Buying a car what physical checks should i make?
Discussion
Hi,
When buying a car either privately or from trade, what general checks around the car would you do. Along the lines of tyre tread etc but also under the bonnet which would be easy for someone without a mechanical background to to check as well.
I dont want to buy private with no protection and find out the car to be a dud or end up spending money on it as soon as it hits my drive.
Would be interested to hear your checklists.
Regards
When buying a car either privately or from trade, what general checks around the car would you do. Along the lines of tyre tread etc but also under the bonnet which would be easy for someone without a mechanical background to to check as well.
I dont want to buy private with no protection and find out the car to be a dud or end up spending money on it as soon as it hits my drive.
Would be interested to hear your checklists.
Regards
Could always get an AA Inspection if you were serious about buying the car?
Typically any visual checks such as tyre tread, pad life, rusty panels/exhaust sections. Then some things can be determined from driving the thing such as power, clutch wear, any smoke under load etc. Something I tend to forget to check is that things work like leccy windows, AC, automatic wipers and the like as I just assume they work.
BUT I normally only go and see cars that I really want, tending to acknowledge its faults and buying it regardless.
Typically any visual checks such as tyre tread, pad life, rusty panels/exhaust sections. Then some things can be determined from driving the thing such as power, clutch wear, any smoke under load etc. Something I tend to forget to check is that things work like leccy windows, AC, automatic wipers and the like as I just assume they work.
BUT I normally only go and see cars that I really want, tending to acknowledge its faults and buying it regardless.
make sure all dash lights like abs /airbag light up with the ign on then go out , check heater and a/c work , windows etc
feel the engine and see if its cold , best to test from cold if possible
look at the oil level and look inside the oil cap for sludge /mayo , coolant tank should be clean looking coolant not rusty or milky , look around for oil leaks and check the driveway for patches if its at home
drive the car until warm , listen for the cooling fan to cut in , feel where the clutch bites , if its high then it maybe on its last legs , once you return back to the sellers start it again to make sure its ok on warm starts
quick look underneath with a good torch , exhaust condition , look for rusty sills , leaky dampers , grease around the cv joins and oil leaks under the engine /box
check the paperwork matches the cars reg /vin and the owners address
feel the engine and see if its cold , best to test from cold if possible
look at the oil level and look inside the oil cap for sludge /mayo , coolant tank should be clean looking coolant not rusty or milky , look around for oil leaks and check the driveway for patches if its at home
drive the car until warm , listen for the cooling fan to cut in , feel where the clutch bites , if its high then it maybe on its last legs , once you return back to the sellers start it again to make sure its ok on warm starts
quick look underneath with a good torch , exhaust condition , look for rusty sills , leaky dampers , grease around the cv joins and oil leaks under the engine /box
check the paperwork matches the cars reg /vin and the owners address
As above plus.
When you check the tyres do so on full lock for tread wear, panel gaps, glass, paint on glass rubbers, overspray, orange peel, tool kit, spare, trim.
When on demo radio off and listen.
Take someone with you (Mrs D is great at spotting body damage)
When you check the tyres do so on full lock for tread wear, panel gaps, glass, paint on glass rubbers, overspray, orange peel, tool kit, spare, trim.
When on demo radio off and listen.
Take someone with you (Mrs D is great at spotting body damage)
Edited by DocArbathnot on Wednesday 15th January 17:06
Based on my experience with various buyers, this is what you should say to the seller:
"It's got chinese tyres" (they were Vredestein) "this things been serviced on the cheap. I want money off"
(Without looking) "tread's almost gone, you'll need to come down a bit for the bald tyres" (4.5mm left! AS ADVERTISED).
(Again without looking) "The exhaust's rusty, they're expensive, you'll need to come down a bit more"
(While looking at the spare wheel still in the spare wheel well, i.e. can't see tread) "Spare tyre needs replacing, need to shave some cash off for that."
"How many keys come with it?" (both original keys, 1 pristine / unused) "I need 3, for me the wife and the spare, take £100 off and i'll think no more about it"
(Cold day, car not started before) "Exhaust smokes when you start it, money off for that pal" (condensation!)
"Sounds clattery" (it's a VAG PD diesel you MORON!!!)
"It's got chinese tyres" (they were Vredestein) "this things been serviced on the cheap. I want money off"
(Without looking) "tread's almost gone, you'll need to come down a bit for the bald tyres" (4.5mm left! AS ADVERTISED).
(Again without looking) "The exhaust's rusty, they're expensive, you'll need to come down a bit more"
(While looking at the spare wheel still in the spare wheel well, i.e. can't see tread) "Spare tyre needs replacing, need to shave some cash off for that."
"How many keys come with it?" (both original keys, 1 pristine / unused) "I need 3, for me the wife and the spare, take £100 off and i'll think no more about it"
(Cold day, car not started before) "Exhaust smokes when you start it, money off for that pal" (condensation!)
"Sounds clattery" (it's a VAG PD diesel you MORON!!!)
This is one of those "If you need to ask..." questions. You could be given a checklist a mile long, but unless you actually know what the things you might see mean, then you're very likely to either panic at very minor insignificances or ignore serious warning bells.
Either take a mate-with-clue with you (always useful anyway, to help curb any spur-of-the-moment silliness) or if you see something you think you like, arrange to get it inspected by a local garage.
Either take a mate-with-clue with you (always useful anyway, to help curb any spur-of-the-moment silliness) or if you see something you think you like, arrange to get it inspected by a local garage.
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