How to Buy a Used Car That Can Handle Las Vegas Heat

A used car that was fine in Seattle can struggle through a Las Vegas July. Summer afternoons regularly pass 110°F, the inside of a parked car gets far hotter, and that heat goes after the same handful of parts on every car. Here is what to check before you buy, from a dealership that has sold cars in this town for 25 years.

1. Air conditioning: test it properly

Do not just turn it on in the lot for ten seconds. Let the car sit, then run the A/C on max for a full test drive. It should blow cold within a few minutes and stay cold at a stoplight, not only on the freeway. Weak A/C can be a cheap recharge or an expensive compressor; ask before you buy, not after.

2. Battery: check its age

Heat, not cold, is what kills batteries, and in Las Vegas they often last only a few years. Most batteries have a date sticker or stamp. If it is old, plan to replace it, or ask whether that can be part of the deal.

3. Tires: look at the sidewalls

Tread depth is only half the story. Sun and hot pavement dry out rubber, so look for small cracks on the sidewalls. Tires also carry a four-digit date code (for example 2321 means the 23rd week of 2021). Old tires with good tread can still be a problem.

4. Cooling system: watch the temperature gauge

On the test drive, watch the temperature gauge, especially in stop-and-go traffic. It should sit steady in the middle. Look under the hood for coolant leaks, and ask when the coolant was last changed.

5. Interior and paint: sun damage

A cracked dashboard, faded paint or a peeling clear coat are not dangerous, but they tell you how the car was kept and they affect resale. A car that lived in a garage usually shows it.

6. Ask for the history

A vehicle history report shows title problems, reported accidents and where the car has been registered. Many of our cars show a free AutoCheck report right on the listing.

A few habits that help once you own it

• Use a windshield sunshade and park in the shade or a garage when you can.
• Keep an emergency gallon of water in the car in summer.
• Check tire pressure monthly; heat changes it.
• Have the battery tested before summer starts.

Shop with us

We recondition what we sell and we will tell you what we did to a car. Browse today's inventory, see cars under $10,000, or apply for financing. Charlie Cheap Car, 5015 W Sahara Ave Ste 127, Las Vegas. Open seven days. Call (702) 471-1549.