Used car shopping in South Florida has a few local wrinkles you won't read about in national buying guides. After years of seeing the aftermath in our bays, here's what we'd tell a friend to check.
Flood history — the big one
After every hurricane season, flooded cars get cleaned up and quietly re-sold. A title check helps but doesn't catch everything. Look for: a musty smell under the carpet, water lines or silt in the trunk spare-tire well, fogging inside headlights, corrosion on seat rails and under-dash connectors, and electronics that act possessed. Flood damage kills cars slowly — the electrical problems show up months later.
The A/C has to be strong, not just working
Run it hard at idle for ten minutes. Cool-but-not-cold air, or air that warms up at stoplights, means a system that needs work — and that's a real number to negotiate with, not a detail.
Maintenance history beats mileage
A 90,000-mile car with records beats a 60,000-mile mystery. No records on a belt-driven engine? Assume the timing belt is due and price accordingly.
Tires and brakes tell on the seller
Four mismatched budget tires and worn brakes say the last owner spent the minimum. Uneven tire wear can also flag alignment or suspension issues from our pothole-rich roads.
Quick tip: Any private seller or dealer who won't let you take the car for an independent inspection has answered your question. Walk away.
A pre-purchase inspection at AutoPlus puts the car on a lift, scans the computer for stored codes, and gives you a plain-language list of what it needs — usually the best money you'll spend in the whole transaction.
Related service: Pre-Purchase Inspection · Questions? (954) 748-4868
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