What to Look For When Buying a Car: Exterior Features

Buying a car is a big decision. Not only is it a major purchase that may require a car payment that you will have to pay every month, but it will also be the car you will be driving for the foreseeable future. You want a car that you like, that is comfortable, and that is reliable, amongst other things.
Shelton Used Cars in Woodlawn near Mount Vernon offers the best certified pre-owned vehicles for sale. For over 40 years, we’ve been offering the best automotive parts and cars for sale. No matter what you are looking for in a vehicle, from dependability to power, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ll go over what to look for when buying a car. Contact us today to get started!
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A CAR
The Big Decision: New or Used?
Most people when buying a car know that they either want a new vehicle, or they are looking at certified pre-owned vehicles, or used vehicles. This decision can also help guide you as to where to look. For instance, Shelton Used Cars offers used vehicles. Other car dealerships specialize in new cars. Furthermore, there are dealerships that specialize in only one brand of cars.
EXTERIOR FEATURES
Doors
This decision comes down to what size of car you want and what your needs are. Do you want a car with two-doors or four-doors? Two-doored vehicles are for single people or couples who do not have kids to haul around. Those with kids will most likely need a four-door vehicle so that they have the space for the kids and everything that goes along with kids (has anyone seen the size of diaper bags these days?).
Trunk Space
How will you be using your vehicle? If you will be towing, you’ll obviously need a pickup truck. If you’ll be towing a lot and heavy objects, then you may need a bigger engine pickup truck. If you only need room for your groceries, a small trunk space will suffice. Do you need ski racks, luggage racks, or bike racks? Shelton Used Cars in Woodlawn recommends that you think long and hard of the uses of your vehicle before you buy a car.
Color and Body
Let’s face it, many people pick out a car based on color alone, or, at least, narrow down their options due to color. Are you looking for a particular body style? If you’re buying a used car, do you notice any damage to the vehicle, such as scratches or dents? Has the vehicle been in an accident? All of these are great considerations when buying a car.
Wheels and Tires
Wheels and tires can sometimes make or break a car deal. After all, if the used car you are thinking of buying has been lifted with cool tires and rims, you are more likely to buy it. If the used car has brand new tires, that’s one expense you won’t have to worry about for a while. When you buy a used car, Shelton Used Cars in Woodlawn recommends that you inspect the tires before you buy.
The Little Things
You’ll want to check and make sure everything works before you buy a used car. Do the windows roll up and down? Are there any cracks or chips in the windshield? Do the headlights and turn signals work? How does the motor look? You’ll want to walk all the way around the vehicle, checking everything, from the fenders to the bumpers. If you buy from a reputable used car dealer, they should tell you anything that is not working properly on the vehicle.
CHOOSE SHELTON USED CARS IN WOODLAWN FOR ALL YOUR USED CAR NEEDS
Shelton Used Cars believes in helping people buy a vehicle. Thus, we have streamlined our inventory in order to offer you the most affordable used car options. We offer in-house financing, meaning you buy here and pay here. This not only shortens the time it takes for financing decisions to be made, but you’ll always know who to write the check out to every month. We offer a two-year warranty on all of our used vehicles sold, which is rare in the used car business. This is because we want you to know that we stand behind our vehicles and that you are most definitely not getting a lemon. This means that at any point in those two years you have an issue, give us a call to resolve it.
Shelton Used Cars offers easy approval and the best prices around. As the best used car dealership in Southern Illinois, we are here to answer any of your questions. We are a family-owned small business, and we’ve been serving this community for over 40 years. In addition, we offer automotive parts. Stop by to see our used car inventory today!

