5 Tips to Buying a Tuner Car / Tip #5

Take a friend that knows about the car you want to buy!

5.   Inspection; it is possible to check out a car in a fast and comprehensive way without much hassle. However, many people do have difficulty. Here are a few tips, some things to watch for, when you are looking at buying a used tuner car.

 

     Check for signs of proper maintenance and installation of any modifications. A poorly handled installation with stripped bolts and resin filler in the body panels indicates it has not been properly maintained. These are red flags to avoid. Shop around to find  a car in good condition. Find out who tuned the engine. If it has been rebuilt , then determine by who and how many times. Ask to see receipts. If it has been raced, ask how many racing hours are on the engine. Request a test ride and drive the car before you make a final decision. Arrange for a few laps around the neighborhood to check the handling, engine performance, speed, and all interior components. Do they meet your standards?

      A cool app to use when you are checking out a  tuner car is called "Autobot".  It  will  help you keep it running welll after you buy it. The AutoBot program displays vital car functions on your iphone. It will allow you to check the car’s ECU mapping and air/fuel mixtures. If the car isn’t running well, it will even provide error codes.

       
Don't Forget to ... 

•        Check Registration and ownership documentation 

•       Get a vehicle history report  

•       Get a detailed listing of all modification and trick parts. 

•       Ask if original parts are available and ask about any other spare parts.

5 Tips to Buying a Tuner Car / Tip # 4

4.    Classifieds & Auto Traders; what do you ask when you come across that great looking deal? Is it really a bargain or maybe a lemon? You can save time and energy by just asking a few powerful revealing questions. When you're sure that those questions are answered correctly, then go visit and even consider buying the car. For example:

·         Why are you selling the car?

·         How  would you describe your used car’s condition?

·         How many miles are on the odometer?

·         Who was this vehicle bought from?

·         What kind of oil has been used in the car?

·         What is your asking price?

·         Are you willing to let me get this inspected independently?

·         If the car is certified, can I see the mechanic’s pre-certification inspection, or do you have a maintenance record?

·         Does it have air conditioning, power windows, a CD player? More importantly, do they work?

·         Was the owner happy with the car?

5 tips in buying a tuner car / tip 3

3.    Best Price; how much should you pay for that great tuner car? Is it an offer which is actually too good to be true? Find the best resources to check tuner car prices. It's an essential part in "How to buy a car especially a tuner car "; buying a tuner is a lot like buying a work of art, originality quality and craftsmanship don’t forget the celebrity factor as well if the car was tuned by a famous builder or tuned for a famous person will increase the value. There is not a who’s who list of tuners readily available the best source is the tuner car forums that can assist in identifying different builder or shops whose cars are highly prized. 

     If you are shopping for a deal look for situation where a car owner could not handle the responsibility of their tuner cars performance and is being forced to sale baby because of traffic infractions… 

5 tips in buying a tuner car / tip 2

2.    Buying used; new cars suffer a huge devaluation once they roll out of the showroom and off the lot. On the other hand some types of cars are much safer to buy new (off road models are an example). The fact that new cars have become so expensive it leaves little option but to look for a great used car deal. The market (supply & demand), your budget and wish list of add-on will decide if you're a new or used car buyer. Buying a car out of state is a option for some looking for a particular car or a great deal, but this is usually a bit more difficult than buying a car in state. State smog and vehicle safety requirements may vary. For example, California has much more stringent smog requirements than other states; cars brought into California must have a “California Certified” label under the hood, near the engine.  Some states, like Ohio, require that the car be inspected by their own state inspectors for safety.

My Tuner Car Top Ten Wish List

1.     Chevy Cavalier 1981-2004  
2.     Dodge SRT-4 2003-Present 
3.     Honda Civic 1972-Present  
4.     Mazda RX-7 1993-1997 
5.     Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 2003-Present
6.     Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX (also the equivalent Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser)
7.      Nissan 240SX 1989-1998  
8.     Nissan 350Z 2003-Present 
9.     Subaru WRX 2002-Present  
10.     Toyota Supra 1993-1998: