Are
you about to buy a used vehicle and are you only planning to look at
the general appearance of the car? Do you think buying a car is the same
as shopping for used laundry at a thrift store?
You may be wrong, there are several details to check! Complete checks of your used car are essential.
The bodywork
When you go to see the car that makes your heart beat, you may be in for a nasty surprise. The condition of the vehicle in question, on the ad, may have appeared impeccable when you viewed it. When you finally see the car in real life, defects are apparent! But the hell, is it the same car? Sometimes, some owners deliberately hide several imperfections. So they can take photos from certain angles to show the vehicle in its best light. Likewise, you may discover that some repairs were done too quickly and poorly on the car.
Take the trouble to approach the vehicle to see if there is:
- Some scratches
- A peeling paint
- rust
- Bumps
- Etc.
- The more time you take, the better!
Brakes and mechanics
During the test drive of the car you plan to buy, take the time to brake often and fairly hard. Pay attention to noise, pedal response and braking power.
The signs that the brakes are at the end of their life are mainly abnormal noises. You can detect these noises with:
- A sharp screech of the brakes when you brake
- Hissing brakes while driving
- The brake pedal that seems to go all the way to the bottom
Another very important part: the mechanics. Mileage is the indicator of the distance traveled by the car in question.
On the other hand, a well-maintained machine will necessarily last longer than a machine with fewer kilometers on the clock, but whose maintenance has been neglected.
Before buying a used car, have a pre-purchase inspection at a trusted garage. For a good mechanical inspection, budget at least $75-250, and make sure that the inspection service or garage has good customer reviews (Google, Trustpilot, Yelp, etc.).
If you don't want to waste time, you can check our Kiwiz inspection service.
The signs that the mechanics are at the end of their life are:
- The “check engine” light is on in the instrumentation
- Presence of strange smells in the car
- Oil loss (oil puddle on the floor)
- Power loss
- Unusual noises (popping, banging)
The accessories
Modern vehicles are full of new technologies and gadgets. Even if you're shopping for a used vehicle, remember that it's not just new vehicles that have them. So, be sure to carefully review and inspect the many controls inside.
The most important are:
- Window controls (if electric)
- Mirror controls (if electric)
- The infotainment system (the central screen, if the vehicle is equipped with one)
- The sunroof control (if the vehicle is equipped with one)
- The handbrake
So try to walk around the vehicle, taking care to try out all the controls and functions within your reach!
The former owner
Try to gather as much information as possible about the previous owner. If he is the one who sells you the car directly, ask him as many questions as possible. Among other things, ask him what trip he took with the car, if he had an accident, if there were major repairs to be made, if there were mechanical problems, how did he maintain his vehicle , if he has done all oil changes, etc. The previous owner is the only person who knows the vehicle you want to buy inside and out.
Don't forget to ask questions like: why are you selling your vehicle or, if the price seems low, why sell it in such good condition at such a low price. You can also find out about their driving style. If the previous owner doesn't convince you at all about purchasing his used vehicle, tell yourself that there are plenty of other vehicles on the market. Do not panic.
Interview evidence
One detail that you can often forget, but which is no less important, is the interview history. Having already mentioned in one of our previous articles, maintaining a used vehicle is the key to longevity.
If the previous owner did not carry out one or certain required maintenance on the vehicle or is not able to provide you with proof of the maintenance, be on your guard. The owner could be hiding something from you and it will therefore be up to you to cover the repairs.
Someone close to you or your family selling their car can be a very good purchase given your proximity to it. An owner who wants to sell his vehicle quickly might offer you a car with a broken part or you might be forced to do unscheduled maintenance that wasn't done. Leave the lemons aside and ask for proof of maintenance.
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