There’s a lot of information on buying used cars out there, but at Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, we don’t think it’s possible to go into a purchase armed with too much information. The condition of the transmission in a used car is perhaps the most essential aspect of a pre-owned car purchase - this article explains why, and how to make sure your prospective buy is everything you want it to be.

You know you want to make sure the engine is in good operating condition when you buy a car. People often pay far less attention to the transmission or don’t know what to watch out for. Transmissions are often the most expensive and difficult to replace items on a car, however. Sometimes replacing an entire transmission can cost you more than the value of the car itself, so it’s important to make sure when you buy used that you get a car with a well-maintained transmission.

Pay attention to irregular behavior when you test drive the car, and make sure you run it through a wide range of tests. Low-speed driving, cold starting and driving, highway driving, hard acceleration from a stop, acceleration while moving (hard enough to cause the transmission to downshift) and light acceleration are all necessary to completely observe how a transmission is functioning. If the vehicle ever slips, shifts excessively hard or way too late take a second to engage in reverse or drive when shifted out of the park, or misbehaves in any other way, proceed with caution. While it’s possible the issue isn’t a big deal, assume that it is. Tell the seller you’d like to have the vehicle checked out by a transmission specialist if you aren’t sure if the vehicle is functioning properly. Transmission problems are one area where you don’t want to take a risk, even if the car otherwise runs and performs well.

If you have any questions about a car you’re purchasing, call, or bring it by Nott's Automotive. One of our technicians will be more than happy to help you. You can also count on us for the rest of your transmission needs - come see us anytime!

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