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Keepyour feet on the ground
Weall have a dream car that we secretly long for. Maybe it's a 1968 MG soft-topor a sexy two-door sportster.Dream cars are rarely practical and like most of us with families, a two-doorsportster just won't do the job. Think about what you really need to use thecar for. Do you need to load it up with shopping? Are you planning to use itfor driving holidays with the wife and two kids? If you have small children, dothe buggy boot test. If it doesn't fit, the car just isn't suited to yourneeds. Will your new car increase your premiums?
Useyour head and not your heart when making a decision and ask yourself the hardquestions before you decide to buy.
Knowledgeis power
Knowledgeis power when you're shopping for a second hand car. Take a test kit with youwhen you have a look at a potential motor. Use a mirror and torch to look forrust and damage under the chassis.
Takea magnet with you to test the bodywork. If the magnet doesn't stick to thebodywork there may have been sub-standard repairs done to it with plasticfiller. The magnet test is not foolproof as some cars are built with plasticpanels. Do some research on the model and make of the car before you go see it.If you have a friend or relative that is a bit of a car buff, take them with you for extra support andvaluable advice.
Brushup on your reading
Drivinga car is the easy part. But do you know what goes on under the hood? Do youknow how much a second hand car should cost? If not, fortunately there is awide range of price guides out there to help you. Price guides will tell you exactlyhow much you should be paying based on the car's model, age, mileage andcolour. They also give you vital information about depreciation.
Youneed to factor in the cost of repairs to the car, motor insurance premiums andhow much spare parts will set you back. Re
Whento car hunt
Lookingfor a car can be tiring so don't go when you're feeling under the weather. Youcould end up buying a car you don't really want or paying more for the carbecause you don't feel like haggling.
Picka day when the weather is fine. It's easier to spot faults in daylight.
Whereto buy
Auctionsare not for the fainthearted. Avoid them unless you know your way around a car.
Youcan pick up a great bargain in the small ads. The only downside is that youhave little redress if something goes wrong with the car. Also, watch out forthe same telephone number on a number of different ads. This could be a privatetrader masquerading as a private seller.
Buyingfrom a franchised dealership is one of the safest options. They have areputation to uphold so they are not likely to rip you off. However, if have acomplaint with your car, you can speak to the manufacturer.
Lastbut not least, you can find a bargain on the Internet. Companies like are known for offering greatdiscounts.
Checkunder the hood
Hereare some easy checks you can do to test the quality of the car.
? Checkthe tyres. Uneven wear could mean there's a problem with the suspension.
? Smokefrom the exhaust is not a good sign.
? Checkthe oil. Pull out the dipstick and if the oil is sludgy, it could mean theengine's tired and/or has not been maintained properly.
? Alwaystake the car for a test drive. The only way to test the power steering is todrive the car.
? Makesure all the electric windows and the stereo system work.
Dealingwith the seller
Learnas much as you can about the car you want to buy and take that knowledge withyou. You will earn the seller's respect and put yourself in a strongernegotiating position.
Watchthe seller's body language when you are checking out the car. If you?rechecking the tyre tread and the seller's rattling on about boot space, he/shemight be trying to hide something.
Whennegotiating, always start lower than the asking price. If that doesn't go down toowell with the seller then point out any faults and repairs that need doing tojustify your offer. If you start low, you can slowly move up to the price youare willing to pay. If you start high, there's no room for negotiation.
Buywith your eyes wide open
Rathererr on the side of caution when you're buying a second hand car. An estimatedone in three second hand cars have a dodgy history. You don't want tohand over your hard-earned cash to find out later that the car is stolen orthere is finance still owing on it. Ifthis is the case, you won't get your money back. Get an expert to check thecar's history and a get full mechanical inspection done before you buy. Ifyou're not happy with the results, walk away from the deal.
Top5 buying tips
? If youare buying privately, always meet the seller at their home. Look out for signsthat the seller is a trader. Loads of spare tyres and tools lying around are a deadgiveaway.
? Womenare often better and braver at bargaining so if you can, let her do thehaggling.
? Alwayscheck the car's history. You can do this at .
? Checkthat all the locks match. Thieves will change locks that they have had to breakto steal a car. Then again, the seller may have a legitimate reason forreplacing a lock. Check the car's history and ask to see a receipt for thelock.
? Look atthe bigger financial picture. Think about the cost of maintaining the car, carinsurance, and repairs.
Securitychecks
? The VIN
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) isunique to every car. It is stamped on the bodywork under the bonnet. It mustmatch the number on the registration document. If you can't find it under thebonnet or it doesn't match, don't buy the car.
? Registrationdocument
Never buy a car without a registrationdocument no matter what the seller says. To check for forgeries, hold thedocument up to the light. If it's authentic, it will have a watermark.
? MOT
Ask to see the MOT. You won't be able to getroad tax without an MOT if the car is over three years old. Check that the carhas been serviced regularly and ask to see proof.
? Historycheck
Always check the car's history before youbuy. If money changes hands and you only find out later that the car is stolen,you have little or no chance of getting your money back.
? CarInsurance
You've done your homework, you've found theright car for you and now you're ready to drive off into the sunset. There?sone last thing you need to take care off, motor insurance. Don't leave anythingto chance, get your motor insured as soon as possible.