What To Look For When Buying Used

george7 · 27-09-2010, 11:02 PM

At the moment i'm looking at buying my first car, and i'm looking at all used cars as they are much cheaper.

I don't really know much about cars, and it's too hard to get my mechanic to come with me all around melbourne to check out every car i'm interested in.

I'm going to try get something for a good price, not looking to spend over 8000 and then anything wrong with it the mechannic can fix. I'm hoping there is nothing major wrong with it that i miss. I also go with my grandpa who used to be a mechanic but that was about 30 years ago so he doesn't know as much about some of the newer cars.

What are some major areas i should check out that are easy to recognise problems with.

So far, i know i'll be checking for rust, condition of tyres, scratches, how easily gears change (manual), condition of interior, whether it seems like it was owned by a smoker, burnt rubber under the guards. but what else should i check?

help much appreciated as i'm going to check out a car from a dealer tommorrow with hail damage, apparently its only minor and its roadworthy and got a VIV, so if everythings good ill probably buy it.

What to look out for?

Auslandau · 27-09-2010, 11:35 PM

Depends on what you are looking for in a car? An AU has different issues to BA or an EL to an EA? Older car or an import? 4x4 or sedan? 1.5ltr or V8? Manual or auto?

IF you are looking at a newer FORD .... the cosmetic things noted above are easily picked and of course would go along way towards your decision.

Main things with newer cars is a service history, miles (country or city) and the condition of the car in comparison. A car with 120k's on the clock with worn seats and steering wheel might tell you a bit of its history.

george7 · 27-09-2010, 11:44 PM

yea, i'll look at log books and stuff.

also since the car i'm looking at has hail damage and has now got a roadworthy and VIV. that means it was a writeoff doesn't it?

is insurance more on a car that was a writeoff or doesn't that matter? thats what i was told

Auslandau · 28-09-2010, 12:03 AM

Yes ... VIV means the car was a legal repaired write off. Shouldn't be a problem as it has a roadworthy. You can check with RTA to see if all is clear. With any insurance just ask your insurer before or at the time of buying. They will tell you if there is a premium but I would be surprised that there is a premium for this. A repaired write off with a RWC should be the same and back to the standard of any other car. Also the g'ment in Vic changes the rules regarding write offs due to hail a few months ago.

2002au · 28-09-2010, 07:58 AM

what sort of cars are you interested in?

george7 · 28-09-2010, 12:34 PM

i'm looking at a AU II XR6 VCT
a manual one too.

they seem to be pretty reasonably priced for what seems like a good car.

2002au · 28-09-2010, 04:29 PM

sounds good mate, they are a good car. i got my series 3 au xr6 manual for $8990 and thats my first car