Buying a used car is always a risky decision for most people. Unless you are buying the car from someone you know, there’s no way of knowing how the car has been driven, what kind of terrain it has been driven on, and how many times it has been in an accident. There are a variety of factors that you should consider before buying a used car. Most of the cars that you will see may look good, but you also have to worry about the condition of the engine. When you visit any used cars showroom, always keep these few factors in mind before making a purchase.
How Much Has the Car Been Driven?
If the car is north of 100,000 kilometres, you might want to avoid buying it. After a car hits 100,000 kilometres, there are a number of things that you need to do. First, you must replace the timing belt, and then think about overhauling the engine as well. The first and most important factor that you have to take into consideration is the reading on the odometer. Most cars have digital odometers, so it’s quite difficult to rewind the reading. Ideally, you should buy a car that has been driven around 50,000 kilometres or less. They might be more expensive, but your subsequent maintenance costs will decrease by a significant margin.
Condition
Ask the owner if the car was involved in any major accidents in the past. Open the bonnet of the vehicle and check for any repair work around the sides. The signs of body repair work are usually pretty easy to spot, such as variations in the paint job, or signs of welding work. When checking out different used cars for sale in Canberra, you should carefully check the condition of the car’s body. If you don’t know how to spot signs of repair work, you might want to consider taking a mechanic along with you.
Use an OBDII Scanner
After 1996, all of the cars that have been released come with a digital input that you can use to connect with an OBDII scanner. Connecting an OBDII scanner will give you an idea about error codes within the car’s engine. This is arguably one of the most important steps that you need to take before buying a used vehicle. Whether you buy the car directly from the owner or through a dealership, scanning for error codes is essential.
Negotiate
Since it’s a used car, you can easily negotiate the fee with the seller and bring it down quite a bit. Always negotiate with any seller or dealership before buying a used car, since there’s a lot of flexibility in the final price before buying.
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