Top Ten Project Car Buying Mistakes

When it comes to buying your dream project car-or any car for that matter-many common mistakes can occur that can lead to ruinous, costly results. We’ve all had our fair share of these problems over the years. Below we outline the Top Ten mistakes and explain why they could lead to disastrous results that can cost you time and money…and even break your heart. 1. Buying A Car Off Of The Internet: This car buying solution is full of problems just waiting to happen. We were brought up being told that a picture tells a thousand words. I Say that pictures can tell a thousand lies when it comes to car buying. When you look at a picture on-line, it most likely won’t show the thick body filler, the wavy body, the problems with the doors and the windows (like they don’t open), the A/C or heat not working or any other problems that you would normally notice on an inspection or test drive. To make sure you are getting exactly what you are paying for you need to go and look at the car or hire an appraiser to do so for you. 2. Hiring An Appraiser That Does Not Have Model Specific Expertise: Someone who is not familiar with the numbers, quirks, or the weaknesses of the specific make and model of your prospective purchase could very well miss what could be potentially expensive problems. Your best bet is to use the Internet tech forums that cater to the make and model of the car and ask around about who is capable and willing to go and look at the car for you. Always offer to pay for their services; it will usually be very reasonable. Most likely, the person will be very knowledgeable and able to give you very good direction on your potential purchase. 3. Buying A Project Car That Is Disassembled: This is probably the worst kind of car to buy. In most cases, parts are missing-especially small important ones. Also, disassembly is easy; reassembly is not and becomes even more difficult when you did not take it apart yourself. A lot of parts can look similar but fit in different areas. To make matters worse, parts that are missing could not only be extremely expensive but very hard to locate. Keep in mind, if you buy a pile of anything, especially a car, you are looking for a pile of trouble. 4. Buying A Car That Has Been Freshly Restored: This can be a very costly decision. A lot of the work that goes into a restoration involves proper preparation. If rust holes are filled with body filler, high-build primer is used to fill deep sanding scratches or incompatible Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil