Weekly automotive section from the Waco Tribune-Herald. feb.2014 | Page 4

4 |WHEELS | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014 | www.wacotrib.com Waco Tribune-Herald USED CAR BUYING GUIDE | HISTORY N Service Records o matter how well designed and engineered a car is when it’s new, it will quickly deteriorate and become unreliable if the right maintenance isn’t performed on it. And oil changes are just the beginning. From timing belts to tires, and everything in between, vehicles need regular service to keep them on the road reliably. When you’re shopping for a used car, it’s your job to look for evidence that the car has been kept up in the past. SERVICE INTERVALS Once you’ve narrowed down your search to a particular vehicle, search online to find the recommended maintenance intervals for that particular car. At certain ages and mileage levels, major maintenance needs to be performed. You should go into the purchase with your eyes wide open to the car’s specific needs — both in the past and in the future. If the car with 57,000 miles has another major service recommended at 60,000 miles, you should talk to a mechanic about how much that’s going to cost. vice has been done, you need to assume you’ll be paying for it. A timing belt is the perfect example. If a timing belt breaks, it can cause catastrophic engine failure in many cars, so it’s critical that the belt be replaced at the recommended mileage. This can cost a few hundred dollars, so you’ll have to factor that into the price of the car. Well-maintained cars with the receipts to prove it are the best cars to buy, and they’re worth more than the same car with poorly documented service. It’s that simple. RECEIPTS To find out what maintenance has been performed in the past, see if the seller has any records on paper. Ideally, you’ll want to find receipts that prove that the car has been maintained meticulously, including fluid changes and services that follow the car’s recommended schedule. If records don’t exist, a good mechanic should be able to provide some insight about whether or not the important maintenance steps have been done. © FOTOLIA / AP FACTOR IT IN If you can’t find proof that a major ser- PRE-OWNED SUPER CENTER BLOW OUT SALE 210 S Highway 36 Bypass S Gatesville, TX 76528 800-460-8941 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE 2012 CHRYSLER 200 LOADED $ 00 19,501 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA ONLY 18K MILES $ + TT&L 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO 2SS 2011 BUICK ENCLAVE 00 $ 26,988 + TT&L 2009 DODGE 3500 DIESEL + TT&L 2012 NISSAN TITAN 00 29,988 + TT&L 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU ONLY 66 K ON MILES $ 00 14,899 + TT&L 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT $ 00 8,900 + TT&L + TT&L + TT&L 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER $ 00 25,500 + TT&L