Examine the glass and test the lights. Front and back windows are expensive to replace, and problems with them can mean a safety hazard. Test the headlights, taillights, flashers, backup lights, brake lights, turn signals, and parking lights. (Bring a friend and this task will go a lot faster.)
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Look carefully for rust. Repairing rust is far more expensive than most mechanical repairs, and rust does more to depreciate the value of a car than any other single item. Take special note of the following areas: wheel wells, rain gutters, window moldings, door frames (especially around the bottom), and the joints where the roof supports connect with the body. If the car has a vinyl top, look for bubbles and push on them with your finger. A crinkly, crunchy sound means there's rust under the vinyl that can be almost impossible to stop. Also check for bubbles or blisters around the trim, which indicate the beginning of rust under the paint. Rust is a good reason to avoid a particular car because there is no inexpensive way to repair rust problems.
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Examine the paint and body. Beware of new paint jobs. A newly painted car may have had a severe rust problem or may have been in a major accident. Unless you know the person selling the car and know why it was repainted, stay away from cars with new paint jobs.
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To determine whether a car has been repainted, check for telltale signs: the trim on the inside of the doors doesn't match the exterior trim; the colour inside the bonnet and the boot doesn't match the exterior; or little bits of paint on the rubber molding around the windows and doors or on the chrome.
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