5 MISTAKES Everyone Makes When BUYING A USED CAR

[@kevdawson7167]

There’s absolutely no way of being sure when buying a used car. I recently bought a Volvo V70…paid for a full HPI report; immaculate MOT history, only 2 previous owners, no previous write offs. I visually inspected the car; no froth under oil cap, oil between mid/max, no defects or rust, no obvious fluid leaks. Test drove immaculately, no knocks, no crunchy gear changes, no black smoke in high revs. It had extensive service history; stamps coming out of its ears. Cambelt change 16k miles ago. It also drove flawlessly 35 miles to my home on national roads. The same day I got it home, it kept cutting out a few hours later. After being taken for a diagnostic at main dealer, the Volvo techs couldn’t find fault with it *so I definitely wasn’t going to be able to* was quoted £1,600 for an auto electrician job. I hate cars, and I abhor car salespeople. Biggest rip off merchants, behind Vets.

[@sisyphussapprentice8976]

And don't forget the wretched "cam-belt" change. A lot of the cheap end of the market cars are sold because the belt replacement is long overdue, and the cost can be quite high depending on make and model. So if it hasn't been done, either walk away, or risk driving it home before the belt eventually gives up the ghost.

[@sdry1688]

Another good tip about tyres - and the older the car the more it works. Look for 4 matching branded tyres, it shows the last owner cared about it. if you see 4 different tyres of nondescript brands, it shows the owner was looking after the pennies more than the car.

[@mickelm.3944]

Here in Finland there's an option to order a detailed car history for couple of euros, it shows inspection records, ownerships, insurance. Think it's very useful to check if the inspection has been failed often and if the car had many owners in short period of time. First I usually dig info through mymotorlist to get some engine pros and cons, and VIN-decoder shows the trim level and list of accessories of the car. I check the availability for the car parts just in case too. I bought my 2009 Honda Jazz after watching your vids 🤓

[@martinholmes1493]

Do an MOT history check online. It only takes a couple of minutes, but you can make sure the mileage matches up, and see all the cars previous MOT`s and what it might have failed on previously, and any advisories it currently has.

[@sisyphussapprentice8976]

Sound advice. Unfortunately DVLA will block you if you check to many vehicles. Why? I have no idea, but there are one or two other firms that supply the necessary information.

[@DwaynePipes]

Interesting. Do you know what the trigger point is for too many? ​@@sisyphussapprentice8976

[@Davey25]

Great information, the 1st thing i do is make sure the car ain't been warmed up b4 i get there, ive viewed loads that have been warmed up so i just walked straight away.

[@davidmehlhorn726]

I service my own car and so I keep the receipts for the parts I put into it. In my humble opinion, anyone who services their own car has more incentive to make sure it’s done right, unlike a main dealer whose mechanics don’t give a toss……ask me how I know🙄

[@kevinmcarthur1690]

How'd you know?

[@boabm6522]

Would take a folder of reciepts over a couple stamps any day.

[@davidmehlhorn726]

@@kevinmcarthur1690 😂ok I asked for that😂. Seriously though, in my 20’s, I used to leave my first cars into dealerships for servicing. I got the cars back with work undone (but billed for), items missing like dipstick, oil filler cap, undertray not replaced or left hanging down, sump plug washer not replaced resulting in oil leaking out, caliper slide pins not greased resulting in callipers binding and premature wear on pads and discs etc etc etc.

[@davidmehlhorn726]

@@boabm6522 Same here mate but some people are fixated on dealer stamps in the maintenance book.

[@kevinmcarthur1690]

@@davidmehlhorn726 Yeah I know, put my car into a trusted garage for a 50K service and the previous owner was led up the garden path .... Nothing had been done yet they'd paid.

[@numberstation]

If you have the slightest concern about a car, WALK AWAY. You’ll never forgive yourself for buying a lemon.

[@phile3131]

A lot of cars these days don't have a service book to get stamped, the service records are in the dashboard electronically. It's a clever tactic by the dealers/manufacturers because it encourages people to get their servicing done by a main dealer which is of course much more expensive.

[@victormillward]

Great tips. Thank you

[@KipKippax]

Common sense of course most of it ,but its so easy to get caught up in the moment when viewing a car your looking to buy !

[@vspencer9764]

You forgot the most important and that’s the 3B’s and that’s NEVER buy a car from Birmingham, Bradford or Bangladesh.

[@raftonpounder6696]

Very good advice. Thank you.

[@boabm6522]

Always come armed with prybar and torch, I love finding things wrong as I take garage repair costs from price then fix myself.

[@bazzbazz8839]

I would add that a very important check is that the chassis and engine numbers match the v5 and the reg number on the car matches the v5. There is no point in checking the number plate on all the websites in the world if it is the wrong number! It is easy and cheap for anyone to get a number plate made up and stick it on the car, you check the reg number and it isn't the car you are looking at. Yes the chassis number plates can be changed but on modern cars they are usually in at least two places so check they match each other and the V5. Any evidence of tampering, new paint etc around the chassis numbers and walk away. Websites have the locations for the plates.

[@multirole240]

Another way to check the clutch is try pulling away with the handbrake on.

[@Barbarapape]

One that i would like to add is once you are satisfied that the car is all the buyer claims that it is pay for an engineers report, these online checks are only as accurate as the information available to them. Undisclosed accident damage is very common, i was a victim of this with a brand new car. Service books can be fakes, so as advised, no supporting invoices then walk away.

[@lawrencepardoe3646]

thankyee for the tips

[@bordersw1239]

Even worse is helping your children to buy a car - basically they don’t give a toss, as long as it’s got a touch screen 😂

[@paul-k5q5z]

great advice ive bought some lemons i regret..

[@chemicalyinbalanced]

I darent even buy a car at the minute!! I don't have a massive Budget (£8k-9K) but I thought I would of been able to get a decentish car. Everytime I find a car that i think i want, I find out it has a massive amount of issues! I was set on getting an Astra K 1.4 turbo, heard now that they are terrible cars!! Might get a push bike and a trailer!!

[@Cookieguy97]

That's a decent budget. You must be able to get something like a mazda 3 skyactive petrol (don't look at diesel mazdas) Skoda octavia, suzuki swift sport or other Japanese cars. But it's good you've done the checks and avoided bad cars

[@JamesBartlett-n6e]

Don't buy a car in the rain as you can't see the 'real' condition of the paintwork. A good owner will have a clean engine bay. ALWAYS give the cars steering wheel, controls a good clean after buying too. 👍 People are mucky

[@24bellers20]

If the history is online get them to print it off. It only takes 2 minutes.

[@BenendiktaAndreas]

I like the video.