Home Tips What You Should Know Before Buying A Used Luxury SUV

What You Should Know Before Buying A Used Luxury SUV

by pps-DUEditor

Unlike most used car shopping guides, this one’s pretty high-end! That’s because we’ll be covering luxury-branded crossovers and upscale SUVs you should consider if you’re thinking of an upgrade. Long-term dependability and worry-free ownership are contingent on how the vehicle is cared for and maintained and less about its brand or price tag.

Even so, the used luxury SUV market can be a tricky one to navigate. We’ve done the spadework that should help you figure out if you’re getting a lemon or a great deal.

  • A Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI) is crucial to verify you are getting a great deal. Usually quick and inexpensive, a technician scrutinizes the vehicle to check for any issues that will cost you dearly in the long run. It’s the first step towards trouble-free ownership. 
  • Confirm warranty coverage. If the seller has skipped or extended one or more maintenance intervals or modified the vehicle with non-factory parts or engine management software, any warranty the vehicle came with is probably void.
  • Avoid nasty surprises by double-checking serviced items listed in the owner’s manual against receipts and documentation. This will show when each service was conducted and will be useful in case of a future warranty claim.
  • After your purchase, get in touch with the nearest dealer to check for software updates. Keeping your vehicle updated can help prevent or fix numerous little niggles.
  • Check the vehicle’s suspension thoroughly, and be on the lookout for any unwelcome behavior from the transmission as it shifts gears. Hard shifting may have various causes, and some could be serious.
  • Check all onboard electronics, including buttons, screens, etc. to make sure they are working correctly. Also, don’t forget to pay close attention to the air conditioner’s performance, the sunroof, locks, ignition, windows and power tailgate. Make sure they work like you’d expect them to by checking several times.
  • Give any multimedia system, or central screen interface onboard a rigorous check to make sure it all works satisfactorily.
  • Give every key fobs multiple times to lock and unlock each door. Remember the power tailgate and others might act up every now and again. But a simple reset and software update might be all it needs to work flawlessly still.
  • Check all car essentials, including the oil levels, factory battery and brake pads for excessive wear and tear.
  • If you’re about to make an offer on an AWD, check for leaking or failing water pump, which can be very expensive to fix. A positive check for oil and coolant cross-contamination is a possible sign of a near-death situation with the water pump. This might also be the best sign that this unit is not right for you.
  • Ensure the seller hasn’t pre-heated the engine ahead of your arrival and ask them to start the engine while you look for blue exhaust pipe smoke on start-up
  • Finally, don’t forget to set and disengage the cruise control during your test drive. If you notice any non-functionality or an error message, you might need a new brake light switch.

This may seem like a long list of checks, but at that price tag, you’d better be safe rather than stuck with expensive repairs and replacements in the long run.

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