While we all like to think we wont be conned when buying a used car, thousands of people are every single year. The majority of these people have bought their used car from one of the popular free ads papers and have known very little – if anything – about what to look for in a quality car. If you fall into this category, then simply follow the top seven car buying tips outlined below.
First of all, look out for signs that the car may have been involved in a serious accident. Points to watch out for include slight gaps between the body panels and car doors that drop or that fit badly on their hinges.
Always give the gearbox and clutch a through test. To do this, make sure that you have the engine running then press down on the clutch. If there is any change in the sound of the engine then this could indicate the bearings are worn.
The gearstick should move smoothly without any crunching sound.
Make sure the brakes are in top order by breaking as firmly as you can without the car skidding.
When you start up the car make sure the exhaust fumes are white – any other colour could indicate problems.
Check the panels to make sure there are no lose screws. If there are this could indicate that the odometer has been tampered with and the car has done more mileage than it states.
Finally, always go over the cars paperwork thoroughly to make sure the history is correct. Generally the more history a car has then the better. Or invest in a vehicle data check, a service which can instantly check your proposed new cars history, including whether it has ever been stolen or involved in an accident or whether it has any outstanding finance on it etc.
The service does not cost a lot and could save you a fortune – as well as any headaches in the future.
Tags: Bearings, Body Panels, Buying A Used Car, Car Buying Tips, Car Doors, Cars History, Clutch, Exhaust Fumes, Free Ads Papers, Gaps, Gearbox, Headaches, Hinges, Mileage, New Cars, Odometer, Outstanding Finance, Paperwork, Quality Car, ScrewsRelated posts
If you are looking to buy a quality used car then you have plenty of choices of where to look. Your local car dealer will often offer a range of quality used cars which will have all the necessary paperwork up to date and would have been tested. This is perhaps the safest way to buy a used car but often one of the most expensive.
A more popular choice especially for those who know a little about cars, is to purchase from a specialist magazine or free ads paper offering used cars. Another way you can take advantage of buying this way is to use the internet.
Besides the wide variety of free ad papers being available online there are also specialist sites who offer huge ranges of quality used cars. The beauty of these sites is that they all include photos of the cars which can give you a good idea as to whether the car is a really good deal or whether it is in need of a good paint job!
Of course, buying this way can be a little risky as there is always the possibility of the car having been stolen, having been tampered with (such as the mileage having been adjusted) or if you dont know anything about cars, then you could end up with a banger.
The solution would be to get a Vehicle Data Check, which is a low costs service that instantly checks out the history of the car. This will show whether it is stolen, whether there is any outstanding finance on it, whether it has even been involved in an accident etc. This will save you making a costly mistake.
Whichever way you choose to purchase a used car, never rush into anything. Always make sure the car comes with the appropriate documentation and make sure it is 100% genuine before committing yourself.
Tags: Banger, Beauty, Buy Car, Car Show, Choices, Costly Mistake, Free Ads Paper, History Of The Car, Local Car Dealer, Mileage, Necessary Paperwork, Outstanding Finance, Paint Job, Paper Cars, Photos, Quality Cars, Quality Used Cars, Rush, Specialist Magazine, Tampered