Buying A Second Hand Car

**PRC1964** · 16 March 2009, 22:40

Originally posted by kaiser78 View Post

I need to...what should I be looking for when I inspect a second hand car ?

Count the wheels. If there are fewer than four, back away from the deal.

On a more serious note, if you have to ask a bunch of internet geeks what to look for in a second hand car, you should probably be looking at this http://www.theaa.com/car-data-checks/ rather than CUK.

**vetran** · 16 March 2009, 22:48

Giyf

A number of sites have checklists, parkers, glasses etc. and idea of prices.

One has a model specific checklist can't remember which may have been money saving expert or Parkers. Obviously these are just used to weed out the dross (so you can spot the obvious faults) before paying a professional to check it over. I preferred the RAC they seemed to do a better job than the AA.

**Grinder** · 16 March 2009, 22:51

One crucial question is how much are you spending?

**BoredBloke** · 16 March 2009, 22:58

check out honestjohn.co.uk - they do a car by car breakdown listing what's good and bad. Look for the bad stuff!

**scooterscot** · 16 March 2009, 23:00

Originally posted by kaiser78 View Post

I need to...what should I be looking for when I inspect a second hand car ?

A driver

**swamp** · 16 March 2009, 23:32

Condition of the spare tyre.

Like the toilets on a contract site, it tells you everything you need to know about the car.

**scooterscot** · 17 March 2009, 00:07

Originally posted by swamp View Post

Condition of the spare tyre.

Like the toilets on a contract site, it tells you everything you need to know about the car.

And the coffee don't forget about tasting the coffee...

**DimPrawn** · 17 March 2009, 07:42

Originally posted by kaiser78 View Post

I need to...what should I be looking for when I inspect a second hand car ?

For me, what is the seller like (applies to private and garage). Decent cars are sold by decent people.

Service history. Has the car been serviced on time by a reputable specialist or main dealer.

Ring the garage that has serviced the car and make sure they know it.

Check the car out https://www.mytextcheck.com/

Read up on the car here http://www.whatcar.com/valuations.aspx

Check it has a long MOT and has no obvious faults. Test drive it a long way in different traffic conditions.

**Churchill** · 17 March 2009, 07:43

Originally posted by Grinder View Post

One crucial question is how much are you spending?

And how much is your house worth?

Churchill - In "Daily Mail reader" mode!

Buying A Second Hand Car