For people buying a used car, there is a very important but rarely checked factor to consider that goes beyond kicking the tires: original sin.
Some best-selling models appear to have an increased risk of serious mechanical problems, particularly if scheduled oil changes were not made during the vehicle's formative years. The threat is the buildup of sludge -- gooey tarlike deposits -- that reduces or shuts off oil circulation and can mean thousands of dollars to repair or replace an engine that has seized.
Read Article