Buyer's Guides
Checking the car
Four wheels? Check. Engine works? Ditto. That's that then. Er, no - a more thorough inspection is in order, even if the seller is your great aunt Dorothy's bestest church-going friend.
To make sure you don't get stung, follow these basic steps:
Step 1
Look along the car's flanks for dings and dents, check the bumpers for scrapes, and scrutinise the wheels for kerb contact. Is the paint a consistent shade all over? Any of these can show a careless owner and offer a bargaining point to help lower the price.
Step 2
Does it look too shiny? What's the seller trying to hide. Honest grime is no bad thing, but look for excessive oil or fluid leaks - from the car, not the seller.
To make sure you don't get stung, follow these basic steps:
Step 1
Look along the car's flanks for dings and dents, check the bumpers for scrapes, and scrutinise the wheels for kerb contact. Is the paint a consistent shade all over? Any of these can show a careless owner and offer a bargaining point to help lower the price.
Step 2
Does it look too shiny? What's the seller trying to hide. Honest grime is no bad thing, but look for excessive oil or fluid leaks - from the car, not the seller.
Step 3
Some rust will be obvious to spot, but feel under the wheelarches, doors and bumpers for rough edges - a ginger finger will give the game away. While you're crawling around, look at the tyres for excessive or uneven wear.
Step 4
Inside, does it reek of a chain smoker? Does the general wear and tear tally up with the car's mileage? Worn seats and shiny steering wheel and pedals on a low mileage car are giveaways.
Step 5
Make like a curious child and press every button to see all of the electrics work, and listen out for any rattles or unusual noises on the test drive.
Step 6
Take a lengthy test-drive. Look, listen and smell for anything untoward. And don't fall into the trap of paying for fuel for a seller because the needle is further south than Antarctica.
Still confused? Then print out the checklist coming up next and take it with you.
Some rust will be obvious to spot, but feel under the wheelarches, doors and bumpers for rough edges - a ginger finger will give the game away. While you're crawling around, look at the tyres for excessive or uneven wear.
Step 4
Inside, does it reek of a chain smoker? Does the general wear and tear tally up with the car's mileage? Worn seats and shiny steering wheel and pedals on a low mileage car are giveaways.
Step 5
Make like a curious child and press every button to see all of the electrics work, and listen out for any rattles or unusual noises on the test drive.
Step 6
Take a lengthy test-drive. Look, listen and smell for anything untoward. And don't fall into the trap of paying for fuel for a seller because the needle is further south than Antarctica.
Still confused? Then print out the checklist coming up next and take it with you.