Subtle indications that a car has not been loved

[Frimley111R]

I was looking at a Megane R26, which, all polished up, looked lovely but I noticed the mats inside were knackered and on closer inspection (thank you big image facility on eBay) the wheels were quite damaged. They might be subtle pointers but the mats oddly put me off a bit. I thought that if they were that knackered (worn/curling up) that the owner probably hadn't loved the car much.

What else puts you off?

[Torquey]

Tyres - if they are not matching, a decent brand and preferably OEM then I'd seriously think twice about it.

[Nickp82]

I look (amongst other things) at the number plates, in particular who made them. Matching franchised dealer plates from original supplier always a good sign, one plate on the front made by 'x and y auto repairs' is a warning sign to me

[Dave Hedgehog]

my lease car got washed 3 times, each when it was serviced.

quite a healthy build up of green stuff all over it just before it went back

[brrapp]

I actually look at the seller and where he is living before I look at the car. You can tidy up a car to hide a lack of care, but it's harder to hide your own personality.

[Ransoman]

If it's an older car - Lack of repairs. A lot of work being done is usually an indication that the car has been loved. If they say it has needed nothing in 5 years then I worry that all the bushes and friction surfaces are going to be completely worn out.

[TJC46]

brrapp said:

I actually look at the seller and where he is living before I look at the car. You can tidy up a car to hide a lack of care, but it's harder to hide your own personality.

This................and for me the engine bay.

Anyone can take their car to the local "Romanian/Albanian" car wash once a week, but the condition of the engine bay can tell a great deal about the care an owner has put into looking after the car.

[codenamecueball]

TJC46 said:

This................and for me the engine bay.

Anyone can take their car to the local "Romanian/Albanian" car wash once a week, but the condition of the engine bay can tell a great deal about the care an owner has put into looking after the car.

In this case I'm in a lot of trouble because I have never once cleaned my engine bay. Oh the horrors.

[Jonno02]

codenamecueball said:

In this case I'm in a lot of trouble because I have never once cleaned my engine bay. Oh the horrors.

On the other hand, a clean engine bay to me would point out "it's been steam cleaned to hide a leak."

For me: shabby interior and kerbed wheels(more than the usual graze) are the two biggest standouts.

[Tuvra]

Nickp82 said:

I look (amongst other things) at the number plates, in particular who made them. Matching franchised dealer plates from original supplier always a good sign, one plate on the front made by 'x and y auto repairs' is a warning sign to me

Why?

My plates used to come from a mates Tyre centre that went bust years ago, I've had them years and had them on all kinds of cars from modern (at the time) TVR's to Mercedes'?

[Zetec-S]

Nickp82 said:

I look (amongst other things) at the number plates, in particular who made them. Matching franchised dealer plates from original supplier always a good sign, one plate on the front made by 'x and y auto repairs' is a warning sign to me

Good tip, not something I've thought of before. Of course mismatched plates could have an innocent explanation, but if spotted I would definitely look a bit closer.

[DUMBO100]

Lowered suspension is an instant sign that a car has been ruined, retro fitted LEDs are a sign of the home mechanic too

[Yipper]

Judging a car by its external visual quality to determine its internal mechanical / electronic quality is always going to be a guessing game. There was a Warranty Wise report recently that ~40% of used Porsches (in their sample) are reporting some problem or other. Porsche owners (on balance) are going to be toward the higher end of repairing, caring and shinying up their cars -- yet, they still report high failure rates.

[geeks]

Torquey said:

Tyres - if they are not matching, a decent brand and preferably OEM then I'd seriously think twice about it.

Matching Yes.

OEM? No!

As long as they are a known brand I wouldn't be too concerned.

Also factor in people run cars on budgets, just because some have a tighter budget than others doesn't mean a car hasn't been cared for. So just because it has 4 regular run of the mill Dunlops that were on offer with the local tyre fitter rather than the highsport Dunlop (what ever they are calling them these days) (other brands are available) that doesn't indicate neglect just financial budgeting!

[Nickp82]

Tuvra said:

Nickp82 said:

I look (amongst other things) at the number plates, in particular who made them. Matching franchised dealer plates from original supplier always a good sign, one plate on the front made by 'x and y auto repairs' is a warning sign to me

Why?

My plates used to come from a mates Tyre centre that went bust years ago, I've had them years and had them on all kinds of cars from modern (at the time) TVR's to Mercedes'?

Because if the original plates are on the car you know there is lower chance of it having had a shunt. If the front plate doesn't match the back or vice versa would you not wonder why?

[Nickp82]

Just made myself chuckle at how dim-witted my 'front doesn't match the back or vice versa comment was'!!

[clio007]

Seems like I can put some matching part worns on my old snotter along with matching front and rear plates and I will be onto a winner come sale time

[Nickp82]

clio007 said:

Seems like I can put some matching part worns on my old snotter along with matching front and rear plates and I will be onto a winner come sale time

Rent a lovely house on the best street in your area for a week or two also and bingo bango, top dollar for your old banger.

[clio007]

Nickp82 said:

Rent a lovely house on the best street in your area for a week or two also and bingo bango, top dollar for your old banger.

I think we are wasted here

[Nik da Greek]

"What oil do you use?"

- blank look -

"Thanks for your time, bye"