Before you buy Know what you want and do test drives at a car yard. Big or small, manual or automatic - whatever you decide upon, get it checked mechanically by the motoring organisation in your state before handing over the cash. Talk to their mechanics about reliable models and their assessors about which are the cheapest models to fix. Avoid a car that's high in kilometres and use a magnet on the panels to see if they've been repaired. Magnets won't stick to body filler. See if there are books for its history and check for rust, as a little rust on the surface can hide a lot beneath the paint. Look for oil leaks - ask for the car to be cold when you try it the first time. Check the tyres (including the spare) for tread and make sure there is a jack. One careful owner Everyone wants to buy a used car from a 'little old lady', so check if your local retirement village has a notice board that you can browse. You could also try placing a 'wanted' ad there. Do your research When you're looking to buy a car, be sure to compare price, condition and demand for what you are looking for. Start with finding out what the going price is for the make and model you're interested in. You can't bargain if you don't have this starting point. Seek out the bargains If you're not fussed about what colour your car is, you could purchase a demonstration car at dealerships' end-of-year run outs. They usually have low kilometres, so you get an almost-new car for less! Ask mechanics Your local mechanic is often aware of cars for sale and if they've worked on the vehicle they'll know its history. You can be fairly sure the mechanic won't lead you astray because the only thing he has to gain is a loyal customer. |
