| For the average individual who knows
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| | be cosmetically genuine and that the
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| little about cars or mechanics, buying a
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| | condition is as you would expect for the
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| used car can be a worrying experience.
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| | cars age start to look at the mechanics of
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| Buying a car is often one of the biggest
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| | the car. Check the oil on the dipstick.
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| purchases we make in our lives and the
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| | Are there bubbles in the oil? If there are
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| nagging doubt of whether or not you are
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| | bubbles this is a sure sign of water in
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| about to buy a lemon always makes buying a
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| | the oil and likely to result in expensive
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| used car difficult. So how do you go about
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| | repair. Check the water filler. Is there a
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| choosing a car that is unlikely to be a
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| | white residue on the cap or visible in the
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| lemon?
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| | filler area. This is an expensive sign of
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| If you have found a "bargain" or a car you
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| | oil in the water. Check the oil filter
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| like the look of go check it out. At this
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| | (easy to spot, generally looks like a
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| stage it is always useful to take someone
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| | brightly painted tin can sticking out of
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| who knows something about cars with you if
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| | the side of the engine) does it look to be
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| you can. If you haven't got anyone whose
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| | recently fitted or like it has been on for
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| opinion you can trust then you are going
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| | some time. This is a standard part that is
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| to have to use your own instincts.
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| | replaced at service and can indicate how
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| Check for obvious accident damage.
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| | the owner has been treating the car.
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| Accident damaged cars can be spotted by
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| | Start the motor up. Does the engine rattle
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| little tell tail signs. Look for signs of
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| | or have a pronounced ticking noise or does
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| overspray to panels, bumpers and fittings,
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| | it sound healthy? Is the exhaust loud or
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| look for areas of paintwork that are
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| | well silenced you don't need to be paying
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| inconsistent with the general condition of
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| | for a new exhaust system. Once the engine
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| the car (these may indicate filled dents,
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| | has warmed go look at the exhaust. Are
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| filled rotten patches) and check that all
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| | there large quantities of smoke, black or
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| the tyres are wearing evenly (uneven wear
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| | white being omitted? Both can indicate
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| may indicate the car isn't running
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| | expensive faults. At this stage check to
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| straight and true as a result of a crash
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| | make sure headlamps, indicator and brake
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| or poorly executed accident repair).
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| | lights work.
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| If you are happy there are no obvious
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| | If all seems fine the next step is a test
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| clues to suggest accident damage check the
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| | drive. Check the steering. Is it light or
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| general condition of the car for wear. Is
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| | vague, neither is a good sign. Does the
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| the amount of wear consistent with the
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| | wheel have a large amount of play in it?
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| mileage of the car? Worn foot mats, shiny
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| | Steering is important for clear safety
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| steering wheels and worn/damaged driver
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| | reasons. The steering should be responsive
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| seats are not what you would expect to
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| | and direct. Neither to heavy nor light.
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| find on a low mileage car.
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| | Check the brakes. Do they inspire
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| Does the car have missing interior
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| | confidence? They should pull the car
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| fittings or scratched paint work? Would
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| | firmly to a stop in a straight line
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| you expect a car you owned from new for a
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| | without fading or feeling as if they are
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| number of years to have accrued a similar
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| | about to run out. Find a car park or space
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| amount of damage? Make a mental note of
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| | where you can turn the car on full lock in
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| the amount of wear for bargaining purposes
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| | both directions. Do the front wheels grind
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| should you decide to buy the car.
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| | or shriek? This could indicate expensive
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| Check the vehicle for rot in the doorways
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| | wheel bearing problems.
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| and wheel arches. A little rot can become
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| | If you do not come across these problems
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| a serious costly problem after as little
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| | then it is fair to say you have a solid
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| as one year. A lot of rot, especially to
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| | used car that is unlikely to be a lemon.
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| structural areas of the car where panels
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| | Now if you can recall all the little
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| and sections of the car come together
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| | details you spotted you can use these
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| could indicate the car is not safe to
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| | points to bargain a good price and buy the
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| drive.
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| | used car with the confidence that you have
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| Once you have established the car looks to
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| | avoided a lemon.
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