced vehicle. Before you go looking for car, get online prices to get an idea of what it should cost you. Some dealers have great prices when cash and checks are brought forth. Do your research, I looked at several vehicles before finding one that did not have major potential problems. Some of the major things to look out for are: Engine, transmission, cooling system, major under carriage rust, warning lights on the dash, tires and brakes. All these may cost quite a bit to repair.

ANSWER : Hello…..any used car that you are seriously contemplating for purchase should be thoroughly inspected by a certified Mechanic in a comprehensive pre-purchase vehicle inspection.

It’s best not to rely on "anecdotal accounts", such as you see published on the Internet, or hear from individual owners, when making a decision to purchase a car. Instead, what we recommend is that you consult objective sources, such as Consumer Reports (CR), which regularly test vehicles and, via large national owner surveys, collect, tabulate and report vehicle reliability ratings for all makes, models and years. These reliability data are broken down by major vehicle system and will give an outstanding understanding of the likelihood of major repairs for any particular model, by year. CR also has compiled lists of recommended vehicles for "used car purchase", by various categories including sports cars which appears to be one of your interests. So, first thing to check is all available, published DATA in CR (in the public library) on the particular car that you are interested in. A second authoritative data source to consult, to determine what the likelihood of problems might be with a model you are interested in, is the Federal NHTSA database of vehicle complaints. That free, on line database, also arranged by year, make, model, vehicle system, and so forth is a goldmine for vehicles owners who might seek to understand if a fault they are experiencing in a specific year, make and model has indeed been reported by other owners of the same car model. So, by a simple search of that database (the interface is very convenient and easy to use), you can determine for a particular year, make and model exactly what other consumers’ experiences have been with the car. The data is highly useful and in the many, many cases I have studied over the years, I have seen that the data do reliably report "fault patterns" (common failures) as they have existed in particular models, years, and so forth. Above all, have any vehicle you settle on thoroughly inspected, particularly for concealed damage. Generally, so long as a car has not been in an accident, anything is repairable on a car. But, if a car you are considering has been in a crash and then "repaired", my advice is don’t waste your time. Let us know if you have further questions or concerns.

ANSWER : At this mileage, you will want to ask for some of the service records if available. Listen for any strange noises while the engine is running and while driving the vehicle and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Check under the hood to see if the drive belts are cracked and the fluids are full. Consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic who can offer a pre-purchase inspection and give the vehicle in question a good look over then provide you with an estimate for any necessary repairs should you decide to buy it.

ANSWER : Hi there. One of the best services we offer is a pre-purchase car inspection. This allows a professional mobile mechanic to come to your location and inspect the vehicle to determine the overall condition of the car; and what repairs might need to be completed. In general, Toyota Corolla’s are very dependable and affordable to maintain – a good car for a first time car driver.

ANSWER : Hello Mike. You have found yourself in a position where there is a lot to consider, and the choice is going to come down to how much risk you are willing to take with this truck. Starting with the knock sensor, it can be anything from a bad connection to a bad knock sensor itself. If the engine seems to be running quietly and smoothly, it is likely a connection or sensor problem. The oil pan leak is also a problem, because of how difficult they are to fix (even if it is just the gasket). Often you have to remove several components and possibly even raise the engine to get access to it. When you add the axle seals into the mix, you have to consider the time, effort, and money it takes to replace them as well. If the truck is in great condition otherwise, you may have a decent purchase. However, axle seals, oil pan gaskets, and knock sensor issues all happen with heavy wear typically, and the truck may be closer to the end of its life than it seems. 126,000 miles is not a lot, and if you can get the repairs done relatively inexpensively, then you may be taking less of a risk. For a second opinion and inspection, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.