A Check List For Purchasing Second Hand Cars

A Check List For Purchasing Second Hand Cars

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When looking to bus a second-hand car, always do a spot of research beforehand in the used car magazines and larger websites to get a rough idea of the standard market price for the age and model of car that you are looking to buy. Although most people will market price based on the age and mileage, never assume that a low-mileage car will always be a good buy: there may be a good reason why it hasnt gone very far, either because of technical troubles or perhaps being off-road from an accident! When you got to check the car out, it pays to bring along someone who knows a bit about cars, or even hiring someone from a motoring organisation, which is a service offered by many to members.

When examining the car, first check the outside for any obvious dents, scratches or signs of damage. Colour variations on the paintwork might be masking a major accident that has been filled in, or a replacement part or panel. You may also see some bubbling of the paint near the base of the doors at the bodywork, or in the corners of the door shuts. This indicates rust, and should requires some more investigation with a torch or lamp underneath the car to determine if its compromised the structural integrity of the bodywork.

Have a look at the tires to see how worn they are, and pay attention to any uneven wear you see on the front as this can indicate a problem with the steering tracking, not just wheels that arent balanced properly. You dont want to spend money on a ride that is going to cost you 100 in fresh tires every year just so they have enough tread to legally stay on the road.

Its an obvious point, but if you see any welds or repairs, do ask the owner what these were for, and hopefully they should be able to back that up with some documentation in the cars service history. A repair to a major structural area on the vehicle should be an instant red flag and you would be advised to walk away, especially if the owner denies there having been a repair! However a non-critical weld may give you some negotiation range on price if the car has undergone some cosmetic work.

Then comes the engine, and if you know little about cars then having someone along who does know their gasket from sump hose will definitely help. In general though, pay attention to the general condition of the engine and look for signs of corrosion around its parts and the battery. The engine block itself should not have any dark streaks on it, which would indicate leaks in the past, and run through the standard checks on oil and brake fluid levels as you would each month on your own car. Pay attention to levels that are low, or if the oil seems burnt, clumpy or contaminated.

Make sure that all engine hoses and leads are firmly attached and not loose, and that the plastic on them is still unbroken and pliable as older hoses tend to perish in the extreme conditions under the bonnet. Again, be on the lookout for streaking and carbon-scoring which would indicate a leak around a hose or gasket spraying fluid onto the hot engine and burning.

Lastly, check how the car handles on a test drive. Make sure that you test out the brakes, wipers, headlights and any features like air conditioning that are being marketed with the car: you will only kick yourself if you pay for these only to find that they dont work as advertised on the drive home.

About the Author:
Harvey works for a web company selling
second hand cars in the UK.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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