[Travel] Car Advise

[Perkino]

We are looking at buying a 2nd hand car, I will obviously see the vehicle and test drive it for 10-15 minutes but am wondering if there are any easy checks I can do whilst looking at the vehicle to spot any obvious problems or potential issues that the car may have. The car is from a dealer so will be sold with 12 months on the M.O.T.


Any NSC suggestions could help me avoid buying an expensive rust bucket

 

[The Andy Naylor Fan Club]

I have asked friends who are mechanics to come along and check a vehicle for me in the past. Gave them a drink for their advice and time.
If you have a regular mechanic then perhaps ( with the sellers ok ) take it along to their garage for a check.

 

[Whoislloydy]

HPI check!!! (Garages usually provide one for you)

I sold my car 2 weeks ago only to find out its a category D write off back in 2012 so i got £2000 less than it was worth! The best part about it? my own dad sold me the car his wife had written off and now he's refusing to pay me my money that i massively overpaid.

C***

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

AA do a check - but it costs.
Think of it as a little insurance policy

How much you looking to spend?
The more you spend, the more value there will be to having an impartial pro look it over.

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

HPI check!!! (Garages usually provide one for you)

I sold my car 2 weeks ago only to find out its a category D write off back in 2012 so i got £2000 less than it was worth! The best part about it? my own dad sold me the car his wife had written off and now he's refusing to pay me my money that i massively overpaid.

C***

Never buy from or sell to family .....
If something goes wrong, creates awkward times

 

[Whoislloydy]

Never buy from or sell to family .....
If something goes wrong, creates awkward times

you can say that again!

I bought it in good faith, also at the time he had 'misplaced' the service log. I never did get it, instead I had to contact BMW direct and they sent me invoices from each service they had on record and he went back to his garage and got invoices, 2014 and 2015 missing so it wasn't even FSH like he told me!!!

Worst part about it, i emigrate to Canada in 4 weeks today and that £2,000 is desperately needed!!!

 

[Whoislloydy]

AA do a check - but it costs.
Think of it as a little insurance policy

How much you looking to spend?
The more you spend, the more value there will be to having an impartial pro look it over.

I think the AA one is £14

 

[The Andy Naylor Fan Club]

I think the AA one is £14

Gone up a little

 

[WATFORD zero]

HPI check!!! (Garages usually provide one for you)

I sold my car 2 weeks ago only to find out its a category D write off back in 2012 so i got £2000 less than it was worth! The best part about it? my own dad sold me the car his wife had written off and now he's refusing to pay me my money that i massively overpaid.

C***

Obviously not in your situation, but if you're looking for a second hand car and are planning to keep it a long while (and run down the corresponding re-sell value), Cat Ds can represent very good buys.

 

[Chinman3000]

We are looking at buying a 2nd hand car, I will obviously see the vehicle and test drive it for 10-15 minutes but am wondering if there are any easy checks I can do whilst looking at the vehicle to spot any obvious problems or potential issues that the car may have. The car is from a dealer so will be sold with 12 months on the M.O.T.


Any NSC suggestions could help me avoid buying an expensive rust bucket

Hi mate, bought and sold a lot of 2nd hand cars, and I have listed some key checks below;

- Check when then cambelt (if not a cam chain) needs to be replaced on that model (google search) and if the milage has passed that point, make sure it has been or walk away. If the cam belt goes when you're driving it home, you've lost all your money. This is one of the most important checks.
- Check the paperwork, as it can save you having to do the more manual checks if anythings a miss. Read everything, make sure it makes sense, checks out - use common sense (simple stuff like does the service history match the car, is it consistent for the age?)
- Check all electrics: Lights, fans, windows, air con etc (basically press ever single switch)
- A new MOT should mean tyres, exhaust, brakes, bearings, and rust in the wrong places shouldn't be an immediate issue but you may want to check these yourself
- Is the engine cold when you get there? It should be, if not it may have problems starting.
- Run the engine and look and listen under the bonnet - should be smooth and quite, and relatively clean. Look for oil leaks.
- Drive it - check every gear, is everything smooth? No knocks noises out of place?
- Check panels, seats, carpets, wear and tear and use your gut feel. Does it fell like its been looked after?
- My text check - £3 and will make sure its not written off / stolen etc

 

[Whoislloydy]

Gone up a little

Ahh my mistake i thought he was talking about the AA HPI check which is £14

Obviously not in your situation, but if you're looking for a second hand car and are planning to keep it a long while (and run down the corresponding re-sell value), Cat Ds can represent very good buys.

I completely agree! I wouldn't of had any problem buying it if i paid the correct money for it!

It's a blinder of a car and the person who got it has a perfectly good car for a bargain price!!

 

[The Andy Naylor Fan Club]

Ahh my mistake i thought he was talking about the AA HPI check which is £14

Fair point. The AA do actually do comprehensive car checks from as little as £6. Good advice.

 

[DavidRyder]

If the back and front halves are different colours/makes, I'd avoid...

 

[wehatepalace]

Just remember an mot test is only to minimum standards, doesn’t necessarily mean your buying a decent car !

 

[Triggaaar]

I sold my car 2 weeks ago only to find out its a category D write off back in 2012 so i got £2000 less than it was worth! The best part about it? my own dad sold me the car his wife had written off and now he's refusing to pay me my money that i massively overpaid.

C***

I bought it in good faith, also at the time he had 'misplaced' the service log. I never did get it, instead I had to contact BMW direct and they sent me invoices from each service they had on record and he went back to his garage and got invoices, 2014 and 2015 missing so it wasn't even FSH like he told me!!!

WTF? How can a father want to **** over his own son?

 

[Perkino]

Lots of great advise, Thank you. I shall look for all these things and hopefully all will be fine

 

[lawros left foot]

And don't forget to kick the tyres, most important

 

[BN9 BHA]

And don't forget to kick the tyres, most important

I'm disappointed this thread got to 17 posts before that was mentioned.

 

[Perkino]

Hi mate, bought and sold a lot of 2nd hand cars, and I have listed some key checks below;

- Check when then cambelt (if not a cam chain) needs to be replaced on that model (google search) and if the milage has passed that point, make sure it has been or walk away. If the cam belt goes when you're driving it home, you've lost all your money. This is one of the most important checks.
- Check the paperwork, as it can save you having to do the more manual checks if anythings a miss. Read everything, make sure it makes sense, checks out - use common sense (simple stuff like does the service history match the car, is it consistent for the age?)
- Check all electrics: Lights, fans, windows, air con etc (basically press ever single switch)
- A new MOT should mean tyres, exhaust, brakes, bearings, and rust in the wrong places shouldn't be an immediate issue but you may want to check these yourself
- Is the engine cold when you get there? It should be, if not it may have problems starting.
- Run the engine and look and listen under the bonnet - should be smooth and quite, and relatively clean. Look for oil leaks.
- Drive it - check every gear, is everything smooth? No knocks noises out of place?
- Check panels, seats, carpets, wear and tear and use your gut feel. Does it fell like its been looked after?
- My text check - £3 and will make sure its not written off / stolen etc

I googled cam belt for that vehicle and it says 100,000 miles and I'm looking at something around the 40,000 mark. Just out of interest what potential problems could be caused by the cam belt going?

 

[BN9 BHA]

I googled cam belt for that vehicle and it says 100,000 miles and I'm looking at something around the 40,000 mark. Just out of interest what potential problems could be caused by the cam belt going?

I was advised that the cam belt should be changed before the milage stated if the vehicle gets to a certain age.
Think it was 80,000 miles or when the vehicle got to 8 years old, for my van.