| A second hand car is the way that most people | | | | check they work. |
| will buy their transport but buying a cheap used | | | | 6. Tyres. All the tyres should be able to fit a |
| car can be a minefield and all sorts of problems | | | | twenty pence into the tread, if not then they will |
| can occur. Everything from dodgy paintwork to | | | | need replacing, this could be costly. |
| cranky engines and leaking oil is to be expected. | | | | 7. Bodywork. Have a good close up look at the |
| Here is a list of the top ten things to look out for | | | | body work; it's very easy to hide reasonably bad |
| when buying a cheap used car. | | | | scratches with t-cut. Any dents should be easily |
| 1. Check the papers. Check that all the paper | | | | visible upon close inspection. |
| work actually matches up with the car that is | | | | 8. The mileage. In an older car it often very hard |
| being presented. | | | | to determine if the mileage has been fiddled with. |
| 2. The engine. Try and get there 30 minutes | | | | Ask the owner if they have any older MOT |
| before the appointment so that the owner | | | | certificates which may have a mileage reading on |
| doesn't have chance to warm up the engine. | | | | them. |
| Check for blue smoke out of the exhaust at | | | | 9. Check the interior for any cigarette burns in |
| start up. This would indicate an oil problem and | | | | the carpet and seats, repairing these will be |
| could be costly. Listen for engine noise, if the | | | | expensive and most of the time just not practical. |
| engine sounds like it is running to fast the clutch is | | | | 10. Electrics. Check that all the knobs and buttons |
| likely to be on its way out. | | | | function correctly on the dashboard, switch the |
| 3. Exhaust and gearbox. The exhaust note should | | | | main lights on with the engine running and press |
| be fairly quite, if not it could have a hole in it | | | | the brake pedal, the lights should not dim, if they |
| somewhere. The gears should slip into gear easily | | | | do it is likely that the battery is dodgy or it could |
| and should not need forcing at all. | | | | be the alternator. |
| 4. Check the brakes are working. Find a steep hill | | | | Buying a cheap second hand car is often the best |
| and check that the hand brake stops you rolling | | | | of not only method of obtaining your transport |
| away. | | | | and it is usually the most economical. Ask plenty |
| 5. Lights. Turn all the lights on and walk around the | | | | of questions and never part with your hard |
| car checking that they are all working. Get | | | | earned cash unless you are 100% satisfied that |
| somebody else to press the brake pedal and | | | | this is the car for you. |