That the used car is reliable is the most important thing
Just because; Regardless of whether we are used (or not) to buying a second-hand car, this task can raise doubts, especially when you do not know the use that its previous owner has given it or its maintenance history, as ordered by the General Directorate of Traffic.
Just because; Regardless of the type of driver or how they have treated this car that we are about to buy, they all have one thing in common: they need their vehicle to be reliable and in good condition.
This, as such, is assumed if it is a new car or one that has no more than a short passage of time on it (and it also has the guarantee to face possible defects in its first years of life), but when it is used or second hand it can become a concern for the buyer.
how to find out
As such, and first of all, to make a good choice, the best advice would perhaps be a very simple one, and that is that Never buy the first used car you see..
Or what is the same; making a good purchase involves a lot of time looking at ads, getting information and seeing cars in person, so patience, judgment and a good dose of critical thinking, because sellers will always tell us how good their cars are, and our mission is to put it all in doubt until proven otherwise.
In this, the truth is that it is not always easy to detect possible faults or symptoms of a car in poor condition. For this reason, and regardless of the owner’s word, he will have no problem (or should not) allow us to carry the car to a trusted workshop. We can also opt for a series of reviews on our own; The purpose of this is to prevent fraud and protect the buyer against defects and hidden defects that were not mentioned in the initial conditions.
Check the condition of the engine
The most important thing when checking a second-hand car is that it does not have mechanical failures, since they can be the most expensive to repair. Thus, when it comes to opening the hood, it will show us at a first glance how it is, seeing if the engine is very old, and especially how the owner has treated and preserved the car. If he engine is very neglectedwith a lot of dirt, grease, and corrosion on the battery and other elements, it is better to forget about buying that vehicle.
Then, and in case it looks good, you have to check the oil. To do this, we will extract the rod and verify that it is at an optimal level (between the minimum and the maximum), although the best indication for a purchase is that the liquid does not look too bad. It is also worth noting if the engine is leaking. Or what is the same; If we observe the presence of liquids where there shouldn’t be, or improvised rivets or homemade gaskets made of rubber, the engine is in very poor condition. For a propellant to be in good health, it must not have traces of liquid anywhere.
Its interior
Upholstery, gear lever, switches, dashboard, anchors, belts… it’s all about important security systems and comfort. The failure indicators on the panel should go off when the ignition is on after a few seconds.
On the other hand, check the good condition of the lights, the windshield, if there are any blows to the sheet metal… it must be taken into account that they are points against the face of contracting a new insurance policy, which can be detrimental to security and that therefore, they must be repaired.
Driving test
On the other hand, it is necessary to carry out the start-up checks. If it does fast the first time It means there are no battery or starter motor problems. Likewise, no part of the instrument panel should jump mechanical failure warning light or maintenance sign. As neither strange noisesvibrations or rattles.
We will immediately look at the smoke that ejects the car. Despite being a Used carshould never be excessive, although at the beginning it can be more abundant than when it gets warm. It must be in addition as translucent as possible; If it is very thick and opaque, depending on the color it can indicate different faults.