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Thread ID: 140343	2015-09-27 09:15:00	Tips for buying a used car	Nick G (16709)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1408984	2015-09-29 06:37:00	Check the trunk of the car to make sure it is still in good condition. It should not show any sign of rust, or water entry due to cracks or holes. Check the tires. The tires should be worn evenly. Look at the surface of the tire for feathering (bad alignment). While test driving see if it pulls to either side or not. Check exhaust for smoke. Check the hoses and belts for cracks. The radiator hoses should not be soft. Check all fluids....see if they have any maintenance records (a lot don't though). If an auto check transmission fluid - should nice and pink. Check when cambelt done last - if they can't prove it and it's around due or they say it is done, walk away. Carjam, other than anything owing on it, will tell you name of current owner and also check mileage - does it match what the car says? Any suspect jumps in readings? test drive - check clutch, transmission, brakes, steering. Do a hard turn to check power steering belts etc. Listen for any noises and note any vibrations etc. Some of them won't be noticeable except at high speed so go down the motorway too. If recently painted, and old, be suspicious, a magnet helps check for bog. Check structure for rust. Push on corners to check shocks. Make sure all dash bits work and things like heater etc. Check seatbelts lock when pulled, no fraying on them. Check handbrake holds. If unsure, take a mechanical person with you. There are also loads of How To checklists on the net, print one and take it so you know how/what to do. And finally, stick to the budget and negotiate with owner. If it's a good car, don't insult them, bargain fairly. All good. One I do is let it idle for a while then rev it up, if there are any valve guide ring issues it will blow bloo smoke. Can also do with the foot off the gas and coast down a hill then boot it. I agree about insulting offers. I for one for one would just tell the **** that the car was like a pet to me. So you can **** off now and I would never sell it to you for a million dollars.	prefect (6291)
1408985	2015-09-29 07:04:00	Hi Nick G, no worries mate, hope you find hour first dream car! Cheers LL	lakewoodlady (103)
1408986	2015-09-29 08:43:00	Took it for a test drive tonight, both in a 100km zone, round Lyttleton, and then around the hills - drove super well, it's much nicer than the Subaru in terms of condition. What I was planning on doing is contacting the guy again, and agreeing on a price, subject to an AA pre purchase test coming back clean. Sound fair/reasonable?	Nick G (16709)
1408987	2015-09-29 17:38:00	and agreeing on a price, subject to an AA pre purchase test coming back clean. Sounds like a plan....but be aware an AA check may not be as good as you think, been a few of those on Fair Go before......I'd go with a trusted mechanic instead.	pctek (84)
1408988	2015-09-29 19:21:00	But we can't all afford our dream non-boring car . . . . . and one advantage of boring cars, is they are less of a thief magnet . Yes, which is why I said despite that, I still recommended something like a Corolla or Civic because they are generally cheap and reliable . In my experience thieves tend to aim for easy targets or opportunities, which typically means older cars with less security features like the old Familia, early Impreza etc .	inphinity (7274)
1408989	2015-09-29 21:27:00	We tend to forget the function of a car, to get us from here to there. True, but when young & enthused about these things we tended to buy cars that were cool but not ideal. Eventually , as we get older , poorer & jaded, the novelty of cool cars wears off We just look back at the great driving cars we used to own & realize those days are gone. :( Or is that just me ?	1101 (13337)
1408990	2015-09-29 21:35:00	Thoughts on this one? www.trademe.co.nz I'll have a look at it tomorrow and take it for a test drive. It looks to be in better condition than the Caldina, which would account for the price difference.	Nick G (16709)
1408991	2015-09-29 21:40:00	All true 1101 except for the so called "mid life crisis" where somewhere in our 40's or 50's we finally have the resources to buy a decent car and sometimes overcompensate for 20+ years of compromising on what's practical and affordable. My older sister in her 50's bought a RX8 after everyone told her not to and she loves it. I have a 4 year plan currently to pay off my mortgage in the next 3 years, save all the mortgage money for a 4th year, and pay cash for a really nice car. I'll probably wuss out and get a near new boring car like a corolla or camry but I'm seriously tempted to go for something like a toyota 86/Subaru BRZ the one time in my life I'll actually be able to afford one. If all goes according to plan (when does that happen?) I'll have a new car by the time I turn 51 and will be wishing I could have afforded it 30 years earlier. Meanwhile my 2002 V6 Camry altise seems more and more like a Grandads car and refuses to give me any trouble so I can talk myself into replacing it, and at 99000km it's barely run in. I fully expect it to last out the 4 years I need from it which will make it 17 years old.	dugimodo (138)
1408992	2015-09-29 22:10:00	True, but when young & enthused about these things we tended to buy cars that were cool but not ideal. Eventually , as we get older , poorer & jaded, the novelty of cool cars wears off We just look back at the great driving cars we used to own & realize those days are gone. :( Or is that just me ? No not really just you. Me too. Though I still buy new automotive tools, e.g. jacks, stands, pullers, BJ separators, etc. Brought some entry level tools for my daughter's recent purchased car. Being a Euro car (German Opel Corsa aka Holden Barina nameplate) had to get torx socket/driver bits. I'm now wiring (or re-wiring) Led floor and door mood lights in my odyssey. All true 1101 except for the so called "mid life crisis" where somewhere in our 40's or 50's we finally have the resources to buy a decent car and sometimes overcompensate for 20+ years of compromising on what's practical and affordable. My older sister in her 50's bought a RX8 after everyone told her not to and she loves it. I'm over compensating by sprucing up my car a little...kinda feel like i'm 20 again or something. I paid 13 grand cash for a Diesel turbo Hiace triple sun roof, cooler, electric curtains, etc van a few years back. Only had it for a 15 months, then prices plummeted. Mistake of keeping it too long and worrying/focusing on my other vehicle. Dumb. Sold van for about $4000. My local shop keeper spent a wee fortune on a huge BMW saloon. Told me he's scared of parking it in large shopping malls. He would park way back. But then he eventually bought a cheap car for shopping. I recall driving my neice's mate's caldina after replacing the spark plugs. The steering felt very light - is what I still remember.	kahawai chaser (3545)
1408993	2015-09-29 22:46:00	Thoughts on this one? www.trademe.co.nz I'll have a look at it tomorrow and take it for a test drive. It looks to be in better condition than the Caldina, which would account for the price difference. At 2.2L, it looks to be the 5SFE engine, which are very reliable provided even minimal maintenance has been done - at 243k kms, I would want to see some indication the cambelt has been done reasonably recently, or factor the cost of doing it in to your purchase decision. As with most belt-driven Japanese imports, the recommendation is generally that the belt and associated parts should be replaced after around 100k kms. Other than that, as long as it isn't run dry of either oil or water, it will likely be pretty solid. Have seen a few of those engines at 400k+ kms.	inphinity (7274)
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