What are your TOP used car buying tips?
Discussion
Personally i look out for the following.
1) Number plates front and back, if they have logos from different garages i am suspicious.. the car could have had a shunt.
2) Clean engine bay, i usually walk.
3) Worn interior beyond the listed mileage of the car, i usually walk unless really cheap.
What methods do you use?
1) Number plates front and back, if they have logos from different garages i am suspicious.. the car could have had a shunt.
2) Clean engine bay, i usually walk.
3) Worn interior beyond the listed mileage of the car, i usually walk unless really cheap.
What methods do you use?
Just buy the first I see, then send threatening texts claiming for repairs which aren't needed so they give me some of the money back.
Works out cheaper than renting, and can sell it on for more than I bought it for.
Also, take a few mates (no, not condoms) so you distract the owner while they squirt oil up the tailpipe and into the coolant reservoir. That way you can fool the owner into thinking the headgasket has suddenly gone, thus halving the cars value in a matter of minutes.
Get home, quick coolant change and back on Gumtree.
Works out cheaper than renting, and can sell it on for more than I bought it for.
Also, take a few mates (no, not condoms) so you distract the owner while they squirt oil up the tailpipe and into the coolant reservoir. That way you can fool the owner into thinking the headgasket has suddenly gone, thus halving the cars value in a matter of minutes.
Get home, quick coolant change and back on Gumtree.
Dont take a mechanic with you when buying an old car, however take it to your mechanic after you buy it. He will then put the "Fear of God" in to you about the car you've bought and all the faults it needs and how it needs £££ spent right now.
Mechanics are also apparently expert motor traders so no matter how well you negotiated you will always have paid more than you should have and he will tell you this.
Then ring the seller and complain starting all your sentences with "My mechanic says"
Mechanics are also apparently expert motor traders so no matter how well you negotiated you will always have paid more than you should have and he will tell you this.
Then ring the seller and complain starting all your sentences with "My mechanic says"
Edited by Deep Thought on Saturday 15th February 13:27
Jamaica said:
Personally i look out for the following.
1) Number plates front and back, if they have logos from different garages i am suspicious.. the car could have had a shunt.
2) Clean engine bay, i usually walk.
3) Worn interior beyond the listed mileage of the car, i usually walk unless really cheap.
Is this why you STILL haven't bought a car?1) Number plates front and back, if they have logos from different garages i am suspicious.. the car could have had a shunt.
2) Clean engine bay, i usually walk.
3) Worn interior beyond the listed mileage of the car, i usually walk unless really cheap.
Pericoloso said:
Your number plate rule isn't much kop ,a plate can easily get cracked or broken ,doesn't mean it's been written off.
Returning to the dealer 100s of miles away for a matching plate is.....
In fairness he did say it made him suspicious rather than it be a definitive indicator.Returning to the dealer 100s of miles away for a matching plate is.....
I use it to. If the number plates dont match it would certainly make me look more carefully at the panels.
I always ask about paperwork on the phone and I always ask to look at the paperwork first when I get there. So worth doing if paperwork is important to you.
Try to avoid test driving when the weather is bad - I find heavy rain can make your senses feel different. Can mask smells and noise from the car.
Always have a written contract with the details of buyer seller, price, any known faults and the date and time of sale.
Don't ever put any money down for a car without having seen it - regardless of any promises about a refundable deposit (a trader may make).
Try to avoid test driving when the weather is bad - I find heavy rain can make your senses feel different. Can mask smells and noise from the car.
Always have a written contract with the details of buyer seller, price, any known faults and the date and time of sale.
Don't ever put any money down for a car without having seen it - regardless of any promises about a refundable deposit (a trader may make).
Mojooo said:
I always ask about paperwork on the phone and I always ask to look at the paperwork first when I get there. So worth doing if paperwork is important to you.
Try to avoid test driving when the weather is bad - I find heavy rain can make your senses feel different. Can mask smells and noise from the car.
Always have a written contract with the details of buyer seller, price, any known faults and the date and time of sale.
Don't ever put any money down for a car without having seen it - regardless of any promises about a refundable deposit (a trader may make).
Always have a written contract with the details of buyer seller, price, any known faults and the date and time of saleTry to avoid test driving when the weather is bad - I find heavy rain can make your senses feel different. Can mask smells and noise from the car.
Always have a written contract with the details of buyer seller, price, any known faults and the date and time of sale.
Don't ever put any money down for a car without having seen it - regardless of any promises about a refundable deposit (a trader may make).
Do you put this together on the spot? Do sellers get cagey
t then seller has probably had a near miss and isn’t a careful owner. Probably.Jamaica said:
Mojooo said:
I always ask about paperwork on the phone and I always ask to look at the paperwork first when I get there. So worth doing if paperwork is important to you.
Try to avoid test driving when the weather is bad - I find heavy rain can make your senses feel different. Can mask smells and noise from the car.
Always have a written contract with the details of buyer seller, price, any known faults and the date and time of sale.
Don't ever put any money down for a car without having seen it - regardless of any promises about a refundable deposit (a trader may make).
Always have a written contract with the details of buyer seller, price, any known faults and the date and time of saleTry to avoid test driving when the weather is bad - I find heavy rain can make your senses feel different. Can mask smells and noise from the car.
Always have a written contract with the details of buyer seller, price, any known faults and the date and time of sale.
Don't ever put any money down for a car without having seen it - regardless of any promises about a refundable deposit (a trader may make).
Do you put this together on the spot? Do sellers get cagey
I have probably bought and sold 5 or 6 cars for myself or family over the past few years and I just download one from the net amend it to cover everything I want (the AA have a simple one).
The buyer and seller then fill out one each and keep one each. I have found the other party usually hasn't thought about it but is quite happy to have it as it makes sense.
These are all private sales of course. Traders should usually give a proper invoice. Bu tan additional bit of advice is to check the traders involve to ensure they haven't put something like 'sold as seen' or 'for scrap' on the sly.
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