[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
Look at the paperwork<\/strong><\/h2>\nI know, it\u2019s boring, but it\u2019s also quick and simple. And vital. Check the history of the car. You can see the mileage it\u2019s done each year, what\u2019s been done to it. If it\u2019s high mileage \u2013 80,000 or more – look to see if the cambelt has been changed (some cars have chains rather than belts and these don\u2019t need to be changed), and also the clutch if it\u2019s a manual gearbox. These are expensive perishables that will need doing at high mileage regardless of how carefully the car has been cared for. <\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.onewomanowner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/shutterstock_1299084505.jpg\")
[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Run an eye carefully over the servicing schedule, too. Obviously a full main dealer service history is the holy grail, but it\u2019s not essential. If a car has been routinely serviced at the same independent garage, that\u2019s also a great sign. If the history is patchy with high miles in between services and it\u2019s visited a lot of different garages, then you should be hearing some alarm bells. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\nMeet the owner<\/strong><\/h2>\nWe\u2019re not advocating being judgemental here, but, well\u2026 Maybe we sort of are. You can tell a lot about a car from the owner, is all we\u2019re saying, and it\u2019s normally easy to see if a person has really cared about their car. At One Woman Owner we like our sellers and buyers alike to feel safe and secure if you\u2019re going to see a car, so you\u2019ll have a better glimpse of each and what to meet ahead of time thanks. It\u2019s like Tinder for cars, only with a great car at the end of it rather than awkward date. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\nLook at the car<\/strong><\/h2>\nTo state the obvious, look at the car very closely. Don\u2019t ever view a car at night \u2013 it can make the whole experience more intimidating, for a start, and also you\u2019re going to easily miss blemishes or faults with the car.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen you\u2019ve got the car in good light, crouch down and look all the way down the side of it. Looking at it like this helps to show up if any of the doors don\u2019t fit properly, any wonky panel gaps or even panels that might have been repaired off the record.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAnother good trick is to look underneath the carpet in the boot, if you can lift it without too much hassle. This often reveals bare metal and is another place where there might have been repairs from a rear-end shunt and the like.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.onewomanowner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/shutterstock_638366809-1024x666.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nMake sure that the interior wear matches the mileage. A low mileage car with a very shiny, worn steering wheel and battered interior has probably got something to hide.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTry and see if the car smokes at all when it starts up from cold. Turbocharged cars that are emitting some white smoke could be headed for a new turbo, blue smoke from any car can suggest it\u2019s burning some oil. White vapour from a car\u2019s exhaust on a cold day is absolutely normal.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\nLook at the tyres<\/strong><\/h2>\nDon\u2019t just kick \u2018em, actually have a look at them. Look at the make and type of tyres \u2013 ideally they should be the same make and type of tyre all round, or the same two tyres at the front, and the same at the back is also fine. Just be wary if there\u2019s a different make on each corner, especially if they\u2019re obscure budget tyres \u2013 even if the car seems sound, you should budget for new tyres as they\u2019re critical to making your car safe, and good tyres will also make your car far better to drive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nOf course, also check the tread. Take a 20p coin with you, and the tread should be deep enough on a good tyre to obscure the coin\u2019s rim. And while it\u2019ll mean getting grubby fingers, make sure you check the tyre tread on the inside of the tyres, right inside the wheel arches. Tyres sometimes wear unevenly, and if they have done then it\u2019s a good sign that you need to get the balancing done\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\nDrive the car<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhile we\u2019re on car buying 101, obviously you should go for a drive. Test drives can be weird experiences, but try to focus on how the car feels rather than worrying about how to fill the awkward silences with the owner. If the clutch biting point is very high, it\u2019ll probably need a new clutch. There shouldn\u2019t be much \u2018play\u2019 to the steering \u2013 you shouldn\u2019t be able to wobble the steering wheel noticeably without any response from the car. You should be able to drive over a speed bump without hearing any funny noises from the suspension. <\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.onewomanowner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/shutterstock_633446366-1024x683.jpg\")
[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Check out BBC watchdog<\/a> who has made a list of their own regarding what to look for when buying a used car.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re not advocating being judgemental here, but, well\u2026 Maybe we sort of are. You can tell a lot about a car from the owner, is all we\u2019re saying, and it\u2019s normally easy to see if a person has really cared about their car. At One Woman Owner we like our sellers and buyers alike to feel safe and secure if you\u2019re going to see a car, so you\u2019ll have a better glimpse of each and what to meet ahead of time thanks. It\u2019s like Tinder for cars, only with a great car at the end of it rather than awkward date. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n To state the obvious, look at the car very closely. Don\u2019t ever view a car at night \u2013 it can make the whole experience more intimidating, for a start, and also you\u2019re going to easily miss blemishes or faults with the car.<\/span><\/p>\n When you\u2019ve got the car in good light, crouch down and look all the way down the side of it. Looking at it like this helps to show up if any of the doors don\u2019t fit properly, any wonky panel gaps or even panels that might have been repaired off the record.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another good trick is to look underneath the carpet in the boot, if you can lift it without too much hassle. This often reveals bare metal and is another place where there might have been repairs from a rear-end shunt and the like.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Make sure that the interior wear matches the mileage. A low mileage car with a very shiny, worn steering wheel and battered interior has probably got something to hide.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Try and see if the car smokes at all when it starts up from cold. Turbocharged cars that are emitting some white smoke could be headed for a new turbo, blue smoke from any car can suggest it\u2019s burning some oil. White vapour from a car\u2019s exhaust on a cold day is absolutely normal.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n Don\u2019t just kick \u2018em, actually have a look at them. Look at the make and type of tyres \u2013 ideally they should be the same make and type of tyre all round, or the same two tyres at the front, and the same at the back is also fine. Just be wary if there\u2019s a different make on each corner, especially if they\u2019re obscure budget tyres \u2013 even if the car seems sound, you should budget for new tyres as they\u2019re critical to making your car safe, and good tyres will also make your car far better to drive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, also check the tread. Take a 20p coin with you, and the tread should be deep enough on a good tyre to obscure the coin\u2019s rim. And while it\u2019ll mean getting grubby fingers, make sure you check the tyre tread on the inside of the tyres, right inside the wheel arches. Tyres sometimes wear unevenly, and if they have done then it\u2019s a good sign that you need to get the balancing done\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n While we\u2019re on car buying 101, obviously you should go for a drive. Test drives can be weird experiences, but try to focus on how the car feels rather than worrying about how to fill the awkward silences with the owner. If the clutch biting point is very high, it\u2019ll probably need a new clutch. There shouldn\u2019t be much \u2018play\u2019 to the steering \u2013 you shouldn\u2019t be able to wobble the steering wheel noticeably without any response from the car. You should be able to drive over a speed bump without hearing any funny noises from the suspension. <\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Run an eye carefully over the servicing schedule, too. Obviously a full main dealer service history is the holy grail, but it\u2019s not essential. If a car has been routinely serviced at the same independent garage, that\u2019s also a great sign. If the history is patchy with high miles in between services and it\u2019s visited a lot of different garages, then you should be hearing some alarm bells. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\nMeet the owner<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Look at the car<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/span><\/p>\nLook at the tyres<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Drive the car<\/strong><\/h2>\n
[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Check out BBC watchdog<\/a> who has made a list of their own regarding what to look for when buying a used car.<\/p>\n