New car quality problems are shaping the used market you are shopping
Infotainment and electronics lead new-vehicle complaints, and those cars become today's used listings. What to check before you buy.
Read the guide →Field Notes
Practical writing from the driveway.
Short, useful pieces from the technical bench, no fluff, no upsell.
What is a lemon car, and how do you avoid buying one?
Warning signs, questions to ask, and the one step that keeps most lemons out of your driveway.
Read the guide →Pre-purchase inspection checklist: what a mobile tech actually checks
The mechanical, electrical, and cosmetic points a mobile technician verifies before you write a check.
Read the guide →Mobile vs. dealer used car inspection: what's the difference?
How independent mobile inspections compare to dealer multi-point checks, and when each is enough.
Read the guide →Choosing a pre-purchase inspection: what to compare before you book
Who performs the work, what the scope covers, what the report includes, and how to pick the option that fits your purchase.
Read the guide →Pre-purchase inspection cost: what you actually pay for
What an inspection costs, why the free dealer check isn't a substitute, and how a $249 report acts as insurance against a lemon.
Read the guide →How to negotiate a used car price using an inspection report
Turn caution items into real dollar reductions. Dealer and private-party scripts for using your inspection at the negotiating table.
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