1. Power Steering is a Good Thing (I have recently discovered!) 2. If car has done over 60k, check service history for new cambelt. Costs about £300 to replace, but if it goes it wrecks your engine which is a lot more expensive. 3. In fact, full service history is also a Good Thing to have. 4. Check the clutch condition, how easily it moves. If it's jolty or feels odd, chances are the clutch has had a rough time of it over the years. 5. Check the floor where you put your feet at the front (both driver and passenger sides) for rust (it'll feel slightly crunchy). Also check the structure of the car, including the boot and door frames. Rust on the panels is less of a worry, but rust on the structure can compromise the safety of the car. 6. If you can, find out what sort of running history the car has. If it's just done trips to town for the last ten years, that's far less healthy for it than long trips. 7. Look at it on a cold morning or day if possible. If it starts then, you'll be okay. See how well the heaters work. 8. Don't ever give a price you'll be willing to pay first. Let them tell you. (Unless it's a garage, less likely to do deals but you could try). 9. Check out parkers.co.uk for accurate price guides and reveiws of cars. Helps you to know when you're being overcharged or if you're getting a good deal - also if the deal is too good to be true!
And finally, if anything feels wrong, or slightly dodgy, just walk away. Have fun!
Make a checklist of all of the things you want to check and ask about, and another checklist for all the things you want in the car. This will help organize your thoughts as to whether the car is worth what is being asked.
Check around the frame around the centre of the car to make sure it's not two halves of different cars welded together. There will be weld marks, probably covered up by the floor covering in front of the back seats.
Don't let someone come to you to show you a car - always meet them at their home address. This way you have a guarantee that they are who they say they are.
Figure out how much you are willing to pay for a car (presumably less than the asking price). Carry cash to this value when you go to see the car, and no more. Offer to pay immediately in cash if you want the car (only if you're sure!). Sellers will give you a better price if you can pay in full on the spot. Obviously take someone with you if you're carrying that much money.
Ask if it's been in any accidents - it's more likely to have other, unseen, things wrong with it if it has.
Hi, you don't know me but I was wandering, boredly, through Ed's friends list, and since I was asking people the car question last night, thought the following sites might be of use: www.topgear.com - good starting point if you really don't know what you want; gives lots of reviews and goes through features of different cars.
www.parkers.co.uk - useful review and average-price site
www.autotrader.co.uk - for when you do know what you want! :)
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2005-01-24 01:08 pm (UTC)2. If car has done over 60k, check service history for new cambelt. Costs about £300 to replace, but if it goes it wrecks your engine which is a lot more expensive.
3. In fact, full service history is also a Good Thing to have.
4. Check the clutch condition, how easily it moves. If it's jolty or feels odd, chances are the clutch has had a rough time of it over the years.
5. Check the floor where you put your feet at the front (both driver and passenger sides) for rust (it'll feel slightly crunchy). Also check the structure of the car, including the boot and door frames. Rust on the panels is less of a worry, but rust on the structure can compromise the safety of the car.
6. If you can, find out what sort of running history the car has. If it's just done trips to town for the last ten years, that's far less healthy for it than long trips.
7. Look at it on a cold morning or day if possible. If it starts then, you'll be okay. See how well the heaters work.
8. Don't ever give a price you'll be willing to pay first. Let them tell you. (Unless it's a garage, less likely to do deals but you could try).
9. Check out parkers.co.uk for accurate price guides and reveiws of cars. Helps you to know when you're being overcharged or if you're getting a good deal - also if the deal is too good to be true!
And finally, if anything feels wrong, or slightly dodgy, just walk away. Have fun!
no subject
Date: 2005-01-24 05:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-25 02:46 am (UTC)Check around the frame around the centre of the car to make sure it's not two halves of different cars welded together. There will be weld marks, probably covered up by the floor covering in front of the back seats.
Don't let someone come to you to show you a car - always meet them at their home address. This way you have a guarantee that they are who they say they are.
Figure out how much you are willing to pay for a car (presumably less than the asking price). Carry cash to this value when you go to see the car, and no more. Offer to pay immediately in cash if you want the car (only if you're sure!). Sellers will give you a better price if you can pay in full on the spot. Obviously take someone with you if you're carrying that much money.
Ask if it's been in any accidents - it's more likely to have other, unseen, things wrong with it if it has.
no subject
Date: 2005-01-25 07:14 am (UTC)www.topgear.com - good starting point if you really don't know what you want; gives lots of reviews and goes through features of different cars.
www.parkers.co.uk - useful review and average-price site
www.autotrader.co.uk - for when you do know what you want! :)