What to know before buying a used car (2)

September 11, 2012 by Okechukwu Nnodim 

The risks associated with used cars are enormous, experts say. In this second article, Okechukwu Nnodim writes on other things to consider before spending your hard earned money on buying a used or ‘Tokunbo’ car.

 As noted in our first article, buying a used car is more risky than buying a new one. Experts and automobile dealers say used vehicles often have many hidden problems which the buyer may not know. They advise the prospective buyer to seek for the assistance of a professional automobile dealer or an engineer before making a purchase.

 Some of the things which the buyer needs to know as discussed in our first article include setting an adequate budget, getting a reliable car model, thorough examination of the car, ability to decide on a specific price range, and choosing between an expensive or a cheap car.

 Below are another set of important facts to know before purchasing a used car, according to experts:

 Make a comprehensive list

Experts say most car buyers often find it tough to decide on which particular car to buy. As a result of this, they advise that you make a comprehensive list of suitable cars that have the features you need in a car. This, they say, will guide the buyer once he gets to the car dealer’s showroom. Experts say the list will help the buyer not to go beyond his budget. According to them, some dealers may take advantage of the buyer’s inability to decide and give him a different car from his original intention.

Choose a suitable car               

Your aim for buying a car must be met by the car you finally decide to buy. Dealers say it is important to consider your daily driving needs and decide what is important to you, as well as the features you need in your car. “Moving from one car dealer to another may not offer you the best deal when you want to buy a car,” says a car dealer at Mogodo, Lagos, who simply identified himself as Austin.

 He notes that once the budget is determined and a comprehensive list of your choice cars is drawn, the next line of action should be choosing a suitable car that will meet a good percentage of your needs. He says people who travel long distances should consider buying vehicles with minimal fuel consumption. Experts note that in choosing a suitable car, you must be realistic and should not limit yourself with a single feature. They say you may also compare the gas mileages of the various cars in your list. Their individual reliabilities, safety ratings and different features should be compared.

 Understand insurance cost

The buyer should also consider the cost of insuring his car after the purchase is made. Experts say this is because the cost of insuring a car differs. They note that car insurance cost depends on the make, year and model of the car, driver’s experience and some other factors depending on the area where the purchase was made.

 Decide on the car’s age limit

The age limit of the car you wish to buy should be considered, experts say. According to them, the buyer should not buy an old car if he wants to use it for a private purpose. Old cars may rust faster than cars with reasonable age. Old cars may have covered longer mileage and this may lead to some defects in the car’s make-up, experts say. “No matter the number of parts you fix into an old car, it will still be an old car and will need more repairs later and will deplete your funds,” says Anozie Daniel, another dealer at Ojo Alaba, Lagos.

 They say cars older than 15 years should not be considered and must not be included both in your comprehensive and final lists. Cars within three to five years will serve longer when compared with those that were manufactured 15 years earlier.  Experts note that what is listed in the ad of a car is usually its model year, not the production year. So to know the actual production year, it advisable to check the date when the car was manufactured. The first registration date can be checked in the used car history report or on the manufacturer’s label, experts note.

 Be specific on the mileage preferable for a used car

Buying a used car with a very high mileage is not always recommendable. The buyer should understand why he has to buy a car that has covered a considerable mileage. He should speak with a professional automobile dealer or engineer on this, as views on this varies. However, a low mileage may not necessarily mean the car is perfect. But the fact is that the less the mileage covered the better for the buyer. This should not be a priority when deciding on which car to buy, dealers add.

 This, they say is because some cars may have covered longer mileages but may have been maintained properly than similar ones with lower mileages. However, this depends on your budget.

 Are you ready to repair the car?

Cars that need major repairs should be avoided, even if the prices are low. This is because the buyer may end up spending more on repairs than what he would have spent if he had bought a good used car. Experts note that very often, used cars in this category need a lot more repairs than it may initially seem. According to them, the fact is that no matter how much you spend on an old car that needs repairs, it still will be an old car and will always need repairs.