BUYING SECOND-HAND?

IT CAN be incredibly tempting to buy a second-hand vehicle with all the fruit and, as Sam found out, the benefits aren’t always financial, with him saving himself countless hours working on a stock one just to get it up to speed. But there are a few things to keep in mind.

The history and condition are far more important than the amount of kays or the accessories fitted. A $5000 suspension kit won’t look so appealing if the engine has never been serviced. Where possible, logbook services are always a good indicator the vehicle has been looked after, but aren’t an excuse to not look at the general condition of the vehicle. Has rust been allowed to develop underneath? Are there scrapes and dents? Perished rubber components underneath? Or maintenance issues that should have been rectified? They’re often an indicator not just of the condition of the vehicle, but how the owner has treated it.

Likewise, if the components fitted are of high quality rather than ebay specials, things have been kept legal (or at least engineered), and there’s a thorough service history, it’s a good indicator the vehicle has not only been looked after but built with a goal in mind with every component working towards it – not just a bunch of gear found cheap online.