Used Cars Ontario Articles

Lemons vs. Oranges

Once upon a time there was a boy who was not like other little boys. This boy was different. While the other little boys painted blue skies, this young boy painted purple skies. While the other boys commented how green the grass was, this little boy saw only brown. While the other young boys could match their own clothes in the morning, this little boy had to rely on his mother to dress him appropriately. Although a sad tale, it is true, for this little boy was me.

Living with the deficiency of colorblindness really is not as difficult as it may sound, but it can be challenging at times. Similarly, purchasing a used car isn’t as difficult as it may sound, but it too can be challenging at times.

When I was younger my parents read to me a scripture from the Bible which read “by their fruits ye shall know them”, but unfortunately when you’re color blind it’s much more important to first know the fruit before you know anything. I often confused yellows and oranges which wasn’t necessarily a major concern except when it came to fruits. Too many times I confused a lemon to be an orange, or an orange to be a lemon, and trust me, there’s a big difference in taste

Likewise, when purchasing a used vehicle it may look like an “orange” but in actuality be a “lemon”, and if you’re lucky, you may come across a “lemon car” that turns out to be an “orange”. Allow me to share some words of advice on how to recognize a “lemon car” so that you don’t’ experience what I have experienced in finding out what looked like an orange really was a sour lemon.

Research

Before shopping for a car, it is incredibly beneficial to do sufficient research to know what exactly it is that you want. Utilize all possible resources, including friends, mechanics, car salesmen and saleswomen, books, magazines, etc. There are various resources online which provide reviews of most models of cars including well known defects and other known issues.

Control Your Emotions

Don’t get too attached to a car before you buy it. It is extremely easy to allow your emotions to sway your decisions, possibly resulting in overlooking signs that would otherwise tell you that it is a “lemon”

Beware of Small Car Lots

If you decide to avoid private sellers, you should always buy used cars from lots that are connected to new car dealerships. Trade-ins are often much better quality vehicles. Also, since they are affiliated with a much larger dealership they typically will offer better warranties, incase your “orange” ends up being a “lemon”.

Professional Inspection

Before purchasing a used car from anyone, be sure to have it thoroughly inspected by a professional mechanic. Depending on the auto body shop, it can cost as little as $30 and as much as $100. Although most buyers would prefer to not invest in a vehicle they have not yet purchased, this small investment may be the difference between being colorblind and not.

Mileage

The average yearly mileage of most vehicles is 20,000 kilometers (15,000 miles). This is important to know as it allows the buyer to understand how hard the vehicle has been driven in the past, and the mileage life expectancy of the car.

Vehicle Identification Number

Find out the cars VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), and research the vehicle’s history online. Through running the VIN, you are able to view the car’s accident history as well as repair and recall history. Without researching the vehicle’s personal history by using the VIN, you might as well be blind picking oranges and lemons rather than only colorblind.

Over the years I have learned to compensate for my colorblindness deficiency and fortunately have not had as much difficulty telling the difference between a lemon and an orange as I did when I was younger. Hopefully by following these few words of advice you will be able to avoid the deceiving “lemons” and enjoy the sweet taste of “oranges” (whether colorblind or not).

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