Before You Buy: How to Inspect a Used Car

Many automotive experts advise first-time potential car buyers to give serious consideration to purchasing a used car at significant savings. But how do people who are intimidated by the innards of an automobile go about kicking the tires in a knowledgeable fashion, so to speak? In this "Welcome To Auto Mechanics 101," mechanic Mike Murphy teaches the most mechanically challenged viewer--even those who don't know their master cylinder from their driveshaft--how to perform a creditable check on a potential used car purchase. Of course, as Murphy is careful to point out, there are some areas of auto mechanics that do require the attention of a qualified specialist, but more than 90% of the inspection can be done by anyone. One quibble--and it's a small one--is that Murphy uses a virtually spotless 1993 Nissan Sentra as a model and it's often difficult to imagine the problems he says to watch out for while viewing a car that looks perfect (a clunker of a used car for an example might have worked better). Otherwise, this is a highly informative and educational video. Recommended. Aud: H, P. (J. Carlson)