Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 1997)
Used cars not all lemons The Dally Nebraskan is looking for someone creative to be our pew online editor for the remainder of the fall semester and die upcoming spring semester. Responsibilities would include maintaining the Daily Nebraskan’s site and experimenting with additions and interactive resources. Gut site is read on campus, in Lincoln and across the world- \ \ V \ .This is a paid position H that requires work every \ evening Sunday through Thursday, Experience with i. World'Wide Web sites is mandatory, hut journalism experience is not. Initial training will be provided. For inore information, call (402) 472-1766, X or sendee-mail; to playigne@unlinfO.Unl.edii. The site? can be found at ~ http// :ww w. unl.edu/J^ilyNeb. _ V Pick up an application at the Daily Nebraskan, 34ffebraska Union' Applications are, dire Oct? 23: Tpe Daily Nebraskan does pot and abides by all un^^^y pdlidos i mtm m feaanaB.. 19U - \‘7f?i2°I; i ^^LUBI : 17th &‘N’ I No Appointments Necessary ' 476-9466 !$6 Off I . Oil Change Service with UNL student E I , | Now Only $19.70 1 M " ,,i | (nsg. $25.70, Environmental disposal fee included.) . * Oil & filter change (up to 5 qts.) < | • Lubricate zerk fittings * • Check & fill fluids: 1 brake, power steering, battery, washer, and | automatic transmission fluid only , • Check antifreeze, air filter, wiper blades, and tire pressure 1 • Vacuum interior & wash windows { Best Service in i Just 10 Minutes I Most brands available 1 Expires 12-31-97 ■ ■ USED CARS from page ! definitely a few things wrong with the car.” Patak said he had to buy a new starter and replace a couple of worn hoses. Later, the car was recalled by the manufacturer for the defective seat belts. According to the Federal Trade Commission, more than 17 million people purchase used cars each year, at a price tag of over $85 billion. Some become owners of prob lem-free cars; others, like Patak, regret die purchase. Only those who do their homework can be sure they’re buying a good car. When choosing a used car, one must consider a lot more than price. Consumers must know how to pro tect themselves from being taken advantage of, said the Better Business Bureau. Though there are severahbene ation rate - the negative aspects can outweigh the good. ^ - The bureau said possible down sides of buying used include:* ■ Mechanical or structural defects. ■ Dimculty tindmg replace ment parts. ■ No warranty. ■ Misrepresentation of the vehi cle’s condition. “The most important thing for consumers to know is their rights v and responsibilities as a consumer,” said Scott Mecham, president of the Comhusker Better Business Bureau. Mecham said that once a con tract is signed and the car isfljiven off the lot, any problems are gener ally the consumer’s concern. &ny verbal agreements between the con sumer and dealer must be written into the contract. ;>v The Better Business Bureau and the state attorney general's office receive several complaints from cus tomers each week after purchases already have been made. “Many people believe tha&he three-day right-to-cancel, law applies to car purchases," said Dan Parsons, special assistant*^) the Nebraska attorney general. The law applies only to door-to-4b0*E mer chandise sales. « Parsons said many of the com plaints are from customers who had misconceptions that they could return their car or back out of a con tract. State of trust According to a Better Business Bureau Web page on buying used cars, the best place to look for a used car is anew car dealer that sells used vehicles.^-' New cardealers are preferred because they generally sell die best of the cars they acquire through trade-ins. Purchases are more-likely to include a limited warranty* and necessary repairs are more likely to be made in the dealer’s service department. But Dean Hillhouse, owner of Downtown Auto, 16490 St,r dis agreed. ...... Hillhouse said the best place to purchase a used car is from someone who is accredited by business orga nizations such, as the Better Business Bureau and the National Board of Commerce. “Those are the people that you can trust,” said Hillhouse, a former Check them out... Consumers can find a wealth of information about used car buying tips, prices, dealer back grounds and previous owners. By phone: Comhusker Better Business Bureau, 436-2345 Attorney General Don Stenberg’s Office, 471-2682 Dealer’s Licensing Board, 471-2148 On the Web: The Better Business Bureau buying guide: http://www. bbb. org/library/used car.html Kelley Blue Book: http://www.kbb.cpm/ CARveat Emptor: http://www.well. com/userfkr2 /in dex.html £*>' - w*-. ■ ^ r . •.. **• _ ‘ ■ - . • . ' ±-fr president of the Indej Car Dealer’s Association. Customers are treated better by independent used car dealers than by large new car sellers, Hillhouse said. “Many older people may remem uci uic iuuiu-aiiu-pup stuica and the small filling stations of the past,” Hillhouse said. “But they’ve disappeared. Now all we have are mega-stores. Those places don’t treat you the same as family oriented small businesses do.” Do the homework ? * Mecham said consumers should look up prospective cars in an auto mobile price guide, such as the monthly Kelley Blue Book. Such guides are available at libraries, bookstores, insurance agencies and banks. N atronaf^k Traffic Safety Administration to find out if the model has ever been recalled for safety defects. It is also suggested that one obtain the telephone number of the previous owner, who may be open to providing important information about the vehicle, perhaps informa tion unknown to the dealer. But one can do more than just check the history of the vehicle. It is also possible to check out the histo ry of the dealer. Mecham said the Better Business Bureau provides reliability reports free of charge to consumers. If a prospective dealerhas an unsatisfae iury icluiu, me umeau uaii icn a cuu sumer why and what types.of com plaints the business has on record. Calls also can be made to the Dealer Licensing Board to see if a dealer’s license has ever been sus pended for an^igpn. Anyone who sells more thaih'^XfCaiE$ iq; tf,year must be liceris^J|yidie board. According to£j| Better Business Bureau brochufe^some dealers are good at hiding a car's problems. A shiny new paint johand steam cleaned engine does not meaff the car is in good condition. Though a consumer can try to do a thorough job of checking out the quality of the car, the Better Business Bureau rec ommends that the consumer take the car to a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection. “It costs a little money to have the car checked out,” Mecham said. “But if they do find a problem, it can According to a Better Business Bureau brochure, a consumer can look for several possible car problems while on the lot. 1. <fihecle for rust at the bot toms of feeders, around lights and bumpers, and under the doors. Blisters under the paint indicate future rust. 2. Look carefully for paint that doesn’t match, gritty sur faces and over-spray on the chrome — all signs that the car has been painted to mask prob lems. 3. Any cracks, heat-discol ored areas, loose bumpers or loose-fitting doors and windows are signs that the car may have been involved in a collision. 4. Uneven wear on the front tires can indicate bad alignment or front suspension damage. 5. Look for leaks around hoses and valves, on the under side of the engine, as well as under the car. 6. Oil that is whitish, or with white bubbles, can be a sign of major mechanical problems. Feel around the inside of the tailpipe. Black, gummy soot can indicate worn rings or bad valves. /. wniie driving tne car, lis ten for unusual sounds, vibra tions or odors. 8. Make several starts and stops. The car should accelerate without hesitation and should brake without vibrating or pulling to one side. 9. Turn at various speeds. The power steering (if equipped) should feel smooth, with little squealing or swaying. If the steering seems stiff, it could mean that the car has front-end problems. . < . , _ ■ 10. Have a friend or family member stand behind the vehicle while you decelerate from 45 to 15 mph, then step hard on the gas. Blue smoke indicates worn rings or valves while white smoke can mean the car has a cracked block. save you a lot more money in the long run.” Most of these inspections cost between $30 and $40 and can be used as a bargaining tool when negotiating the price with the dealer, if any problems are found. Whoops If customers discover problems ~ > after purchasing a vehicle, they should consult the dealer first. Mecham said dealers want to keep their customers satisfied, but if the dealer refuses to correct the problem, the customer can contact the Better Business Bureau and file a complaint The bureau can act as a middle man between customers and dealers to reach an agreement if complaints are valid, Mecham said. But the bureau will tell the consumers if they do not have a valid complaint. Consumers can also file com plaints with the dealer licensing board and the attorney general’s office. Further information on buying a used car is available at the attorney general’s office in the Capitol build ing and at the Cornhusker Better j Business Bureau, 3633 O St. EMISSIONS from page 1">»/. from automobiles and other smaller sources. Wood said air pollution from some nitrogen oxides can lead to the development of “West Coast-style smog.” However, he said, other nitro gen oxides formed in the atmosphere do not contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major contrib utor to the problem of smog. ~ Iowa, Kansas and South Dakota also will not have to meet the new regulations. Missouri is one of the 22 states that wilt be subject to the new standards. ^ Wood estimated the state of Nebraska will save $50 million to $70 million in costs that would have been needed to meet the restrictions.
