Common Mistakes When Buying Used Cars or Keeping Your Old One in 2023

As a mechanic and a shop owner I inspect used cars almost daily and help folks decide if they should keep their older car or move on.
Many of you ask me daily for used car advice vs. keeping your old car going in the tough car market of 2023. In this video we discuss the common mistakes I see people make when buying used cars.
But the current used car market also created another problem. People being forced to keep their older cars going longer hoping that the market would return to normal. But even in keeping your old car there are mistakes that you shouldn't make.
Hope this video helps someone out there.
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#thecarcarenut #tccnautomotive #usedcars #toyota #lexus
0:00 Intro
0:44 What's Going On with the car market?
2:44 Mistakes when deciding to keep an old car
9:23 Mistakes When Buying a Used Car
12:08 Don't Use it as an excuse
15:17 Don't Rush

[@graphix-R21]

What's harder than finding a good used car? Finding a good honest mechanic!

[@Gemini_0815]

Which is mostly a communication problem between customers and mechanics.

[@nbk2134]

Both. I would recommend learning basics about maintenance and the nuances

[@ericolens3]

i have 3 mechanics and they are all decent. one is a family friend, one is a neighbor, the other is a car dealership. they each have their pros and cons. my neighbor is free, so he'll only do basic stuff. the dealership does multipoint inspections the family friend does great workmanship, but i HATE his prices. but hes self employed and does all types of cars both common, luxury imports, common imports, and so on. all in all i can price compare to see what the market average is and still get quality work or DIY for certain jobs. thing is, besides the car dealership, the other mechanics Ive known for a long time. so i trust them, I just hate their hourly pay rate, but then again thats a personal problem since they do have high skill set.

[@myusrn]

Finding a good home is harder though similar to finding a good used or new car. Both are a pain and both are unfortunately necessities.

[@matthewdo9027]

Whatever you do, don't be fooled by the name like Honest-1 Auto care. I was ripped off by the guys at this place in Charlotte, NC. I told them only the rear brakes need brake pads. They opened all 4 brakes without my approval and recommended the entire new brake system including calipers, rotors and brake pads. I ended up with $2,000 bill.

[@426envy]

My daughter was given a ‘99 Camry (5S-FE) as her first car. She drove it for 6 years and I’ve been driving it for 2+ more years. I’ve calculated that over 8+ years of ownership, this car has cost us about $40 per month. I just rolled over 331K this week. It’s still very clean inside and out and drives smooth.

[@Trapster99]

Keep it. Cherish it.

[@426envy]

@@Trapster99 That’s my plan.

[@amandaburleson2035]

how often car oil changies

[@martinpeters4505]

I own a 09 Camry Hybrid withv396000 km and its going to have 450000 km with minimal cost...

[@ptaweston]

You're just like me, except I fix my own cars and keep them until I can no longer find parts. The savings over the long haul are enormous. I recently read an article that the average car purchase is $47,000, and the average monthly payments of $576!! WTF! No thanks. I'll keep fixing my own cars and spend the money on creating memories with my family traveling.

[@philipbennett2973]

I have been a car dealer for 30 years this guy knows exactly what he is taking about.I was amazed this guy said what I have always told car buyers but not everyone listens.Great video for sure.

[@Brandiafinegirl62]

This guy is a jewel! I'd love to have him as my mechanic! Honest people are hard to find these days.

[@jamescostello7584]

Dude you can't trust nobody you got to learn yourself and feel car as any good or not you got to learn yourself very simple no one taught me how to do it and I know more about cars than this guy Toyotas especially and many other people oil-burning I know how to find an oil burning Toyota in 2 seconds transmission problems whatever it might be without any equipment okay with it for years and any other tri-axial problems tranny problems Motor problems you don't need to look at anybody you need to just learn it yourself take off your oil cap look in the motor if you see brown shitload of with sludge and you know the motor has sludge in it and it's not it's a smudge burner okay number one it's not worth crap it's just the average car if it's really clean inside then you got a jewel of a car that's how it goes and so on keep watching videos while you learn and if you don't you shouldn't be even on a car

[@ElCineHefe]

Jewels can't do anything. He's Toyota Jesus. That's more accurate.

[@teelowteelow356]

@@ElCineHefecringe

[@ElCineHefe]

@teelowteelow356 Hope your Yugo is running this week.

[@teelowteelow356]

@@ElCineHefe what a silly comment lmao. Pathetic

[@mercedesg3733]

We need to clone you and have technicians like you across the country to act as advisors for those of us who don’t have car knowledge. It’s hard to find honest mechanics. Thank you for always providing such honest videos. Maybe you can start a business of “honest” technicians across the country that can offer advice for a fee. I’m quite sure it would be a welcomed service. 👍

[@hankyhank1652]

YEP! Imagine if ALL mechanics are like the Car Care Nut and Scotty Kilmer, NO worries about being ripped off. Just CLONE the Car Care Nut and Scotty Kilmer and life will be good. 👍

[@rgl168]

He should start a training school and prepare for a new generation of mechanics.

[@masskhamisi4]

Impossible

[@licungR]

Kage bushin no jutsu

[@cos6617]

Let’s do this 😂

[@rightlanehog3151]

AMD, When you sit down behind the black work bench with the shop lights dimmed, we know we are in trouble. 😬

[@skimanfree1073]

Simply Put-- How much will it cost to fix my old car to avoid car payments that are at least $600 per month. So repairs that cost $3000 and may get you another 24 months will save you $14,400 in car payments for a net savings of $11,400 after repair costs. Lower insurance rates on the old vehicle will add to your savings.

[@twothreefour234]

Telling a young couple with 2.5 kids the car they just spent every penny they could scrape together isnt worth fixing is a honest mechanics nightmare. Heartbreaking. It still happens every day. Listen to this man, he is telling you the way it is

[@DJNoMask]

I’m amazed how anyone could desire to bring kids into this world

[@jaya.0069]

@@DJNoMask I'd like to see the .5 kid!

[@divinemessenger2030]

How do you have half a kid? 😭

[@bmiles4131]

@@jaya.0069they are very small

[@dannyturner7967]

I am more concerned about the half child

[@mrsmith1339]

I have been messing with cars for 60 plus years and i grew up in the rust belt. Most used car buyers are incapable of judging the condition of a used car. They are buying the habits of the previous owner. They buy with their eyes. I tell people that a pre purchase mechanical inspection is mandatory, but so is a body inspection. A box of donuts at a body shop will reveal all. Body men love to point out previous shoddy work. They can tell quickly.

[@bobochan4699]

Donut boxes? For doing a favor?

[@karlhungus545]

I hear you, but the problem at the moment is that anything decent you won't have the time to inspect because the owner will refuse as they know they can just sell it the same day to the next guy.

[@heeroru7781]

Run the codes, check the fluids, does it drive right, the best inspection will only tell so much. But the previous owner is a fountain of knowledge, not just from what they say but what they won't. A dealership will lie right to your face, but the average person is more honest and won't lie, at least not without giving a tell. I stopped buying cars from dealerships and stick with private party exactly for this reason.

[@evoman44]

​​@@heeroru7781Exactly. You can tell more about the cars history by meeting the previous owner in person and by the condition it was kept in. Like most sporty cars will typically be owned by car enthusiasts that take meticulous care of their cars. By talking to the owner you will find out just how much of a car guy he is and to what degree he cared for the car. The you can do the basics like checking the condition of the oil, coolant, leaks, CV axles, chassis rust and finally scanning it for codes.

[@GoodTimeJoey]

This video is funny cause barring any significant life changes, I plan to drive my 2012 4Runner until the wheels fall off or it just dies. But it’s a truck I bought new 11 years ago, I go above and beyond doing preventative maintenance, keep the frame clean, and only hit 100k miles last year. I don’t even drive everyday. Dealers keep asking me to sell it to them. Any car could potentially break down for sure, but if you keep up (or even do extra) maintenance on a Toyota/Lexus, it’ll last way way way longer than any other brand car on the road comparatively. Love my 4Runner!!

[@peterraad23]

I literally almost bought a Lexus from a dealer in a different state without even seeing it in person. What you just said about how horrible it is when doing post purchase inspection made me feel so relieved. I’ve just been so frustrated with this market of used cars, but no matter how frustrated I get I’m glad I backed out of the purchase last minute

[@hearditfirst8010]

This is why I'm not willing to spend more than 4,000 on a used car. At that price it'd be cost effective for me to fix whatever surprised repair that comes up. And worse comes to worst, $4,000 is not that much money for me to lose

[@edjarrett3164]

Great discussion. When you have an older car and you understand vehicles and their potential failures, you spend on preventative maintenance. When you commit to older vehicles, you are also committed to maintaining them. Sure it costs a lot, but you will know you have a travel worthy and safe vehicle. Last thing I want is to have a bricked vehicle because I didn’t maintain it. Too many people don’t understand the concept of It’s your horse and your ride and it’s your responsibility to take care of that horse.

[@jamescostello7584]

Yeah most people are assholes they think they got a Toyota or there's no need it's maintenance-free or they buy a prius and don't believe it has a motor in it needs oil change they'll all the motor burned oil like a dog and it's all sludge up the world is stupid and it's getting stupider by the minute screw the public their own problem

[@nanajoanne867]

Thanks for sharing this information with us. I'm a 69 yr old widow here in Memphis. I was hit head-on in November 2022 😢 i ended up with severe injuries. My 2004 Lincoln Towncar car Limited edition that was in excellent condition with only 100k miles was totaled. I babied that car. I serviced it as scheduled all these years. Now I'm a widow and retired and I need to by a new car. I'm out priced by the market. This is scary for someone like me. These videos really help me as i search for a reliable used car. GOD bless you young man for sharing your knowledge with all of us on Utube. You never know who you are helping. Joanne Williams.

[@000distructzero]

My trusted mechanic had the same talk with me about my 2001 manual transmission camry. The last couple times I had brought it to him for repair (evap check engine code, leaking brake lines) He looked at the rusting body and frame, took a deep breath and I knew this same talk was coming.

[@danlevesque5437]

I have a '07 camry with the manual transmission as well and fighting tooth and nail to keep it going as long as possible currently have had over 7 years now and that rust is not going anywhere eather

[@000distructzero]

@@efil4kizum after those two repairs another check engine light was on again turned out to be a cat failure. Good thing it was under warranty from previous replacement. I wasn't going to press my luck anymore and sold it as is.

[@manfredmann2766]

Move to AZ, no rust here. However, you get faded paint and exploding tires 🛞, especially in the low desert in the summer. Battery replacement is common too.

[@LAURABOHDAN]

I love all my cars with sticks.

[@fortheloveofnoise9298]

My 1998 Nissan Sentra manual has no rust....the cure is moving to the south, like Georgia or Alabama.

[@Conan117117]

Even as a toyota/honda driver, no car is reliable if maintenance is neglected. The problem with used cars is it is really hard to tell the maintenance history for most of them. Always get or do a thorough pre purchase inspection. Cheapest insurance you can ever get

[@rasheemthebestfirstone3274]

What you mean cheapest insurance you can get

[@manfredmann2766]

If were to ever even consider buying a used Honda or Acura again, I would make sure one with over 60 k had a timing belt replacement. There are so many high mileage Honda vehicles these days where that has been neglected. We have an Acura in the family and that was the first thing I inquired about. Not planning on buying anything soon, because these prices are ridiculous.

[@raniramasamy6292]

Very worthy advises.

[@zenshy2139]

​​​@@rasheemthebestfirstone3274he meant that a pre purchase inspection is the cheapest insurance there is as you can save thousands just looking through the car or pay a relatively small fee for a third party mechanic.

[@evoman44]

I have had good luck buying my last two cars. Part of the reason they have turned out to be good cars has been because they were sporty cars owned by car enthusiasts that took good care of them. One of them being a 95 Acura Integra that now has 270k miles.

[@redwoodforest3572]

+ 1 for me. From another auto mechanic wise words from AMD. I spent a lifetime fixing cars and trucks. Since I retired from the trade I am stunned at the amount of incompetence and pure greed I see now on a daily basis in the trade especially in the used car market. It was always bad but now it's beyond atrocious. It really saddens me the way things have deteriorated where it has gotten to point that auto mechanics are considered crooks until proven otherwise. I've had to back away and just steer family and friends along in the right direction.

[@cynthiastevens6618]

You can say the same about RV sales, new and used.

[@wendwllhickey6426]

I buy used from old people that take care of them and service them

[@MrRedHotChiliMan]

Many of them are crooks. I’ve witnessed it numerous times personally. Good thing I know quite a bit more than the average person about my cars.

[@twothreefour234]

I'm also retired 2002 and see the junk out there. Wait until all there is are 7 yr old EV. How do you trust the batteries. I really feel for people trying to make it today.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

I had to buy a car 18 months ago. What stunned me was the price of cars in the class we wanted that were 6 or 7 years old. My feeling was to go for a very much older car instead. So I found a 16 year old one with a big but fixable dent in the back that has no rust that required some simple fixes that I could handle. 22000 miles later I have no regrets at all. And now it's tidied up it's worth over double what I paid...

[@dontrend5956]

What brand?

[@delmarreyna]

Not for long

[@arunwickramasuriya5696]

AMD we really appreciate your honesty, knowledge and thoroughness and how you share your knowledge and experience with us all. You perform massive service for mankind. You are a a super mentor for anyone who wants to peruse an automotive or technical career. Great work! I found a dealership maintained Lexus ES 350 with 148 k miles. Immaculately maintained with 4,000 mile engine oil services and lexus recommended services performed. Only one problem- the lexus dealership never recommended the transmission fluid be changed since Lexus argues it is lifetime fluid. So sad the dealership never recommended to the owner to change transmission fluid every 60 k miles or 6 years like you recommend. So I did not buy the car. Was that the correct decision?

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

@@dontrend5956 BMW X3 Sport 3.0 Petrol, fully loaded.

[@krisxaero]

It doesn't matter if it's worth double now until you actually sell it. And if you do sell it with double the price you paid it for, you are part of the problem.

[@mervwhitney7229]

I wish there were people like you, in the motor trade, in the UK. May you continue to prosper with your business. Your customers are lucky to have you.

[@sahhull]

There's plenty of decent, honest mechanics in the UK. There are a fair few scumbags too, but it's not hard to find a decent mechanic.

[@lvsqcsl]

One point (among MANY good points) he brought out is when people are contemplating a repair that exceeds the value of the car and saying, "It isn't worth it." Several years ago, I crashed my car into a deer. I called up my insurance company and they said the cost of the damage was greater that the value of the car so, they would total it and pay me my money. (The value of the car was $900.00 the cost to repair it was $,1,600.00.) Now, the car was very well maintained and in good condition (even with 400,000 miles) Now, could I have replaced that car for $1,600.00? Not likely. Was it "worth" repairing? Depends. In my case, I knew what I had. The car didn't use much oil and was meticulously maintained and I would have let a perfectly good car go to waste. In some cases maybe not. Just because the cost of repair exceeds the value of the car doesn't mean it isn't worth it. A person has to evaluate that.

[@HotRod-wv4vm]

the same thing happened to my son and his 97 grand prix. I told him to keep it as I had just spent $4500 to drop in a rebuilt 3.8 engine

[@evoman44]

I had the same thing happen with with my 95 Acura Integra that I had kept meticulous care of. I kept the car anyways, taking a slightly less for the payout of $1,500 that the insurance company was going to give me. With that I ordered the body parts needed to fix it and had a guy I know that does body work on the side fix it for that same amount. I still have that car to this day and don't regret it. Another good option for these types of cases is to find the same car with a good body that has a blown engine for cheap. Then swapping over your good drivetrain and anything else that is better from your old car.

[@daklight2792]

Great video! You are doing a great service to car owners out there! Keep up the good work!

[@Shmity1962]

Still driving my 96 4Runner. I do all the repairs so it is worth keeping forever. However I’ve been wanting to replace it with a new one, can’t due to prices

[@Fred-F4]

great to hear that

[@Max-ik9qb]

DON'T mid age Yotas are much better/ easier to work on for their lack off computers and electronics controlling everything. My 02 TRD tacoma is at 380k miles and still going strong. Other than tune up items the only electronics that had any issue was the alternator (had the OEM denso rebuilt) and an IAC sensor repalced with OEM) I also do my own wrenching. My 2008 Ford van on the other hand is a nightmare and falling apart at 200k miles.

[@heeroru7781]

Maybe get the seats reupholstered. That foam inside degrades after so many years.

[@SaxaphoneMan42]

Just helped a friend who recently got into an accident with his old Tundra, decent amount of front end damage, after hearing him say he may need another vehicle. The bend in the frame is outside of the wheelbase though, so it can still drive straight. Went to actually look at the damage, saw it looked worse than it was, helped him pull out all the broken stuff, he ended up spending about 200 on necessary parts (radiator, fan, fluids, etc.) and has his vehicle back on the road now. No AC yet but he isn't SOL until he can scrape enough together for another vehicle. His truck isn't rusted, the engine and trans are still going strong at 220K, so in theory, the truck should last him a while longer, so long as he doesn't keep wrecking it lmao.

[@michaeldunagan8268]

There's a KZbin video of a body shop straightening a Ford F-150 frame. Pretty amazing stuff actually. Save thousands of dollars if the rest of the truck is in good shape.

[@cormaro1376]

U mean until he dies of a heat stroke in the coming summers 😂

[@jacksoncom5885]

I just want to take a moment and appreciate the set up for this video. The background lit with red and blue, and the subject is well lit. Love the helpful videos that you create!

[@labornurse]

You described my situation perfectly. I would like to upgrade my car to a lower mileage, newer used car. But I am not paying inflated prices that are thousands over their true market value. I'll just maintain my perfectly drivable current car. It's like, I want to spend my money, but dealers are still jacking up the used cars beyond reason. It will probably be cheaper for me just to do repairs on the old one as they come up, especially since it's paid off.

[@amandaburleson2035]

wow know youre thinking. im so proud of you. are you really a female? wow a girl that thinks like you do? thats amazing

[@zacharypeery4082]

Or buy new

[@labornurse]

@@zacharypeery4082 unfortunately the car I want is no longer in production

[@ibobeko4309]

@@labornurse My friend bought a car last year, his car loan went from 608 to 682 per month, if you can, save your money and dont take a loan.

[@pmscalisi]

I’m in the same boat. I bought my 2008 Pontiac G8 new and I know that the timing chains will need to be changed soon. It’s expensive but my car still looks new. I’ve taken care of it and to me I’d do the timing chain repairs because it’s a fraction of the cost of a new or a newer used car.

[@ryanwolfenberger]

This car market is so complex, with parts shortages still keeping inventory at many dealers low. Of course, that forces most people to keep vehicles longer than they typically would. Inflation is also having an effect on people being able to afford basic services, let alone a new or used vehicle.

[@judycallaghan4889]

Yes the parking hand brake lines are messed up and the parts won't come in for months. I don't know who to believe any more

[@manfredmann2766]

There are tons of used cars out there today that more than likely have been neglected.

[@johnbrown-hm5rj]

Thanks so much. I'm helping a friend, and this video is extremely timely. Appreciate what you are doing here

[@javierclift9991]

Car Nut thanks for the honest opinion. Everything you said is right on the money. Keep up the great work. Love your channel!

[@anthonytaylor3753]

Excellent advice. Thanks for clearly pointing out the important thinking processes.

[@jlorenzonib]

Very well said. Thank you for taken care of us.

[@cribbsprojects]

To me, this is perhaps the most valuable YT channel. I have learned and am learning a lot from you. Nice filming and editing too! Thank you.

[@DesertSnow1]

You're the man. Nothing but love and respect for you my brotha!

[@agostinodibella9939]

AMD, I always enjoy listening to your advice about cars based on your knowledge and experience.

[@danr1920]

I've owned my '65 Chevy Corvair for 39 years. My '14 Accord with a manual transmission has 213,000 miles. Everything works as new. A sun visor, brakes and two light bulbs has been the only unscheduled repairs. Now I put 10,000 miles a year. Underneath has minimal surface rust. I'm thinking ten more years.

[@derrickjohnson5219]

Maybe 10 to 20 yes but closer to twenty because I used to own an '04 Accord and they are very reliable!I would like to get a Camry or Corrola hybrid but the Accord hybrid is a better value because it's cheaper than the Toyota but may not be as reliable as the Camry Hybrid.

[@craigiefconcert6493]

I expect you don’t drive the corvair in winter. No reason it shouldn’t outlast us.

[@mplslawnguy3389]

@@craigiefconcert6493 The one caveat of classic cars is they had zero, and I mean zero, rust protection. I live in the rust belt and as a kid I vividly remember all the 60's and 70's cars (not classics then, just older cars) completely disintegrating. Cars still rust, but not nearly as bad as those ones. I had a '78 F-100 with a straight six that would have run forever had I lived anywhere but here.

[@Ed-ig7fj]

Hey Dan, my buddy has a '66 Corvair that was completely rebuilt in PA before he bought it about 15 or 20 years ago. They have actually redesigned some of the parts go give better handling than the originals had. Hang on to your 'Vair; they are kick-ass cars! --Old Guy

[@steviesevieria1868]

My neighbor has a model A. He and his friends go on drives from California to Texas and back. I’ve also seen plenty of sharp cars from the 50s and 60s on the road on the weekends around here. You CAN keep a car forever, but you are going to have to do a lot of work.

[@larrybarnhart7532]

Great video! Need more mechanics like you! No bs just straight up facts!

[@vinayg8785]

You are a good mechanic, a good teacher, and a good human ❤

[@robertstowe2003]

Thanks for the great advice. Look forward to your videos on Toyota servicing. We drive two Toyota hybrids and maintain them religiously. Our 9 yr old Camry with 74,000 miles looks and drives like it's brand new. Our 2 year old RAV4 feels like it was just driven new off the dealer's lot. Our plan is to drive them until something inevitable happens. That may take quite a while!

[@fmtien]

I wish more mechanics were as honest and competent as you.

[@satsuki5279]

Thank you ao much! I needed to hear this today especially about my old car that i purchased 6 months ago thats giving me problems .. you are very helpful

[@mjprashanth]

Just amazing .. This is an eye opener for anyone like me who has made a lot of bad decisions (3 to be precise) and spent a ton of money.. Thank you so much! Please keep these coming.. 🙏

[@ncvman]

You the man. Keep up the great work.

[@Ed-ig7fj]

One of the lessons I learned from owning four motorcycles is the importance of fixing things when they break. If you let problems slide, pretty soon you have a yard covered with bikes that don't run. I have two old Caddies (1988 Sedan de Ville w/ 98k miles -- mom's old car; and my lovely 2008 DTS) and they are in excellent repair. My new one is in the shop as it was hit from behind, and the old one, Big Red, is my reliable daily driver. --Old Guy

[@sathindrensanthirathelagan]

loved the statement about the 'food on table' That's honesty for you. Kudos

[@jimmykayima3405]

Man this is great information!!! Thanks for being genuine. U just nailed the facts down . God prosper your business .

[@tedtolentino4955]

Thank you for your advice about keeping an old car. I do find myself in that dilemma regarding a 30-year old pickup truck that I seem unable to let go. Keep up the good work.

[@silverado5469]

Thank you for your honesty. I am very impressed with you as a mechanic and as a person. God Bless You. John in Ohio

[@michaelvtx1]

I love this video. I have an automotive shop that my dad started in 1959. I have been doing this for 42 years and I love it. I love what you are talking about. I have this conversation quite frequently with my customers and just the same manner. I'm going to refer them to your video might save me some time and just like talking to your children if it comes from somebody else maybe they will listen. Love that man keep up the good work.

[@bluefidle]

thank you for your truthful comments and warnings, bless you!

[@JustinKieferMarine]

Love your channel man! Really cool to see a real technician!

[@dr.gplastina1678]

I just love this channel. Care Care Nut is simply the best for me. I learned a lot and as a diy dad, this is my got to channel in fixing my cars and getting more insights. Thank you, brother. Indeed, may the Lord bless you and keep you to be a continuing blessing to others.

[@23ginger]

A lot of people don’t know how to check out a used car before purchasing. I have never paid a mechanic for a pre purchase inspection before but I know what to look for. You get down on your back and check the entire underneath of the car surface rust is ok but rotted walk away if you’re allowed to jack the car up at all 4 wheels and check for play in any of the wheels. Check the struts to make sure they’re not leaking and push down on the car on all four corners to see if it bounces like crazy or goes down then up and stops. Check under the hood make sure you don’t see any visual leaks I personally hate when people detail used car engines because they are hiding a leak usually. Check the oil make sure it’s full and transmission fluid also and make sure it’s not burnt in color. You can rent a scanner from auto zone to check for codes on cars but check that after the test drive in case they cleared them. On the test drive do a smooth acceleration make sure it shifts through all gears smoothly and downshifts smoothly. Then I floor it and check the transmission that way i test drove one car that shifted like butter on soft acceleration but it slipped on hard acceleration. Check the brakes first to a normal stop then make sure no one is behind you then do a hard braking test. If the salesman gets mad at you for any of it I wouldn’t buy the car from them and go elsewhere. And finally always negotiate the price and do your research on the car extensively before buying it, make sure you know all the common problems for the make and model. As he said the interior and exterior look mean nothing to how the car is underneath. Scratches and tears add character. And engine or transmission or shot suspension add someone else’s repair bill they had to your wallet.

[@burntnougat5341]

Your average toyota buyer/owner isn't mechanically inclined to know automotive basics

[@Benjiizus]

Excellent

[@kftc1980]

@@burntnougat5341 your average buyer of any make doesn’t have that knowledge.

[@burntnougat5341]

@@kftc1980 true

[@enfrind]

When knowledge, common sense and honesty combined life's brighter. Thanks Ahmed.

[@steverichdrummr]

AMD, another great and honest video. Thank you. Although most of this I already know because spent much of my life fixing cars, and I have a garage full of rust free great condition classics, and I am retired, but it helps to get your reinforcement of my philosophy. I know you are helping so many people. The only payments I have are gas thirsty cars!

[@JoseChung21]

AMD your honesty and integrity are most proper. Can you make a video on how to do a DIY under car inspection for safety? Thanks for all you do.

[@MamacrackerJ]

This is great advice. I made allot of the mistakes recently. Was holding on to my relatively low mileage 17 year old xterra. Basically sold it for scrap. If I had gotten rid of it sooner I could have made a small fortune with this market. Ended up buying a new Toyota!

[@ybois3]

Sir, you’re a diamond in the rough. A gem💯. So many people have no men in life to offer sound advice. Blessings to you and yours 🏆

[@shalashaskaa8]

I was in between a rock and a hard place, 2 cars with almost 200k miles and some maintenance things started to show and I put 30k plus on both cars a year and I had already been holding out since Covid, luckily I found a couple ok deals (more than I would usually spend) and now I have a 2022 Corolla and a 2023 cx5 all based on your videos! Thanks for all your videos!

[@jerahmeelpenman1539]

My utmost respect to you sir for your rare knowledge you impact on me each time I view your videos. I have learned a lot. You are a blessing to our generation. Thank you much

[@5959Mikee]

It's hard to make a move with so much dishonesty in the repair business and dealerships with no effective regulation. Everybody's stealing.

[@mnmn1665]

Just outstanding. Best common-sense approach. Thank you.

[@xxxxxxxx3476]

What a guy ! Absolutely wonderful honest advice . No wonder he's got the numbers he has built up over the years . Every single word was laced with gold !

[@1bozo9]

Thanks for all your informative videos. They've helped a lot and saved me time and money. I'm looking forward to a future video on maintaining a turbo engine. My wife would like a Highlander in the future but I'm concerned about reliability since it now comes with a turbo four cylinder.

[@johnnyboy5142]

I'm in the same situation. Highlander turbo or hybrid?

[@stoutlager6325]

Good video. I was shopping around for a few months before finally deciding the best option for me was to just order new and do the months wait on it. My old car is fine in terms of holding together for that 6-8 months no problem (thankfully it'll be spring/summer/fall and not another winter). The used market just didn't appeal at all. No matter what I was looking at things were listed at least 30% more than they were worth, clean low mileage models were pushing same as brand new prices.

[@thomasschaub1594]

This could be the best YT channel out there...thank you!

[@unwrangler11]

Your advice is so spot on. You are really giving great information.

[@doncapo732]

Ahmed your videos are a treasure to the community that you have built. I wish there were more people like you. You not only have passion for what you do but also show great care for the work and people that you interact with. Thank you! I guess my next on my list is to buy a Toyota and move to Chicago.

[@jamescostello7584]

You don't need more people like him people need to smarten up and get their head out of their ass and that's it anybody you need to watch as one pack I don't need to watch her this s*** I know everything there is about part I wish all my problems with that simple call would take me is about one month and I can find the perfect car but I want $44,000 okay and I'll be practically nothing wrong with it maybe the rest I pay $800 for a car there's nothing mechanically wrong with has no rush to paint job sucks okay and it's a Nissan and old Nissan Sentra 498 okay that's the way people leave in the morning it will last another 30 years if you don't Smack It Up people are stupid everybody does dumb moron you got your mind daughter something else even if you learn you watch these videos you're still not going to learn anything because you're too stupid or no knowledge no mechanical skills that's why they're scammers and this people with money okay and people always get screwed because this is America the land of the free and the land of the scam artist and somebody's always going to go to get screwed even I got screwed five months ago I bought a car Brooklyn 20,000 miles Toyota Corolla for $10,000 tomorrow's was tampered with the Carfax was phony okay and it was all the Ripple so what I did is sold the next day for 9,500 and lost 500 plus another 500 and towing with better to get rid of it the way I got suckered with it

[@Jantonvid]

A car is a big purchase for a lot of people so it’s hard to put your feelings aside sometimes. Sometimes you gotta let that older vehicle go. Also be very wary of any dealership that does not allow you to do a pre-purchase inspection with your own mechanic.

[@lukek1949]

Amen! Not allowing a pre-purchase inspection is an instant red flag. The sad truth is, it is a seller’s market, so people are taking chances. As Ahmed said in the video, he’s seen many horror stories.

[@MyerShift7]

A repair is always cheaper than a new vehicle unless you're going so cheap it's a beater that repeats the cycle.

[@michaeldunagan8268]

​@@MyerShift7 Not if the car's been flooded or if it has rolled over.... I'm not saying... I'm just saying....

[@tgj5680]

Always bring a friend to help talk sense into you when you run into a master salesperson

[@karlhungus545]

Dealers have no reason to allow that now as used cars will sell irregardless. You'll be waiting forever if you demand that...

[@GraV21]

You’re not lying. I had a beautiful 2 owner (I was the 2nd owner) of a 2003 Toyota Highlander that I purchased 5 years ago with 85k miles on it. I drove it, & worked in it for 5 years without any issues. Unfortunately I needed a truck so I decided to sell it. It looked just as good as the day it came off the Toyota lot, had 121k miles on it (non-interference engine) and I ended up selling it for $1,000 more than what I paid for it. I could have asked more, simply because I had so many people messaging me (over 100) wanting to look/buy the car. The only thing I did to it was change out the headlights, do a 1 step paint correction, put new tires on it, change the oil every 4k-5k miles with full synthetic oil & change the oil tired middle rim caps & that was it. So if you have a gem that you’re getting ready to sell, don’t pay attention to KBB because there isn’t much out there (as far as quality used cars) and let the buyers haggle you down. You will still get way above what KBB says your vehicle is worth. Ended up buying a 2023 Tacoma TRD 4x4 Off Road & love it so far. If it wasn’t for my 2021 Rav4 I would feel like I was driving a spaceship going from the technology in my 2003 to the 2023 😂 One last thing I will say is, it’s hard to get a seller to agree to a PPI when 30 other people are behind you telling the seller they want to buy it right away. Even if it is a very nice car, the seller is going to go with what’s less hassle for them to sell it. Unfortunately things aren’t like they were 5+ years ago. Now if it’s a pos that nobody wants to buy, sure get that PPI but if it’s a gem that goes up, like my 2003 Highlander, that thing will be sold within a day.

[@glennfields8121]

AMD, thank you! There is much wisdom throughout this video. Now, if only people will learn from it.

[@michaelhoward4020]

I was a used car manager and auction buyer for over 25 years and the advice this mechanic just gave you is on the money 💰 and is some of the best advice i have heard from anyone regarding buying a used vehicle! You should take notes and bring those notes with you when you go used car shopping. I would personally recommend a good quality vehicle history report in addition to the above mentioned items.

[@DUCOS1795]

Hello goods Sir, should I do anything other than general inspection and test drive if a car is checked every year and has about 10/12K KMs a year. I’m looking to buy a secondhand RAV4 2021 in Europe.

[@Ts-zy4bw]

@@DUCOS1795 yes, spend time researching online for common problems with the make/model/year and have those looked at specifically.

[@Ultrarmx]

Love the new set with the lighting.

[@alp3781]

YOU ARE A LIFE SAVER! I am addicted to your videos on YT. This 20 mins video can save so many here a bundle of money and aggravations. It is getting so hard to trust anybody, these days. Its a wild west, this industry. I am 100% scared buying my next used car. So, whatever the cost will be for independent inspection by a large, well known garage/dealer, before buying, it shell be. And, a report is a must too. Thank you for this, boss.

[@hermanodejesus7264]

Best value I have gotten out of KZbin,👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@codycornell5036]

This is such a helpful video. Last year my impala finally died when the transmission went out so I needed a car fast. Even though this was that case, I took my time and spent 2 weeks looking at cars. I was going to 3-4 dealerships a day. Everything I found was junk and overpriced. I finally found a nice 2004 Lexus rx with 117k with no rust on it, one owner, it has been an amazing car. I did overpay admittedly but I made sure I didn’t settle!

[@jamescostello7584]

Well I'm sure you got ripped off cuz those cars don't go for that much and you overpaid for it so it just you just rip yourself off and you went to the car dealer if you like it and you love it live with it

[@Ts-zy4bw]

That generation RX is very strong. My ‘05 is approaching 200k (bought used with 132k) and I love it.

[@MarzNet256]

Excellent. I would also add to avoid 4WD and AWD in your purchase unless you really need it, it's adds complexity and therefore expense.

[@markhamer5112]

I buy full-time AWD for better traction and improved safety. It is worth the 5%-20% extra maintenance expense on the additional complexity in the transmission/drivetrain. In the last year it has helped me to avoid one accident which would have cost me 20-50 times more the outcome with 2WD. IMO, the worst expense with AWD would be from a tyre blowout which means having to replace four tires at a time instead of two at a time in FWD/RWD. But I haven’t had to do that yet. In the meantime I have four tyres that wear almost perfectly evenly.

[@dallysinghson5569]

You don't need it unless the climate dictates and it's uncommon to get into an accident unless you're doing mega miles but hey, may as well roll in a tank

[@gulfstream7235]

@@markhamer5112 And how much more in fuel consumption for a 4wd? The prices at the pumps are crazy no matter where you live(in the civilised world that is).

[@YungSteambuns]

It's worth it to have awd/4wd, the safety and handling makes it top tier and that one time you need it you'll appreciate it

[@Loopsrainforest]

@@YungSteambunstires are way more important than AWD.

[@cpfb68]

Excellent video as always Amd, Thank you! I have an 05’ Lexus ES330 that my oldest son is using for college now. We plan to give it to my youngest to learn on and drive for a few years as well. It was a $5K car 3 years ago and has 142k miles now. We have been doing much of the maintenance ourselves and only the heavy work at our local service guy (rack and pinion, valve covers, front seals, water pump, high pressure steering line), I have replaced the front suspension (struts, springs, lower control arms), front engine mount, sunroof gasket, brakes all around (pads and new rear calipers) myself and now replacing all coolant hoses with Lexus OEM parts. I’m $5K into an $5K car and it still runs and looks like new. Engine and trans are strong and frame is 100% as it’s been a Georgia car since birth at my Lexus dealer two Owner’s ago. Yes, I’m $10K into a $5 car, but I easily see five more years (and more) of life with me performing the maintenance with Lexus parts. It’s been a hard decision to consider stopping all this work, but the market stinks for used cars and this car really is put together well. As always, thank you for passing on your knowledge and wisdom!

[@andrewshenton6541]

Another great video ,keep being straight about everything its refreshing

[@susanjspaulding]

🇺🇸 *Thank you for doing this video* !! *People have less $ during these times, so it makes it more difficult to buy a used car* !! #TheCarCareNut 🇺🇸

[@joeg3950]

This is a tough issue. I have to buy a car in 2 - 3 months. Every time I buy a vehicle, I research cars that I’d like to purchase. However, getting a car in certain rural areas is difficult when it comes to a used car inspection. Now, in a different area, I’m going to get an inspection. Things are crazy now. Thanks for the video

[@romankevkel]

Excellent information. The world needs more experienced and humble mechanics like yourself. I always enjoy and learn so much from your videos. Keep up the good work. Peace and Blessings bro.

[@jamescostello7584]

What's so humble about the guy yeah he knows what he's doing he may be honest and in some ways maybe not but the thing is he's charging you 3DS so you can find somebody else or do these things yourself like change in a cabin filters all tie rod ends your pain 2DS for this s*** so he's no big deal stupid people watch this guy and it wish everybody was like them and when they bark are they still gets f***** in the ass so what's the end result

[@jamescostello7584]

Yeah I'm reading my own comment he's charging you through the ads for minor things so when he tells you about this stuff you trust him and you make a trip especially with your his Toyota you will pay for the 2DS have some minor work done by this dude so they used to agree on what you're saying

[@blondeboywilson9221]

You are very good at what you do sir

[@xtnguyen7760]

Spot on advised, honest and straight to the point. Ethics are top priority as it should be. Mechanics are like doctors, they could save your lives and your pockets.

[@jamescostello7584]

Know the right thing to say is you should learn what to do yourself you should learn all about cars and you don't need to listen to idiots like this that just looking to rip you off not really with doing the wrong things by fixing your car by charging you too much money from minor things if that don't make any sense you should not even own a vehicle

[@saraaronzon4562]

My husband and I welcome your wealth of knowledge and experience, especially for us who don't know anything about cars. But, we do keep up with maintenance. 😊

[@chuckcecconi8801]

You are the best on utube.. My son brought his 98 Corolla..I told you I was getting a Toyota..just got a 2015 Rav 4 with 42,000 miles.. love it and I will be in touch.. thanks AMD

[@merrillschaps2325]

I really like purchasing vehicles from Car Max here in Kenosha, WI. They will put the vehicle I'm interested in buying on a lift so I can look underneath it and inspect everything for myself as I too am a mechanic. They will also let me bring it to my mechanic for a second opinion if I'm really interested in the vehicle. Not sure how other Car Max dealers work. I also like how Toyota is right next door to Car Max as I will ask a mechanic there to look over a Toyota from Car Max. Great Video! More people need to know this which is why I'm sharing it. God bless you!

[@NoodlesExtraMSG]

Great advice but most of use have a different supply issue. Our PPI mechanic is too busy, so by the time hes free, someone else either got it inspected and bought it. And the mobile mechanics are.... well lets just say they reflect / correlate to the quality of used cars too.

[@manisymone8622]

God bless you sir! This really spoke to me. My car is at the point where I know that within a year or so, it will need to be replaced. I have test driven a particular Japanese brand, which I am loving and I wish I can just drive those cars into a mechanic shop for inspection. I just might do this next time.

[@TerinaHeidelberg]

I wish I seen this PRIOR to purchase!! So happy you are sharing this info!!

[@chefchris5133]

I got very lucky, I bought a 2018 tundra in 2020. It had 7,000 miles on. I paid 27,000. Within a year the prices went insane. I owe 14,000 now. I think I will keep it😊. Great video as always.

[@phugemawl]

Excellent advice. In most states of Australia it is illegal to sell a registered vehicle without an official roadworthy/safety certificate issued by an accredited mechanic, this is good insurance for used car buyers

[@jayjaynella4539]

In Victoria you can sell without a roadie and/or registration, it is then up to the purchaser to make the car roadworthy. There are dealers who sell such cars and also auctions do that.

[@phugemawl]

@@jayjaynella4539 Well I did say REGISTERED vehicle, you can buy cars "As Is" in any state if you want to take that risk

[@Chipchase780]

Independent honest advice from a master mechanic like this gentleman is worth gold.

[@2001Artfull]

This video is extremely helpful. I have two older vehicles that run pretty well but I will need to replace them in the near future. This advice will be my guide as I move forward. Thanks so much!!

[@dafff08]

As a european, this been pretty much the norm here for decades. maintained cars are hard to find or extremely expensive, while even bad cars are still pricey as hell. combine this with insane gas prices and expensive car parts+labor and you get yourself a huge financial hit even on a tiny economy box. just for reference, something like a new mid trim corolla will set you back roughly 1,5-2 times of ones average yearly net income.

[@fortheloveofnoise9298]

You must live somewhere like Bulgaria. My fiancé's family lives in Sweden and that same Corolla would be like half of one of her family members' yearly income...and they make a normal salary.

[@stever7638]

Love your content and all you do for the community! I was wondering if you haven't already, could you make a video on Toyota aluminium wheels corroding? I've had many vehicles with finished aluminum wheels, the only ones that corrode with a milky texture have been our two Toyotas, and they are 9 years apart, 2005 and 2014. I take great care cleaning them, don't use harsh cleaners and gentle brushes and sponges, microfibers. Has Toyota recognized this and what is their stance? I have seen this on countless Toyotas, many seem to corrode the same. Secondly, why does Toyota disable the AWD system over an emissions code? Like an O2 heater circuit. I would rather have a limping AWD vehicle in the poor weather than a slightly bad running vehicle with the AWD system disabled. I get the fact the PCM want's full control of the vehicle's torque when stability is required, but why disable the system completely. I would rather see a message stating reduced performance. This AWD disable debacle has been why we haven't bought another AWD Toyota. Our Highlander did this to my wife when she had the kids in the vehicle during the onset of a rapidly accumulating snowstorm trying to get home. Needless to say I was upset. Obviously not your fault, but curious if you have any insight on that. Thanks again!

[@JD-hh9io]

Realy good video Mr. Nut. Thank you for your words of wisdome.

[@jbb2650]

Excellent video. Just found your channel today and just what I was looking for, as I need a car. And I want a new one but may have to buy used because prices are so high. I will be watching more of your videos.

[@sizzlacalunji]

Solid advice AMD. Earlier this year my 12yo Accord needed front end parts and I usually give that work out. Car is solid all around otherwise. Barely any rust etc. Mechanic’s first concern was the noise because it could be a safety issue. Once it was a non-issue, he focused on the front end parts needed. After he did his list he then asked: how long do you plan to keep the car?😂

[@markg999]

Yea my plan is sell around the low 200s..can normally hit that with little issues outside maintenance.

[@qcbtbx]

You are preaching the automotive gospel! I have so many customers I've had these exact conversations with and they just don't listen, then unfortunately end up suffering the consequences later.😩

[@jonclassical2024]

Amazing and right on...great vlog Sir!

[@alexandercuello3168]

Agreed 100% with what you said, I really wanted to upgrade to a 2013 4runner or the new Honda pilot trail sport but the prices are ridiculous! Another reason why I don’t think I will get into another car anytime soon is my 2007 Honda pilot, it has been super reliable I drive it everywhere across the north east. I do my own maintenance with high quality fluids, and only use OEM parts for the timing belt job it runs great currently at 154k miles, no leaks and 0 issues.