| A second hand car is the way that most people will | | | | 6. Tyres. All the tyres should be able to fit a twenty |
| buy their transport but buying a cheap used car can | | | | pence into the tread, if not then they will need |
| be a minefield and all sorts of problems can occur. | | | | replacing, this could be costly. |
| Everything from dodgy paintwork to cranky engines | | | | 7. Bodywork. Have a good close up look at the body |
| and leaking oil is to be expected. Here is a list of the | | | | work; it's very easy to hide reasonably bad scratches |
| top ten things to look out for when buying a cheap | | | | with t-cut. Any dents should be easily visible upon |
| used car. | | | | close inspection. |
| 1. Check the papers. Check that all the paper work | | | | 8. The mileage. In an older car it often very hard to |
| actually matches up with the car that is being | | | | determine if the mileage has been fiddled with. Ask |
| presented. | | | | the owner if they have any older MOT certificates |
| 2. The engine. Try and get there 30 minutes before | | | | which may have a mileage reading on them. |
| the appointment so that the owner doesn't have | | | | 9. Check the interior for any cigarette burns in the |
| chance to warm up the engine. Check for blue | | | | carpet and seats, repairing these will be expensive |
| smoke out of the exhaust at start up. This would | | | | and most of the time just not practical. |
| indicate an oil problem and could be costly. Listen for | | | | 10. Electrics. Check that all the knobs and buttons |
| engine noise, if the engine sounds like it is running to | | | | function correctly on the dashboard, switch the main |
| fast the clutch is likely to be on its way out. | | | | lights on with the engine running and press the brake |
| 3. Exhaust and gearbox. The exhaust note should be | | | | pedal, the lights should not dim, if they do it is likely |
| fairly quite, if not it could have a hole in it | | | | that the battery is dodgy or it could be the |
| somewhere. The gears should slip into gear easily and | | | | alternator. |
| should not need forcing at all. | | | | Buying a cheap second hand car is often the best of |
| 4. Check the brakes are working. Find a steep hill and | | | | not only method of obtaining your transport and it is |
| check that the hand brake stops you rolling away. | | | | usually the most economical. Ask plenty of questions |
| 5. Lights. Turn all the lights on and walk around the | | | | and never part with your hard earned cash unless |
| car checking that they are all working. Get somebody | | | | you are 100% satisfied that this is the car for you. |
| else to press the brake pedal and check they work. | | | | |