When wheels
are essential and your budget is tight, it’s time to learn how to sniff out a
bargain – and a reliable one at that.
An Experian
survey[1]
has shown that 13 per cent of us buy bargain basement used cars. Predictably,
many of these are young drivers who simply can’t afford to pay more, with 28
per cent of 18-25-year-olds spending less than £2,000.
These simple
precautions could help to sift the old bangers out from the workhorses that
will keep you mobile for years to come.
1. Research your makes and models
in advance
You may be
seduced by the idea of a sexy coupé or a hot hatch but there’s no point buying
one if you can’t afford the running costs. Check reliability ratings, fuel
economy and the cost of parts, servicing and insurance before you begin your
search. If you still don’t know where to start, the top three picks in the
Vehicle Check survey were the Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus and Vauxhall Corsa.
2. Don’t judge a book by its
cover…
…or a car by
its shiny paintwork and list of extras – unlike the 14 per cent of people in
Wales who told the survey they were happy to buy on the basis of online details
alone. The most common checks are on bodywork, tyres, the exhaust, the engine,
the clutch, the brakes and the interior. Even so, eight per cent of buyers said
that sellers did not admit to faulty parts.
3. Call in the experts
A good
mechanic (friends and family count) should be able to spot potentially
expensive problems. If you’re not an expert, join the 30 per cent of drivers
who call one in when they’re keen on a used car. Unsurprisingly, women are more
likely to turn to the experts – 33 per cent of them bring in a mechanic,
against 28 per cent of men. You can use what you learn to drive down the price.
4. Budget for repairs and
replacement parts
Almost 60
per cent of buyers had to pay for some repairs or replacement parts within 12
months of getting a new (to them) used car. Tyres top the list at 34 per cent,
followed by brakes and batteries at 13 per cent each, so it’s worth finding out
what these would cost in advance and factoring them into the price you’re
prepared to pay.
5. Uncover any nasty secrets in
its past
What if the
car has been stolen, clocked or is a write-off? Worse, it could be what’s known
as a cut and shut – a potentially life-threatening hybrid made of chunks of two
separate cars welded together. Find out – and join the 45 per cent of used car
buyers who commission a vehicle history report – with a Vehicle Check report,
which includes 26 different checks with more than 20 sources, including the
police, DVLA and insurers – to help you buy that car with confidence.
Get your car checked out
You can take
steps to ensure you have a clear understanding of the car’s history by carrying
out a full Vehicle Check report. It could help protect
you from potential hidden pitfalls, such as cars that are currently listed as
stolen or have existing damages through being written off, and can tell you
whether a car has outstanding finance recorded against it.[2]
Some vehicle history checks do not include critical issues such as mileage,
outstanding finance and other high risk factors.
Many
of us have a particular model in mind when we’re choosing a used car, but
before you fall too much in love with the car of your dreams, ensuring
everything is in tip-top condition by completing a full Vehicle Check report
will give you confidence in what you are about to purchase.
[1] July 2012: Experian AutoCheck Used Car Report: Based on
a survey of 1,800 used car owners who have bought a used car from a private
seller in the last 18 months, this report is the first of what will be an
annual investigation into the private used car marketplace.
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