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Advice on buying a car.

buckshee
buckshee Posts: 7,868
in Not Sports Related
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
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Comments

  • ForeverAddickted
    ForeverAddickted Posts: 94,580
    Do you want an Audi A3?

    http://forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/73978/advice-on-flogging-a-motor
  • reserves
    reserves Posts: 795
    buckshee said:

    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.
  • letthegoodtimesroll
    letthegoodtimesroll Posts: 10,633
    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a new one
  • ricky_otto
    ricky_otto Posts: 22,600
    letthegoodtimesroll said:

    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a new one

    Just in the process of getting a new one myself.

    I'm torn between buying or leasing.
  • Dazzler21
    Dazzler21 Posts: 51,420
    letthegoodtimesroll said:

    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a new one

    Hmm pay £200 a month for a car I don't own... Not sure i'd fancy that.
  • letthegoodtimesroll
    letthegoodtimesroll Posts: 10,633
    Dazzler21 said:

    letthegoodtimesroll said:

    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a new one

    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.
  • MrLargo
    MrLargo Posts: 7,991
    Some useful stuff on the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-status, https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history, https://www.gov.uk/checks-when-buying-a-used-car

    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/

  • ChiAddick
    ChiAddick Posts: 1,781
    Dazzler21 said:

    letthegoodtimesroll said:

    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a 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.
  • MrLargo
    MrLargo Posts: 7,991
    ChiAddick said:

    Dazzler21 said:

    letthegoodtimesroll said:

    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a 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.
  • Swisdom
    Swisdom Posts: 14,977
    MrLargo said:

    ChiAddick said:

    Dazzler21 said:

    letthegoodtimesroll said:

    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a 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




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  • ChiAddick
    ChiAddick Posts: 1,781
    MrLargo said:

    ChiAddick said:

    Dazzler21 said:

    letthegoodtimesroll said:

    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a 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.
    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.
  • Alwaysneil
    Alwaysneil Posts: 13,815
    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.

    Check under the bonnet for any signs of leaks.

    Still worth getting the AA to do it for you.
  • cabbles
    cabbles Posts: 15,258
    ricky_otto said:

    letthegoodtimesroll said:

    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a new one

    Just in the process of getting a new one myself.

    I'm torn between buying or leasing.
    Do you want an audi a3 :wink:
  • Baldybonce
    Baldybonce Posts: 9,654
    How about buying from a dealer?
    Someone like Trustford Eltham.
  • T_C_E
    T_C_E Posts: 16,421
    edited July 2016
    cabbles said:

    ricky_otto said:

    letthegoodtimesroll said:

    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a new one

    Just in the process of getting a new one myself.

    I'm torn between buying or leasing.
    Do you want an audi a3 :wink:
    Or an Avensis that may or may not have had a dog it the back, but is spotless inside...... ;)

  • SantaClaus
    SantaClaus Posts: 7,667
    What car are you after and what's your budget?
  • Carter
    Carter Posts: 14,260
    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?
  • buckshee
    buckshee Posts: 7,868
    Carter said:

    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.


    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
  • ricky_otto
    ricky_otto Posts: 22,600
    cabbles said:

    ricky_otto said:

    letthegoodtimesroll said:

    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a new one

    Just in the process of getting a new one myself.

    I'm torn between buying or leasing.
    Do you want an audi a3 :wink:
    cabbles said:

    ricky_otto said:

    letthegoodtimesroll said:

    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a new one

    Just in the process of getting a new one myself.

    I'm torn between buying or leasing.
    Do you want an audi a3 :wink:

    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.
  • ricky_otto
    ricky_otto Posts: 22,600
    T.C.E said:

    cabbles said:

    ricky_otto said:

    letthegoodtimesroll said:

    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a new one

    Just in the process of getting a new one myself.

    I'm torn between buying or leasing.
    Do you want an audi a3 :wink:
    Or an Avensis that may or may not have had a dog it the back, but is spotless inside...... ;)

    Not really my cup of tea mate. The towel was almost a deal breaker, but not quite enough to get the deal over the line.

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  • Robbo on the wing
    Robbo on the wing Posts: 4,135
    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.
  • Robbo on the wing
    Robbo on the wing Posts: 4,135
    Oh, don't forget to scratch your chin and comment that the price is a bit steep.
  • buckshee
    buckshee Posts: 7,868
    Robbo on the wing said:

    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.
  • boggzy
    boggzy Posts: 3,596
    Carter has it spot on in my experience also
  • T_C_E
    T_C_E Posts: 16,421
    ricky_otto said:

    T.C.E said:

    cabbles said:

    ricky_otto said:

    letthegoodtimesroll said:

    Don't buy a second hand one. Lease a new one

    Just in the process of getting a new one myself.

    I'm torn between buying or leasing.
    Do you want an audi a3 :wink:
    Or an Avensis that may or may not have had a dog it the back, but is spotless inside...... ;)

    Not really my cup of tea mate. The towel was almost a deal breaker, but not quite enough to get the deal over the line.
    Are you more the scatter cushion type of fella, maybe a throw over the back seat. ;)
  • SantaClaus
    SantaClaus Posts: 7,667
    edited July 2016
    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.
  • TellyTubby
    TellyTubby Posts: 3,552
    What about this? A much better option

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131872727193?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
  • buckshee
    buckshee Posts: 7,868
    SantaClaus said:

    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.
  • SantaClaus
    SantaClaus Posts: 7,667
    buckshee said:

    SantaClaus said:

    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.
  • DaveMehmet
    DaveMehmet Posts: 21,613
    Also check the address on the ownership document to make sure it's the same as the one your viewing/buying from.

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