how to make sure i buy a used car in good condition ?

Question

should i only buy from authorised dealers rather then from ebay sellers etc?

Answer 1

many dealers now offer a money back guarantee on used cars, I would only buy used from one who has such an offer. The dealer isn't going to sell junk if they know you can have 3-7 days to check it thoroughly, run carfax, have it inspected, etc..... You may well get a great deal on Ebay, but unless you are prepared to take a risk, I would drive the car and inspect it first

Answer 2

Ypu need common sense, if you have been to university and work in an office you will have to find somebody with common sense to help you a friend in the motor trade, or in the absense of a friend, an AA or RAC inspection.
Common sense things like has it got tread on all 5 tyres, is the paint all one colour, do all the gears work, jumping out of reverse i not unusual but dont buy, does it stop, in a straight line from 70 hands off, is the steering wheel straight when going straight, it should be, does the engine pull at low revs, does the clutch slip in 4th or 5th, it wont slip in 1st 2nd or 3rd if it dont slip in 4th, and doed oil pour out on the ground when it gets hot. No problem with ebay but check before you bid, unless it is real cheap and you can fetch it on a trailer.

Answer 3

It depends entirely on how much your spending.

There a lot of good sellers and great bargains on ebay but you must use your instinct before bidding.

Main dealer will mean you get after sales care etc, but you will pay for the privellege.

Main dealers etc wont sell you cheap old bangers. Dont want connected with them if something goes wrong.

Answer 4

whatcar.co.uk

thatll tell you everything you need to know about a car.

practically. if youve got say 2000 pounds to spend, dont buy a new as you can pieve of soon to be rusting junk, ignored teh age of the car. would you rather have a five year old ford, or a ten year old mercedes... the insurance is rlativeley cheap... i drive a 19 year old volvo, no rust, and a diesell engine which is legendary, and all than luxury and 40mpg... the 3 litre merc does 53... and if youre sporty, buy an A6 audi, P reg around 3 grand... ahts the alternative, a slighly newer modeo, or a peugeot 406...

Answer 5

Depending on where you are, you may get some extra protection by buying from a dealer -- some places have "lemon laws" saying the dealer is required to disclose any known problems.

Wherever you go, though, be sure to have the car inspected by a reliable mechanic to get it inspected.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Believe it or not, I recommend buying from a new car dealer that sells that manufacturer's car. They won't take any junk in trade that they want to put on their used car lot. Sometimes long time customers who have religiously maintained their cars at that dealership always trade in their "cream puffs" on that dealer's new car model. Those are the used cars you should look out for. You could ask the dealer if any of his used cars have just been turned in by a long time customer who does all their maintenance at their dealership.

Answer 7

it is stable relaxing in Australia. the uncomplicated certificates you pick is stated as a 'roadworthy' yet how usually it gets completed relies upon on the state. final time i grew to become into there: NSW and South Australia - as quickly as a 300 and sixty 5 days Victoria - on replace of possession (i.e no longer something would have been completed for years!) Western Australia - curiously on no account Like Mots, roadworthys can instruct no longer something of the type. you pays for a mechanical inspection which will or will possibly no longer locate faults; or would locate something that's no longer a fault. Like everywhere else, motor vehicle dealing attracts a great number of rogues. changing possession additionally relies upon on the state of beginning of the vehicle - observe which you will would desire to take the vehicle to the state in contact interior of a definite time to alter possession. of direction you're going that way. till I write the e book in this - do some uncomplicated swotting up on 2d hand vehicles, and take a examine out to rearrange your itinerary so as so which you could purchase and sell a motor vehicle interior the comparable state, the state that it comes from. yet no longer Victoria, it extremely is the blunders I made as for the reason above very few visitors very own Victoria-registered vehicles. all and sundry needs a Western Australia motor vehicle because of the fact which you could replace possession on the information superhighway, yet there is the undertaking of what undertaking it would desire to be in. Do be careful, a breakdown interior the outback can surely kill you. hours of relaxing, sorry!

Answer 8

first always is to try and get a carfax report to see if it's ever been involved in any claims. as well you can have it check out by any certified mechanic ahead of buying it; i believe they must abliege if it's a dealer.. if it's private party and the only thing short of throwing you in it w/o a test drive, then walk. the bank you frecuent can always tell you the value minus aftermarket mods, as they would never loan you more then it's worth (private party) at least mine dosen't. be careful when playing on e-bay.

Answer 9

Know the car your going to buy inside out.....look for bubbles or hair and dust marks under the paint.....hard to spot but if the paint is not immaculate as it left the factory your probably best to walk away.....also look for overspary around the doors, under the bonnet, stick your finger in the engine, if the oil is anyway watery, walk away.....

Answer 10

There are so many eager to scam nowadays!

If like me your not sure whats good or bad then maybe you should pay the AA or RAC to do the checks for you. I`m going to use them when I get a new one.