Be wary of cars with poorly fitted aftermarket mobile
phone cradles, turbo gauges and stereo equipment.
Cars fitted with pearlescent paintwork,
sunroofs, BOSE audio and leather or
leather and alcantara combinations usually
command the highest prices.
Severe marks or holes in plastic trim can be costly to
repair and due to the overall high build quality of the
car, can be time consuming to replace resulting in hefty
bills.
Again, check that everything works – open the sunroof,
check the operation of the heated seats and the
ventilation. Check that the fine “fins” in the air
conditioning vents are not broken or damaged. Sit in
the back of the car and examine the headlining and map
pockets on the back of the front seats.
The car comes with four keys – two housing the remote
device for the alarm, a valet key which doesn’t open the
glove compartment, rear seats (saloon) or boot lid, and
an emergency wafer thin key that fits into a purse or
wallet. Make sure you have them all and ask the owner
if they have any copies that they need to give to you.
Check that the main keys operate all locks, including on
the saloon the locks for the fold down seats in the rear.
Examine the condition of the main keys, looking for
any cracks or tears in the plastic. Walk a distance away
from the car and check that the remote on the main key
will lock and open the car from at least the distance of a
couple of cars away – this will determine the condition
of the battery in the key.
Always be courteous. If you find a vehicle
you don’t like, explain politely to the owner
that it’s not quite what you’re looking for
and walk-away…
Ask the owner to show you the Radio and locking
wheel bolt codes. If they are unable to do so and
suggest that the dealership knows the codes, check with
the dealer before you commit yourself to any purchase.
Screening
In this day and age of uncertainty with high insurance
premiums, theft at an all time high and unscrupulous
individuals “ringing” and “chopping”, “cutting” and
“shutting”, you’ll want to know that the car you are
buying is not stolen, that it’s not an insurance write-off
and that it’s safe and poses no danger to you or your
friends and loved-ones.
In the US, and the UK, it’s possible to approach
agencies like
www.Carfax.com
and
www.HPI.co.uk
,
who check the history of vehicles nationwide.
Vehicle History Reports can reveal
important background information and
unearth hidden problems in a vehicle's past
which may affect its safety and resale value.
They can reveal using the seventeen-digit Vehicle
Identification Number the following types of risks:
•
Totalled in an accident or salvaged
•
Flood damage
•
Odometer rollbacks
•
Lemon histories
•
Emissions inspection results
•
Lien/Finance activity
•
Vehicle usage (taxi, rental, lease, etc.)
Before you purchase any vehicle, it’s always wise to
use such an agency to verify the authenticity of your
intended purchase.
Ensure you are comfortable before committing to any deal
A time to buy…
After you’ve researched a vehicle to your satisfaction,
you’ll now be in a position to make the transaction.
When you visit the car, check that it’s in the same
condition as when you last saw it. Check that the
owner hasn’t removed anything essential such as tools,
decals or what was originally interpreted as part of the
deal. Check that the tyres haven’t been swapped or
changed and that there has been no new damage
sustained since your last inspection
