I am going to look at a car tomorrow but don't really know what to look out for, I have done the text check thing and it all checks out well. The car has 12 months mot which is good but I kinda need a check list for other stuff, its an auto box if that makes a difference too. I know gooey white stuff in the head is bad as is blue smoke. Cheers for any help.
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what to look out for when buying an old car?
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Posted 1 year ago #
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look at tyres,excessive wear on the steering wheel(could be clocked) turn the steering lock to lock,any noise and it may spell trouble...do you have a mate whos a mech? if so bring him along
Posted 1 year ago # -
If it's parked on the road -
- look out for buses coming past while you bend down and check the tyres. They might run you over.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Posted 1 year ago #
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Gat a mate to go see it about an hour before you do (preferably one who knows a bit about cars), get hime to tell the owner a great list of what's wrong with it (in a nice way) and then offer half the asking price.
When you go along and offer 3/4 of the price it'll seem like a great deal to the seller
Posted 1 year ago # -
Look at the badges on the back. If it says Peugot, Renault, Ford, Citroen or Fiat, don't buy it. If it says Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, Seat, Skoda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda or Volvo they you're good.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Blue cars tend to be more reliable than red ones.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Molgrips
I've bought a Ford today and am selling a Nissan
Nissan Micra anyone - 1998 57k economical and ultra reliable £950 ono.Seriously though Larry, if you don't know much about cars take along someone who does or even get an AA check. It will probably save you a fortune in the long run. What are you looking at ?
Posted 1 year ago # -
check the oil, check for rust inc under the car, turn the steering wheel full left to full right listen for noise and 'feel' if it feels right, start it up and listen to the engine should idle at a even pace. prob loads more but that should do... dont kick the tyres check for tread depth instead! oh and try and give the exhaust a look over check for noise when you start it. if he starts the radio when you start the engine be suspicious and turn volume off!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Check the chassis VIN matches the V5, and that there are no welds holding front & rear of the car together.
Posted 1 year ago # -
google the make and model for common faults and then do the checks above.
If its warm when you turn the ignition, walk away, he's obviously warmed it up so you don't hear how terrible it sounds cold or see all the blue smoke!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I went to look at a car today and based on that look out for:
- Misaligned panels. This may mean the car may have been in a prang and repaired on the cheap. This can be confirmed by...
- Tyres being worn on one side suggesting the car pulls to one side which can be checked by...
- The car wanting to plant itself in the kerb when i let the steering wheel go.
- The handbrake moving from side to side suggesting it needs to be bolted down properly.
- Rust bubbles.
- Lots of filler in the wheel arches.
- etc.
In summary. Do not buy this car.
Posted 1 year ago # -
re Molgrips post
I would not be so sure about the Merc, VW and BMW being a sign of a good car,working in the rental car game, they are not our #1 car on the fleetPosted 1 year ago # -
I always look for jazz mags under the boot carpet.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Coolent conditon and any rust, black water, or crap in there might suggest not serviced or leaky head gasket-check with mayo on oil cap which gets wiped off before you arrive.
Oh how I enjoyed arriving at the seller and catching him warming up the car...
Posted 1 year ago # -
have a look at honestjohn.co.uk there's a car by car breakdown in there which lists all the models, specs etc but also common faults.
Posted 1 year ago # -
jd-boy - when it comes to old cheap cars (ie sub £600 ish) it's basically VW. Their older ones are better than the other makes I guess. I really don't know about merc and BMW truth be told.
Me and my sister both practised bangernomics for quite a while. She always spent the same money as me but on heaps of crap, whereas my cars were all great. The secret? Mine were VWs, hers were Ford, Fiat, Vauxhall etc.
Talking about 15 year old cars now btw.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Lift the carpet up in the boot and check for any evidence that its been rear-ended and straightened.
Ask him straight up - has it been crashed?
Why are you selling?
Receipts for work done?Its rare to find an old car with a FSH but I'd expect to see a fair bit of SH receipts.
Magnet - run it along the panels (assuming they're not plastic) checking for excessive filler.
You're checking out the person as well as the car. If you trust the person, you're half-way there.
I'd recommend taking a pre made check list - its likely you'll forget something in the heat of the moment.
Posted 1 year ago # -
You would have been better stating the make, model & asking price really.
Posted 1 year ago # -
any component that may have come from the cover of Max Power?
MoT will suggest it is structually sound, especially if it is a recent issue, check for any advisories, after that it is mechanical and finish, not a lot of experience of auto boxes, but they are better suited to bigger engines.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Look at the windows and check that they are all the original, of one make eg Pilkington, Sekurit etc ,
If it has been in a bad smash and then repaired Cat 2 writeoff then it may have odd windows.
Check the number plates. If they have the name of the original garage that sold it new, that can be a good sign. If the front is new then maybe the car has been in a front end smash (maybe not , could be just a new plate).
There are plenty of things to look at before getting in the car or even starting the engine.
If it is raining and the car is wet then come back another day in the dry and look at the paint, do all the panels colour match if not walk away or run away if you prefer.Posted 1 year ago # -
Do a HPI check.
Posted 1 year ago # -
footprints on the roof lining
Posted 1 year ago # -
Check the MOT history for FREE online at the VOSA website.
Posted 1 year ago #
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