NAIL THE CAR INSPECTION PROCESS
Don’t get taken for a ride when buying a second-hand car
Buying a second-hand car can be nerveracking, and most of us fear the stereotypical used-car salesman conning us into purchasing a lemon.
Recent research reveals 83 per cent of Australian buyers are concerned the car will have a mechanical fault. So here are a few tricks from Adam Pay, managing director of mycar to ensure you nail the inspection process every time.
WHERE PEOPLE GO WRONG
Outside a test drive, most people don’t check essential vehicle functions when inspecting and purchasing their second-hand vehicle, including 34 per cent who didn’t test the radio, 29 per cent who didn’t check the oil, and another 29 per cent who didn’t even check the child safety features.
The top things Aussies are committed to checking are a functioning air conditioner, windows that go up and down, and a clean smell.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
can’t meet in the daytime, take a torch.)
2
Check the exterior body panels to see that they’re even and not painted over, misaligned or damaged. Feel for any bubbling or rust in the paint, particularly around the edges of panels.
3
Jump into the driver’s seat and see if the temperature gauge rises when you turn on the ignition (without starting the engine). If the temp gauge rises, then it’s probably too hot to check the engine and I’d suggest waiting until it cools down.
4
Pop the bonnet and remove the dipstick, inspect the condition and viscosity of the oil.
5
Start the engine and smell the air from the air conditioner once it’s turned on to see if it’s damp or mouldy.
6
Go for a test drive and listen for any unusual sounds when you apply the brakes, and feel for any surging vibrations.
USE YOUR SENSES
Use all of your senses to look for, feel for, listen out for and even smell when buying second-hand. See if there’s any
hail damage. Check if reflections look like they’re bouncing. You don’t want the roof to look like a golf ball.
See how many fingers fit between the front wheel and the body of the car on one side (at 9 o’clock on the wheel), then do the same on the other side. They should be roughly the same. Any major difference could indicate damaged suspension or issues with the front end.
Feel for any bubbling in the paint, particularly around the edges of panels or near rubbers where water can get trapped.
Feel for the tread wear indicators in the tyres (bars inside the grooves). Feel if the tread level is higher than the bars. These indicate the recommended safe tread level (1.6mm) and will give you a decent idea of the life left.
Listen for any odd sounds, like unusually loud idling or popping from the tailpipe.
Listen for the cooling fans to kick in, so check things like the spare tyre, the radio, the heater and the logbook while you have a minute. When you’re done, glance at the temperature gauge to see that the car isn’t overheating.
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