Buying used is the smartest money move in car ownership — if you check the right things. Here's the five-minute checklist we use ourselves:
- History: ask for the VIN and look up the vehicle history. A clean story matters more than a shiny hood.
- Fluids: oil and transmission fluid tell you how the car was treated. Dark, burnt-smelling fluid is a warning sign.
- Tires: uneven wear can mean alignment or suspension issues — a $600 surprise hiding in plain sight.
- Electronics: test every window, light, and button. Small electrical gremlins are the most annoying to chase.
- The test drive: drive it cold, drive it on the highway, and listen with the radio off.
Or skip the homework — every car at Nexus Motors is already inspected against this exact list. See what's on the lot.