Cars For Sale
Car Buying Guidance
A car is a big investment, so it’s wise to do your due diligence and buy from a trusted seller. Below are some key points to remember.
- Check engine oil cap – you shouldn’t see any creamy substance. If you do, this indicates a bad head gasket (oil/coolant contamination). Also, there shouldn’t be any oil in the coolant reservoir. Check for leaks under the car.
- Listen for any unwanted noises. You shouldn’t hear any knocking or rattling noises – the engine should sound smooth.
- Check service history. If the owner has kept up with car maintenance, the car should be mechanically healthy. Ensure that the timing belt has been changed every 70,000 miles (unless it has a timing chain which lasts longer).
- Do a HPI check to see history record – if it has been in a minor accident, it’ll show up as Cat N (non-structural) and major accidents will show as up as Cat S (structural).
- Listen to your gut feeling. If the seller is genuine and honest in their dealings, you will sense it. If they are not being transparent yet eager to sell to you, it’s a red flag.
If you need a car mainly for local city use, a petrol car would be best. If it’s intended mainly for long journeys, a diesel car would be more economical.
In general, petrol cars can usually reach 200k miles and diesel cars can reach 300k miles. Some last even longer – it comes down to careful maintenance and good driving habits.
Japanese cars are known for their reliability and thus have the best reputation. Lexus and Toyota are consistently top rated on reliability reports. German cars are also reliable if well maintained. French cars are unfortunately notorious for unreliability.
Car Selling Guidance
You must be careful when selling your car – ideally you’d want knowledgeable family member to handle the sale. Below are some key points to remember.
- Make sure the car is clean and has been accurately described to potential buyers. Be transparent and honest in your dealings, and don’t hide any faults. Maintain your integrity.
- Have all paperwork ready such as car manuals, service history and V5C. When sale is agreed, create a receipt with date, time and signed by both parties.
- Only allow max. 2 people to view the car and do not allow anyone be unaccompanied when looking at the engine. There is a common scam, particularly aimed at German car owners where viewers will secretly insert oil into the coolant tank and claim that the head gasket is blown, using this as a bargaining tool.
- After the sale, transfer the V5C title online via DVLA website – it’s a service that runs from 7AM – 7PM, and is more convenient than the traditional postage method.
Free Car Valuation
If you have a car to sell, you can get in touch via my contact details below. If you’re based in Coventry, I can arrange to view the car, give you a valuation and make an offer. Payment made directly into your bank account, paperwork handled and car collected same day.