In the process of buying a car. Possibly from a private seller. Don't want to be ripped off at all , what things are best to look out for. Not just with the condition but best ways of finding out if it's reported stolen or HP owning I guess
In the process of buying a car. Possibly from a private seller. Don't want to be ripped off at all , what things are best to look out for. Not just with the condition but best ways of finding out if it's reported stolen or HP owning I guess
If you don't know what you're looking for, then get an AA inspection.
Hmm pay £200 a month for a car I don't own... Not sure i'd fancy that.
Why on earth would you want to actually own a car ? Money down the drain. if it's a second hand car and anything goes wrong outside the initial warranty period (assuming it's not a private sale) then it's down to you. £200 a month to lease ? A purchased new car will depreciate quicker than that. Lease one and its brand spanking new, everything is under warranty, more often than not the servicing is free and after 2 or 3 years you chuck it back and get another brand spanking new one while the bloke who bought his outright will generally still be driving his for a few more years, paying through the nose to repair it as more and more things start to go wrong.
Hmm pay £200 a month for a car I don't own... Not sure i'd fancy that.
Been discussed before but there is no point what so ever in buying a brand new asset that will depreciate by at least a third within three years. If you want brand new then lease.
Hmm pay £200 a month for a car I don't own... Not sure i'd fancy that.
Been discussed before but there is no point what so ever in buying a brand new asset that will depreciate by at least a third within three years. If you want brand new then lease.
The OP's buying a second hand car, not a brand new one.
Hmm pay £200 a month for a car I don't own... Not sure i'd fancy that.
Been discussed before but there is no point what so ever in buying a brand new asset that will depreciate by at least a third within three years. If you want brand new then lease.
The OP's buying a second hand car, not a brand new one.
Only because leasing may not have occurred to them yet. I won't ever buy a new car again
Hmm pay £200 a month for a car I don't own... Not sure i'd fancy that.
Been discussed before but there is no point what so ever in buying a brand new asset that will depreciate by at least a third within three years. If you want brand new then lease.
The OP's buying a second hand car, not a brand new one.
I was responding to Dazzler hence why I quoted him.
Second hand car buying is a minefield. As others have said get an AA inspection and do a thorough test drive.
I've bought a few cars without an AA inspection but if you don't know what to look for, I would really recommend one.
Depending on the age of the car you'd be looking for:
Rust or bubbling paint Noises (beware anyone who has the stereo on in the test drive) Signs of any dampness Engine sound while revving but not moving and when moving, make sure you can get up to at least 70 and push the car a bit round corners in the test drive Clutch and gearbox issues to change gear Do an emergency break and if the car doesn't keep going straight, don't buy it
Check the oil dipstick and the oil should hopefully be cleanish.
Bounce the corners of the car to make sure the suspension is working, check the suspension bushes if the vehicle allows
Check the brake discs for wear or distortion.
Check the wheels especially alloys for cracks and scrapes, the tyres for wear, the windscreen for cracks and all the electrics to make sure the work.
If the car has a sunroof, make sure it opens and closes with no issues at all.
Aside from the very decent advice alwaysneil has given some advice I swear by
Look at the tyres. If they are cheap ones and different brands then the car has been maintained on a budget. This is enough for me to steer clear. I buy cars off people I like the look of, if someone seems dodgy then they normally are. Listen for any knocking noises coming from the engine, pull the steering wheel from lock to lock and if it whines it will only get worse.
Look at the service documents and see where it was looked after and stamped.
Aside from the very decent advice alwaysneil has given some advice I swear by
Look at the tyres. If they are cheap ones and different brands then the car has been maintained on a budget. This is enough for me to steer clear. I buy cars off people I like the look of, if someone seems dodgy then they normally are. Listen for any knocking noises coming from the engine, pull the steering wheel from lock to lock and if it whines it will only get worse.
Look at the service documents and see where it was looked after and stamped.
What motor are you looking at mate?
Zafira tourer at the moment . Need it for the family I'm afraid.
I'm after something a bit bigger for myself, the wife is in the market for a car as well so thought the A3 might be on interest to her, she's hell bent on an Alfa Giulietta.
That actually looks OK to me. I would talk to the owner and ask if you could run it through an MOT (at your expense). £50 well spent and you get the MOT extension from March to Mid July. The MOT will bring up any advisories.
That actually looks OK to me. I would talk to the owner and ask if you could run it through an MOT (at your expense). £50 well spent and you get the MOT extension from March to Mid July. The MOT will bring up any advisories.
Dealers seem to be wanting about another grand for one of these everywhere we've looked . Might be why I'm worried this won't be totally legit. Probably fine though.
What about a Nissan Leaf rather than a Zafira. It's big enough for a family of 5 and you'll save a bomb each month in fuel costs. You can get them for low £200's a month on a PCP deal (15k miles/year) with a modest deposit. You should only go for it if you've got off street parking though. I test drive a lot of cars and if I didn't need to regularly do 300 miles a day I'd buy one.
What about a Nissan Leaf rather than a Zafira. It's big enough for a family of 5 and you'll save a bomb each month in fuel costs. You can get them for low £200's a month on a PCP deal (15k miles/year) with a modest deposit. You should only go for it if you've got off street parking though. I test drive a lot of cars and if I didn't need to regularly do 300 miles a day I'd buy one.
I was involved in installing chargers in domestic properties for the leaf. Don't want an electric car thanks.
What about a Nissan Leaf rather than a Zafira. It's big enough for a family of 5 and you'll save a bomb each month in fuel costs. You can get them for low £200's a month on a PCP deal (15k miles/year) with a modest deposit. You should only go for it if you've got off street parking though. I test drive a lot of cars and if I didn't need to regularly do 300 miles a day I'd buy one.
I was involved in installing chargers in domestic properties for the leaf. Don't want an electric car thanks.
Fair enough. Just throwing a curve ball at you. Good luck with the search.
Comments
http://forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/73978/advice-on-flogging-a-motor
I'm torn between buying or leasing.
Think I used Parkers for the Hire Purchase check, just go on google though, think they're all much of a much. https://parkers.hpicheck.com/
Second hand car buying is a minefield. As others have said get an AA inspection and do a thorough test drive.
Depending on the age of the car you'd be looking for:
Rust or bubbling paint
Noises (beware anyone who has the stereo on in the test drive)
Signs of any dampness
Engine sound while revving but not moving and when moving, make sure you can get up to at least 70 and push the car a bit round corners in the test drive
Clutch and gearbox issues to change gear
Do an emergency break and if the car doesn't keep going straight, don't buy it
Check the oil dipstick and the oil should hopefully be cleanish.
Bounce the corners of the car to make sure the suspension is working, check the suspension bushes if the vehicle allows
Check the brake discs for wear or distortion.
Check the wheels especially alloys for cracks and scrapes, the tyres for wear, the windscreen for cracks and all the electrics to make sure the work.
If the car has a sunroof, make sure it opens and closes with no issues at all.
Check under the bonnet for any signs of leaks.
Still worth getting the AA to do it for you.
Someone like Trustford Eltham.
Look at the tyres. If they are cheap ones and different brands then the car has been maintained on a budget. This is enough for me to steer clear. I buy cars off people I like the look of, if someone seems dodgy then they normally are. Listen for any knocking noises coming from the engine, pull the steering wheel from lock to lock and if it whines it will only get worse.
Look at the service documents and see where it was looked after and stamped.
What motor are you looking at mate?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201605103805128?search-target=usedcars&make=vauxhall&model=zafira_tourer&price-to=8000&sort=default&radius=50&postcode=da99qr&page=1&body-type=mpv&onesearchad=new,nearlynew,used&logcode=p&adPos=3
Do you want an audi a3I'm after something a bit bigger for myself, the wife is in the market for a car as well so thought the A3 might be on interest to her, she's hell bent on an Alfa Giulietta.
I would talk to the owner and ask if you could run it through an MOT (at your expense). £50 well spent and you get the MOT extension from March to Mid July.
The MOT will bring up any advisories.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131872727193?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649