What to look for when buying a second hand car

[sorin1987]

Hi

I have decided to buy a Mazda 3 1.6 petrol (2005 or 2006) next month. I have found a few on autotrader around 3k-3.5k and 60-75k miles.
This is my first car since moving to the UK.
All 3 cars I had before I moved to UK were second hand but I bought them all when they were under 35k miles, do around 30k miles then sell them. So the cars were always relatively new so didn't require thorough investigation.
However, now I will buy a car around 65-70k and I was wondering what are some things to look out for when test driving the car. Is it worth paying a mechanic to come with me to have a look at the car?

What is your "routine" when checking out a car?

Thanks.

[73mark]

YouTube and http://www.mazdaproblems.com/MAZDA3/

Edited by 73mark on Saturday 7th February 19:17

[Fleckers]

research the car and find its faults
take a mechanical knowledgeable person with you

if in doubt get the AA or RAC to do the checks for you

buy with head not heart

if it seems too good to be true then it probably is

[Northernchimp]

HPi check required, even if it's the £3 text. Check the arches with a torch. Know the service schedule and check the stamps in the book are the correct frequency.

[Troubleatmill]

If you are going to spend £70,000 on a car.... a few hundred quick on a very competent mechanic who knows that model of car well is a worthwhile investment.

[nct001]

I do this every day, valuing px cars and buying stock in.

As a private buyer my advise would be.

1. Buy privately, at this price point a trader is worse than a private seller and it is not worth a dealer premium.

2. Buy from a very smart area, big house, big drive they pay big bills and look after things, buy from the right kind of people is half the battle

3. Hpi check, as stated

4. Two ways of buying, cheap entry level example and molly coddle it and add value or just go out buy the best you can find at a given price. For this kind of car buy the best you can for price as there is no shortage of them and relatively undesirable.

5. So demand a full service history and no more than two owners, and from a proper area and people. And of course no bodywork issues or repairs.

It's not rocket science, nice clean, low owner car from an affluent area.

[davamer23]

Unless there is a photo in the advert of the engine bay move on to another car.

[davamer23]

Unless there is a photo in the advert of the engine bay move on to another car.

[22Rgt]

nct001 said:

I do this every day, valuing px cars and buying stock in.

As a private buyer my advise would be.

1. Buy privately, at this price point a trader is worse than a private seller and it is not worth a dealer premium.

2. Buy from a very smart area, big house, big drive they pay big bills and look after things, buy from the right kind of people is half the battle

3. Hpi check, as stated

4. Two ways of buying, cheap entry level example and molly coddle it and add value or just go out buy the best you can find at a given price. For this kind of car buy the best you can for price as there is no shortage of them and relatively undesirable.

5. So demand a full service history and no more than two owners, and from a proper area and people. And of course no bodywork issues or repairs.

It's not rocket science, nice clean, low owner car from an affluent area.

'Big house, big drive, proper area' Pi55 myself laughing. You dont actually buy many cars do you??

[bristolracer]

If its private ring and ask about the car, if they say which one then be suspicious

Again if private then check the name on the V5 and the address tallies with where you are viewing the car.
Dont fall for the im selling it for my sister etc which is code for i bought a pup on ebay and now i want to offload it.

Ask why they are selling, i know some on here say its of no relevance but that question slipped in may wrong foot the seller

If you feel uncomfortable or anything raises suspicions then walk.

If its a dealer then be aware of your rights.
Negotiate a new MOT, if any tyres etc are marginal then get the dealer to replace them, if you are buying from a dealer then i dont think its unreasonable to expect a year of no cost motoring.

Read up on the car, known faults etc, check cam belt services, when it last had a spanner pointed at it etc

Remember theres plenty out there. I know sometimes buying used cars can be a PITA but kissing a few frogs to find your prince is sometimes how it goes.

[Jasandjules]

bristolracer said:

Negotiate a new MOT, if any tyres etc are marginal then get the dealer to replace them, if you are buying from a dealer then i dont think its unreasonable to expect a year of no cost motoring.

I wonder, have you tried to purchase a car recently?

[bristolracer]

Jasandjules said:

I wonder, have you tried to purchase a car recently?

Yes and got both
Wouldnt budge on the price but we went away with a car within our budget

[nct001]

22Rgt said:

'Big house, big drive, proper area' Pi55 myself laughing. You dont actually buy many cars do you??

Company turns over £3bn.

[shake n bake]

22Rgt said:

'Big house, big drive, proper area' Pi55 myself laughing. You dont actually buy many cars do you??

Did wonder this, a low owner, 3 grand stter from an affluent area? Must be tripping over those unicorn cars every day!

Edited by shake n bake on Saturday 7th February 20:43

[shake n bake]

davamer23 said:

Unless there is a photo in the advert of the engine bay move on to another car.

And You're mates with mgjohn surely??!

[sorin1987]

Troubleatmill said:

If you are going to spend £70,000 on a car.... a few hundred quick on a very competent mechanic who knows that model of car well is a worthwhile investment.

If I had 70k to spend on a car I would not have this problem. 70k is the number of miles the cars in my budget will have.
Unfortunately there are not that many private sellers and the ones that are private are quite far away from me. I will try to find the best choice and pay a mechanic to go with me and inspect the car as well.

[JimmyConwayNW]

davamer23 said:

Unless there is a photo in the advert of the engine bay move on to another car.

I like it

[Northernchimp]

shake n bake said:

22Rgt said:

'Big house, big drive, proper area' Pi55 myself laughing. You dont actually buy many cars do you??

Did wonder this, a low owner, 3 grand stter from an affluent area? Must be tripping over those unicorn cars every day!

Edited by shake n bake on Saturday 7th February 20:43

Bought 3 in the last year. All retired men in huge houses, all owned from new, all sub £2k. They do exist and they've all been faultless cars and a pleasure to deal with.

[ferrariF50lover]

A Japanese car with 70k on it? Surely that's virtually new and there's bugger all to look out for.

[Claudia Skies]

nct001 said:

It's not rocket science, nice clean, low owner car from an affluent area.

I've seen a 3-series E46 cabrio on ebay this week that's right in that category. They do exist.