New 57 reg will start used car sales cascade
03 September 2007, 05:51am
For most who splash out there will be the joy of a new toy - for just a few, tears!
There’s always a rush for the new registrations and that means used cars are going to be plentiful as owners trade up for the latest model. The glut of used cars typically found in the market at this time means that real bargains can be found as dealers look to clear their stocks – something which can be great news for women drivers who fancy a change without having to shell out for brand new wheels.
There will be bargains in the classifieds too because some dealers won’t be able to take in all the part exchanges, explaining to some customers “you’ll probably get more selling it privately”.
So with all these opportunities to upgrade it’s easy for a girl to get carried away with what might be and overlook some of the pitfalls:
Buying from a dealer:
> This is probably the safest way. Certainly you have more rights if there’s a problem with the car or things don’t work out the way you expect.
> Look for an established dealer with proper premises and membership of a trade association. A business that has a good reputation to keep up. A personal recommendation from a friend who’s already bought a car from the dealer can be reassuring.
> Check what’s in the price, cars have the potential for lots of add-ons, some of which are “negotiable” if you’re prepared to haggle
Buying Privately
> ALWAYS go to the seller’s address, NEVER let them bring the car to you – traders posing as private sellers might be denying you your rights if you buy from them.
> Private sellers always know their own car much better than a trader – ask them what their favourite features are, everyone loves to talk about their car.
> Find out why they’re selling. If it seems even remotely phoney, just don’t get involved.
> Ask what the car has been used for, a private seller is more likely to give you detail.
Auctions
> Can be intimidating if you’re not used to the environment – take someone with you for support, preferably a person who knows about cars (if you don’t!)
> Be aware of the terms and conditions of sale – you may have fewer rights of return
> Don’t get carried away bidding – set a budget and stick to it
Generally (applies to all car sales)
> For younger cars still within the manufacturers warranty, check the service book to be sure the servicing has been carried out and properly recorded. Also see if there is recorded mileage and check it against the car’s odometer (mileometer). If there’s no service book be suspicious about the car’s history.
> Ask about independent inspection. Simply walk away if the seller is even remotely hesitant about agreeing to this
> Check to see if the car “looks right” – some things should be consistent – a low mileage car shouldn’t look tired (dull and/or chipped paint, saggy seats or worn foot-pedal rubbers and steering wheel etc)
> Always drive the car and try to test it both in traffic and on the open road. Don’t be shy of “opening it up” so you can feel how it accelerates and brakes in normal driving conditions.
> If you’re not mechanically knowledgeable its probably a good idea to take a friend with you, who is.
Things to look out for:
> Clocking - Where the odometer has been illegally wound back on a high-mileage car in order to raise the asking price.
> 'Cut-and-shut' - This is when the remains of two or more cars, which have usually been accident-damaged and written off by insurers, are welded together, then illegally given the identity of one of the wrecks. This is really hard to spot but sometimes a car just doesn’t feel “right” on the test drive.
[If you really want to know about its history, you can get a car data check from one of the motoring organisations, usually its better just to simply buy a different car.]
> Irresistible bargain - Usually, the only unbelievable bargains are cars sold amongst friends and family. If a stranger or a dealer is selling a car too cheaply – beware!
And finally:
> Every girl driver needs motor insurance.
Don’t forget to make sure you know the cost of insuring your new pride and joy BEFORE you buy it. You can get a quote from http://www.youngladydriver.co.uk before you hand over your cash to the seller.
