Buy a Peach Not a Lemon
by ISLA CAMPBELL
Before the internet was imagined and even before specialist car sales papers came into print, buying your first car usually involved your dad or a mate taking you across town to test drive a second-hand rust bucket which you inevitably bought in good faith, but was just as likely to be a lemon as a peach.
Thankfully, times have changed and acquiring a used car or even a brand new one for that matter now involves a lot more choice and a lot more certainty. Buying a lemon - the colloquial term for an inferior quality car - or paying over the odds for one should be a much less frequent experience these days, especially if you undertake a little research and make sure you thoroughly examine the car before you buy it.
The internet is a great source of information and therefore a great place to start on your research. You can get an idea of the value of a whole range of makes and models by looking at the online classifieds, or if you want a professional opinion subscribe to resources such as Glass��s guide. They list the prices you would expect to pay for vehicles at trade or retail value, with allowances for condition and mileage. Leafing through a car trader magazine will also give you an idea of the market values of vehicles.
Once you��ve established your budget get out there and see some cars. Give any vehicle you are thinking of buying a thorough examination. Make sure you check the bodywork thoroughly and have a look under the bonnet. Look for obvious things like oil leaks; you may notice drops of oil on the tarmac or drive on which the car is standing. Better still, if you know a mechanic then take them with you and ask them to give you an honest opinion on the mechanical condition of the car.
Ask to take a little spin in the motor you intend to drive before even starting negotiations to buy it. By sitting behind the wheel you��ll get an idea of how it feels to drive the car and also some idea of the performance of the vehicle. However, if you intend doing that on a public road make sure that either your current car insurance policy or the seller��s covers you to drive the vehicle before slipping into the driver��s seat.
If you like the way it drives and you are sure it is mechanically sound then make an offer and don��t be afraid to walk away from the deal if you don��t get the price you want. There are plenty of cars out there and you��ll soon find another one.
Isla Campbell writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.
