Buying a Second Hand Car - Learn from my mistakes!!!

[Surprise]

Originally Posted by mithun

This is the same funny thing that I usually see in most of the 2nd hand dealers(except Truevalue). I'm wondering what they are learning by mere staring !!!

Off Topic : How can I find out if the suspension is damaged when taking a test-drive of a used car ?

I knew a person in his sixtees in this business right from his younger ages.

He just switch on the car, leave it idle, walks round the car, steps on the acceleration pedal (ofcourse in neutral). And you know he covers major portion of the car. If he is satisfied, he goes for a small test drive & tells about the car.

My personal experience with him always worked well.

I had really wondered when he says about the changes (replace items) in exteriors just by merely looking the car

[quicksilver]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Rules (Ten Commandments) of buying 2nd Hand cars
1. Never buy from friends (mostly gives both sides the heartaches)

I am wondering why no one had commented on this... I would actually advise that you BUY and car from a known source so atleast you know what the car has been subjected to. Why would one have trust a dealer who is obviously in the business to make money over a friend ???

As long as both the buyer and the seller know the car's current condition clearly, and agree that there will always be some un-foreseen issues (even with a brand new car....at times), it should be fine.

2. Never buy from dealers
3. Never buy from DSAs (True Value, Ford Assured etc)
4. Never buy a car which is not in production or which company has sold out & scooted.

I agree with you there... though not entirely but it makes sense for a regular car buyer, who has good contacts and can locate genuine owners... that's not going to be easy though.

5. Never buy a car 'cos of its looks

Don't quiet agree.... isn't it a personal preference really?

6. Never buy a car which was owned by a company

I disagree with this pal... in most cases, it is the company owned cars that are serviced in proper intervals and maintained well, and sold off in two years so the company can claim depreciation benefits.

7. Never buy a car which is repainted

That makes sense... even if it was repainted for cosmetic pruposes, you will always have a problem while trying to sell it again and have to convince the buyer that the car does not have an accident history.

8. Never buy a car whose windshield has been replaced. (Easy to detect)

I guess enough had been said about this... Windshield is one of the items that has absolutely no depreciation at all, so it is more likely that the replacement would be a genuine one as it gets paid in full (well.. almost) by insurance. A new windshield only increases the visibility compared to a old and scratched one. Oh by the way, it is not really as easy to identify a replaced windshield as long as it gets replaced with the same brand as the original one.

9. Always buy directly from sellers who sign the T.O forms in ur presence

Good thing to do, but do not rely on this all the time as sometimes people register the cars on their wive's names etc and may not be too happy to call them to sign the dotted lines in the presence of a stranger. There are also cases where guys leave their cars with a trusted friend if they had to go on a sudden trip, etc. You wouldn't reject such a one just because you cannot see the original owner sign the dotted line... would you ?

10. Always take ur trusted mechanic's opinion before committing.

That's an absolute necessity. No second opinions on that one.

Just as an after thought... I feel the list should read "Rules (Ten Commandments) of rejecting 2nd Hand cars"

No offence meant pal, but I feel you are being overly cautious and the new ones might be taking to this when they look for a car.

[gbpscars]

All that's needed when buying a 2nd hand car:
- think with the head and not the heart (though this task sometimes is just a bit harder than choosing a girl)

- do ample amount of homework. be completely prepared about the car down right to the specific model and its features.

- moreover be specific about which car you want, rather than picking "some car within 2 lacs" or "some car within 4 lacs"

- learn to differentiate between original equipment that must be present and after market accessories.

- be armed with information (learn technology terms and understand them), even if your profession is far from technology. ultimately you are buying a technical product paying your money.

I would say buying a company maintained car is a better bet, if one knows how to detect the problems during the inspection.

My hunt for a OHC VTEC in Mumbai revealed surprising facts and cheats used by dealers and individuals alike.

The VTEC I have bought and am using very satisfactorily is from a top class TV News Agency. It had been used to ferry international delegates to and fro the airport. You can guess the quality of maintenance it has been through.

I got a Stanley leather upholstery and brand new Good Year NCT 5 tubeless (all 5) along with my second hand purchase.

Well the 3 month search was worth it.

[kiranpashtakar]

This is a very comprehensive review on the the Second hand car market and the Pit falls.

[MADMAX111]

Windshield is one of the items that has absolutely no depreciation

Quick Silver
Are you sure about this. Because my windshield broke in a minor accident while my car was parked and the insurance guy evaluated it for only 50% cost as it is glass part??

[sandeep108]

Glass has no depreciation. Insurance guy was wrong, you should appeal.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by gbpscars

All that's needed when buying a 2nd hand car:
- think with the head and not the heart (though this task sometimes is just a bit harder than choosing a girl)

- do ample amount of homework. be completely prepared about the car down right to the specific model and its features.

- moreover be specific about which car you want, rather than picking "some car within 2 lacs" or "some car within 4 lacs"

- learn to differentiate between original equipment that must be present and after market accessories.

- be armed with information (learn technology terms and understand them), even if your profession is far from technology. ultimately you are buying a technical product paying your money.

I would say buying a company maintained car is a better bet, if one knows how to detect the problems during the inspection.

My hunt for a OHC VTEC in Mumbai revealed surprising facts and cheats used by dealers and individuals alike.

.

Well the 3 month search was worth it.

thats ver good. did u buy it directly from the news agency or get it thru a dealer ??

[vijaycool]

Hi,
i am also in the verge of buying an second hand car. took almost 3 months to decide the model. at present i am thinking of petra (siena new look) 1.6ELX.
@esteem_lover : can i know Anna Nagar dealer address as u mentioned him as a honest guy.
one more question is petra sales is good in chenai. coz i havent seen any petra in chennai as compared to pune.

[mithun]

I've always felt that most of the 2nd hand dealers are soooo rude that I always wanted never to buy a car from them. But the fact is that they are organized and if someone is really in need for an old car, there are no other wide options.

In order to stop this foul play, the better options are the Internet & newspapers; but you've be at home/office always to accompany the prospective buyers for test drives.

[hydrashok]

Will it be too Off Topic to ask for suggestions about how we can prepare our own car for second-hand sale? By 'prepare' I don't mean prepare to cheat a prospective buyer, but prepare to show off the best sides of the car. What are the things we should mention to get the buyer interested, and also convince him that he isn't being taken for a ride ("taken for a ride" sounds good in this context huh?).

[condor]

Same things you would look for in a car when you want to buy it: read through this very thread, and make sure you have covered everthing that would be checked. Beyond that, it's the buyer who needs to satisfy himself.

some points would be: proper working condition - everything to be working, service records, detailing the interior etc ..

[NVLN]

That was a very good write up and sure cautions prospective buyers of used cars.

Have been scouting for second hand cars in Mumbai but treading very cautiously and taking my own sweet time. Recently got introduced to a couple of trustworthy car mechanics also and take them along to check the car(s) which are on sale. All the ones thus far seen have been rejected by the mechanics.

Search still on...thanks to your experience...added your points to the checklist.

[quicksilver]

Originally Posted by MADMAX111

Quick Silver
Are you sure about this. Because my windshield broke in a minor accident while my car was parked and the insurance guy evaluated it for only 50% cost as it is glass part??

Yes am very sure. you can check this on your Insurance policy manual itself... Had more than couple of occassions where we had to change the windshield and claimed almost full insurance.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by NVLN

That was a very good write up and sure cautions prospective buyers of used cars.

Have been scouting for second hand cars in Mumbai but treading very cautiously and taking my own sweet time. Recently got introduced to a couple of trustworthy car mechanics also and take them along to check the car(s) which are on sale. All the ones thus far seen have been rejected by the mechanics.

Search still on...thanks to your experience...added your points to the checklist.

NVLN, welcome to T-BHP, continue taking the opinoin of a mechanic. do not feel tired of looking. there is always one waiting just for you. one more word of advice, always, you be the one to decide, taking the mechanic's advice. they seem to find out the minutest of flaws pretty quickly & easily.
happy hunting

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by hydrashok

Will it be too Off Topic to ask for suggestions about how we can prepare our own car for second-hand sale? By 'prepare' I don't mean prepare to cheat a prospective buyer, but prepare to show off the best sides of the car. What are the things we should mention to get the buyer interested, and also convince him that he isn't being taken for a ride ("taken for a ride" sounds good in this context huh?).

i think all you need to do is just clean the interiors thoroughly & wax the body, polish the tyres & glass. that will make the car to look good. anything else you do, would be cheating, IMHO.