im just going to buy a car?

Question

what are the main things i should check?
and no, i dont know anyone that can come with me that has any ideas about cars!

thanks lee, thats a great help!
what would i do without friends like you!! x

Answer 1

Checklist
This checklist is a guide to help you decide whether a car is worth buying. If you find yourself answering Yes to a lot of questions in one or more sections, it may be best to walk away. If you don't feel confident about carrying out these checks yourself, get an expert's opinion.

The car's condition
Are sills, wheel arches and door bottoms rusty?
Is paintwork failing?
Are there oil leaks or damaged hoses/drive belts under the bonnet?
Are tyres damaged or worn?
Are seat belts worn out? Do they have faulty mountings?
Do door and window seals show signs of leaking?
Are electrics faulty (lights, dashboard warning lights)?
Has it been in an accident?
Have body panels been repaired?
Is colour/texture of paintwork patchy?
Has welding been carried out on the engine/boot?
Have repairs been carried out on the boot? (Check under carpet)
Has the car's identity been changed?
Has VIN number been tampered with?
Have areas of glass been scratched off windows, head lights, tail lights, sun roof?
Are windows etched with incorrect VIN ?
Do stickers conceal altered etching?

Test Drive
(Make sure you are insured for the test drive)
Are brakes defective?
Does car pull to one side when you brake?
Do brakes squeal?
Are there other unusual noises?
Is hand brake defective?
Does steering wheel shake/vibrate?
Does car pull to one side?
Is changing gear difficult?
Does gear lever skip when you brake or accelerate?
Does clutch grab or slip?
Does engine sound different if clutch is pressed when car is idling?
Is there a strong smell of petrol or oil?
After the test drive
(Open bonnet and let engine idle)
Does engine rattle or make other noise?
Are there water or oil leaks?
Blue or black smoke from exhaust? (Indicates badly-worn engine)
Grey smoke from exhaust? (Indicates water leaking into engine)
Has the car been clocked?
Are mileometer numbers out of line?
Is wear and tear heavy, given mileage?
Have pedal rubbers/gear knob/steering wheel been changed?
Does mileage on last MOT certificate contradict mileometer reading?
Does mileage on service documentation contradict mileometer reading?
Does mileage when car was last sold contradict mileometer reading? (Check with previous owner(s))
Is the car stolen?
Does seller say registration document (V5) is at DVLA? *
Are there spelling mistakes or alterations to V5?
Is watermark missing from V5
Is seller's name and address different from V5?
Is number plate different from V5?
Is engine number different from V5?
Is vehicle identification number (VIN) different from V5?
(Check VIN plate, and under both bonnet and driver's seat.)

Answer 2

Gosh, I could be here all day on this one.

Try and buy the best you can afford but check out the insurance before you buy because some models have massive premiums.

I think you only have 2 options considering your situation:

1, buy from a dealer, ok, you will pay a little bit over the odds but you will get a warranty and some come back if there is a problem. Anyone telling you on here to look for this or that (like engine smoking, panel fit) is wasting you time bacause there are too many variables and with no experience you might turn down a decent buy.

A dealer that's been there a while, not some little car lot on the corner, look at the showroom and see if it looks clean, tidy, the cars look imaculate and look at the salesmen. They should be well presented and speak to you without being too pushy.

This might sound rubbish and your thinking 'what about the car?' but for you, the priority is backup when something goes wrong, you need someone who is proffesional and will look after you.

2, Buy from someone you know.
A friend or relative will never sell you a bad car (usually) because they know it will soon get round if they sell you a Lemon, they'll be worried about the come back. So ask around if anyone you know has anything for sale, you will be suprised how many cars are available in your circle of contacts.

In your situation i wouldn't recommend you buy private or from an auction, there are just too many pitfalls for someone who doesn't know what to look for. You might fall lucky but chances are you''ll lose out big time.

My suggestions might differ to other peoples but to put 'me' into context, i've been dealing with cars over 20 years, had hundreds of vehicles pass through my hands and there are ways to fool even a mechanic that a bad car is ok.

Get an idea what you want before you start, personally i would go japanese or german because generally they offer better reliability and build quality and that's something you particually need.


Decide you budget and stick to it, take into account running costs and watch that insurance!

Good luck and for the record, i drive a Porsche 911 and a Mazda 6.

Answer 3

Check to see if it has a service history, who the previous owners were[don't buy an ex company or sales car] check mileage and ask if there are any older M.O.T. certificates, as this will confirm mileage. Go to a reputable car dealer and get a warranty and ask what it covers, a dealer may be a bit more dearer but if something does go wrong you can take it back for repairs. Have a look in local press and compare prices before setting out. Lastly make sure you can afford to run the car ie. insurance, any loan payments and petrol, so choose a car that is within your budget. Get as much information as you can before buying and take a pen and paper to write down any promises that salesmen make and good luck..

Answer 4

Try to protect yourself - if you buy privately, it will be difficult to have any way of dealing with a problem. If you deal with a garage or dealership, at least you have somewhere to go back to.

Have an idea what the car value should be - when you see something you like, search online to find the approximate blue book value to make sure you're not being ripped off.

NEGOTIATE your price. Never take the first price offer. KNOW what you think it's worth and offer way below, aim to meet in the middle. Be prepared to walk away, and come back again - three or four times if necessary. Make sure they throw in a full tank of petrol and push for them to pay car tax for a while! (Sometimes that works!)

Get a GUARANTEE with your car. Even if you're buying a really old car, you should insist on at least 3-6 months full guarantee (parts AND labour). If they're not prepared to offer that, leave it. All reputable dealers will give you a guarantee for at least three months.

Take it on SEVERAL test drives - look for ease of starting, smooth gear change, straight running with no drift or pull to one side, quiet engine noise, good braking, go on hills and check how it runs. Test all windows, doors, gadgets and check for any scratches, dents, paintwork or bodywork problems. Make sure tyres are brand new, if not, push for them to be replaced, or negotiate the price down based on the fact you'll have to replace them early.

ASK the seller if the car has had any problems in the past, or if it has been involved in any accidents. They are obliged to tell you.

CONTACT the previous owner - I've had people phone me to ask me about previous cars I've owned, and I've phoned previous owners re my car. Once a car has been sold on, the owner is more likely to tell you of any potential problems.

Once you do buy a car, take it for a check up to a reputable garage. Don't get any work done - get a list of what needs to be done, and bring it back to the seller and have it done under guarantee.

Otherwise, remember a car is a costly item to run. Don't be tempted to go above budget. Stick to your guns!!!

Finally, be prepared to walk away and look elsewhere - even if you love the car you're looking at. I felt I was not getting a good deal with the last car I wanted to buy, I walked away and got a better car at a cheaper price at the next dealers!

Answer 5

Just check it over pretty carefully, look for stuff on the bodywork like rust, the seals roound the windows, open and close all doors a couple of times to make sure the hinges are ok, mess with all the lights and switches, and have a check under the bonnet, if ur not too sure then wont be easy, but most of all, take it for a test drive, listen for any weird noises, make sure it drives smoothly, no jolts or judders. And if there's any doubt, or you dont really like it, then trust your instinct and dont buy it!! Good luck with your search!

Answer 6

Hi,
Where are you buying the car from?? a dealer or private?
What car is it and how old?
have you checked out what sort of price you should be paying for it if not go to whatcar.com or autotrader.co.uk.
or by a car price guide from your local shop. and see there rough price guide, so you have and idea before you go and look.

ALWAYS haggle don't pay the asking price!!
Look for general wear and tear start the car obviously and listen for any dodgy noises or any bad exhaust smoke. It all depends on the age as well there are so many things..

But if your not happy just WALK AWAY!! from it there are loads of others out there don't feel pressured into getting it just because you have looked at it.... Good Luck........JK x

Answer 7

get anhpi check done on a car that takes your fancy they can then tell you whether its a ringer or not costs about £35 to have done.check for blue smoke panel fit to make sure it has not been crashed,check the condition of the tyres to see if the tracking etc is ok.feel under braking to feel any vibration on the brake pedal to see if the discs are warped.pull off the oil cap to check for white ****-ch to see if head gasket is OK.keep an eye on temperature gauge to make sure it does not overheat.see if it has a full service history.check condition of interior and all electrical stuff works.better still take somebody with you who knows about cars or pay the AA or rac a fee and they give the car a once over and can report on any faults

Answer 8

Check the Vehicle Identification Numbers normally by the bonnet latch, make sure it matches the vehicle registration document.
Get it hpi checked for outstanding finance, check mot , tax. Seriously people have written books about this. Do a search on google for car buying advice.
Depends how much money youre spending, how dodgy the people selling are. Mechanically theres loads of checks to do so maybe get it RAC or AA inspected.

Answer 9

check it has the V5 certificate, if it does have one steer clear.

check to see the service and mot history.

check for rust under the bonnet and in the wheel arches.

check the little things like the car lighter, if this doesn't work you can't use it to charge your phone or ipod etc.

always open the boot and check all of the door key holes work.

The only other point is don't go for Fiat cars they are very expensive to fix and parts are hard to get hold of, i found out the hard way.

Hope this helps, happy hunting.

Answer 10

if it doesnt run smooth dont buy it. When test driving it make sure it shifts and drives normal and stomp on the throttle to make sure no smoke comes out the tail pipe plus to make sure it doesnt studder. Check the antifreeze and make sure its green and no floaties. Check the oil if its new oil or gunky something is up. If the oil is new they might have changed it to cover up something. If its dark brown then its ok no black oil. Make sure there are no noises coming from the engine bay any ticks nocks or whining noises.