Random: Car buying guide | Useful tips when buying a used car

The definitive
used car buying guide

With the amount of used cars being sold at the moment, choosing the right car can be difficult. Here are 5 steps that, if followed, are sure to alleviate the process of buying a used car.

1. Research

The first step of the car buying process is the one that can save a most of the budget and it involves doing some homework. The internet and it's vast amounts of knowledge can be used to obtain all of the information ever disclosed about a particular vehicle. There are hundreds of specialized forums where detailed information can be found about the possible weak spots of the car of  choice. These forums also have a dedicated classifieds section where the cars for sale are owned and maintained by enthusiasts making them a recommended buy. Websites like Honest John are also helpful because they are filled with customer reviews. However, the people that are happy with the car much less likely to write that the ones who have problems.

2. Finance

After you have chosen your vehicle it is time to sort out the finance. From my experience I have found that the most well looked after and reasonably priced cars are sold at Car&Classic and Piston Heads . The large used car dealers with inflated prices reside at AutoTrader and by far the cheapest and probably worst maintained vehicles are at Gumtree and, of course, Ebay. It is very important to get the insurance quote and tax costs before you buy because the insurance on many occasion can be more expensive than the car. For a 1999 Volvo 850 T5 I got quoted £88,000! For a car that costs 800£.

3. 4 questions to ask the seller.

1 Does the car have full service history?

Every car requires some work during its exploitation so if the car you're looking at is a few years old it is expected that it comes with a folder full of receipts for work and parts and also old MOTs.

2 Does the car have a V5C registration document?

This document shows the registered keeper and not the legal owner. If the registration document is not present the seller has no evidence that he is the registered keeper.

3 Was the car serviced regularly?

Things such as oil, filters and spark-plugs should be changed regularly and the seller should be able to provide some proof that they have been changed. Also the cam belt needs to be changed according to vehicle manufacturer guidelines and if it is not changed then there is a risk of it snapping and doing around a thousand pounds in damage.

4 Has the car had any major services done?

Many cars have flawed parts from the factory that tend to break. Take for example the notorious BMW swirl flaps. So if you are buying a BMW from the 2000s it is important to know if the previous owner has removed the swirl flaps. The same goes for any other car with an inborn defect from the factory.

4 Visual Inspection

The next thing you should do is have a good look of the car. Avoid viewing a car if it is raining or it is getting dark. Water hides scratches,dents and other problems. It goes without saying that you should be able to view the vehicle from all angles.

The first thing you should look at is if the paint on all the panels matches. Different shades of the paint is a tell tell sign of accident damage. Look for larger than normal panel gaps and make sure the bumpers are firmly secured to the car and not botched up.

If the engine bay is suspiciously clean the owner might be trying to hide fluid leaks. A check under the bonnet after a test drive should reveal any problems.  Look underneath the car for fluid leaks and accident damage. Make sure that the exhaust is not too corroded. Take a look at the tire as well, if they are worn unequally then there is an alignment issue with the car. If the tires have low thread this can be used as a point when haggling for the price as new tires are quite expensive. Under the bonnet, check the oil, water and brake fluids.

 Inside check if the A/C and all of the electronics work.If you suspect the car has been “clocked” check the steering wheel, driver's seat bolster and the gear lever for any signs of wear that should not be present at the given mileage of the car. Seats can be cleaned or even replaced but headlining can not. So if there are any mysterious stains on the headlining ask the seller why they are there.

5 Test drive

To check the mechanical condition of any car it is best to take it for a test drive. The test drive is also useful to check if the vehicle suits your expectations. Here are some questions that every buyer should ask themselves when on a test drive.

• Is the driving position good?
• Are all controls easy to operate and to reach?
• Is the bootspace enough for your needs?
• Is the all round vision good?

Aim to test drive the car for at least an hour on different roads and listen for any odd clunks or noises. The gears should engage smoothly and without crunching. The bite of the clutch shouldn't be above the middle. And lastly use any information you've obtained from the forum to identify any potential weak spots.