Second hand car - what you would not buy

pvr

pvr

Dutch
 Ruler of the South East UK
Just curious what people would not buy when it comes to a second hand car. This is what is on my list for a new-ish car only of course :

- Car that has not been garaged.
- Kerbed wheels.
- Non main dealer service.
- Major engine work in service history (replacement or part replacement).
- Non OEM or recognised additional items (think Halfords stuff).
- Not 4 the same make/model tyres.
 
How do you stand on stone chips on the bonnet or on the alloys? Two problems that annoy me with mine :evil:
 
What wouldn't put me off:
  • Not being garaged doesn't bother me as I'd me more worried about stuff falling onto cars that are garaged than left on the drive
  • Engine work done under warranty (although I'd prefer a whole new engine and ancillaries, rather than part strip/rebuild)
  • Repair work done under warranty (springs, roof motors, VANOS, sat-nav, etc.) - although if my springs haven't broken in all the driving I've done, I don't know how some people are driving their cars to break them
What would put me off:
  • Little 'bits' that should only take a few quid to sort, but have never been sorted
  • Incomplete service history (main dealer only when under warranty, and specialist afterwards with receipts/invoices - not just some back street garage)
  • Cheap or mismatched tyres
  • Cheap aftermarket wheels
  • Bi-colour or black leather seats
  • Soft-top or sun-roof (it's the vampire in me)
  • Electric steering
  • Kerbed wheels (although stone-chips & light scratches on wheels must be expected from a daily driver)
  • Significant body damage - dings, scrapes, scratches (pinhead-chips & light scratches must be expected from a daily driver)
  • Bright red/blue paint
  • Smelly interior/smoker's car
  • 'Performance' air-filter
  • Chip/re-map (and it's worse if they've had one and not mentioned it)
  • Fibs/lies in advert
Of course if it's from a dealer, you want everything perfect. I gave up trying to get the promised replacement door kick-plate from the place I bought mine from (although for the princely some of £65, I should probably do it myself).
 
pvr said:
- Car that has not been garaged.
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I think most daily drivers are always on the drive/road. But I agree with all other requirements.

I also have to add immaculate bodywork and interior trims.
 
Cosmetics like kerbing or not being garages wouldn't bother me I'd be happy to factor in a refurb and get the car detailed anyway. Dodgy paintwork ie resprays are trickier. I'm pretty suspicious of very low mileage as well, if it has been a DD then it's likely reliable and honest.
 
For me the garaged bit is important as:

- The rubbers and engine components have not been subject to extreme temperatures.
- Some issues such as weak / stiff connectors, bonnet catches etc seem to be relating to temperatures and permanent wet exposure. Thinking of sun roofs as well in that respect.

The above might become more apparent when the car gets a bit older and starts getting issues.

The cosmetics side like kerbing etc indicates to me that the seller does not care about the car as it has not been fixed. Damage can occur of course, but not repairing it shows lack of care.
 
mmm-five said:
What would put me off:
  • Little 'bits' that should only take a few quid to sort, but have never been sorted

I gave up trying to get the promised replacement door kick-plate from the place I bought mine from (although for the princely some of £65, I should probably do it myself).
Click to expand...

:poke: :poke: :poke:
 
pvr said:
For me the garaged bit is important as:

- The rubbers and engine components have not been subject to extreme temperatures.
- Some issues such as weak / stiff connectors, bonnet catches etc seem to be relating to temperatures and permanent wet exposure. Thinking of sun roofs as well in that respect.

The above might become more apparent when the car gets a bit older and starts getting issues.

The cosmetics side like kerbing etc indicates to me that the seller does not care about the car as it has not been fixed. Damage can occur of course, but not repairing it shows lack of care.
Click to expand...

If I can develop a soft seated safety valve for a Siberian train that has to be gas tight at -55 C and 10 bar, I am quite sure that BMW can do it for a car for a British winter easily enough for there to be no problem.
 
Perhaps not - think of the roof motor on the pre-facelift. Only cars parked outside would suffer from failure as the water collected outside kills the motor.
 
Things that have put me off in the past...

1. Low mileage cars which have been registered at London or other big city post codes ... = high clutch wear.

2. anything you know has spent a lot of its life parked by the coast. (that salty sea air smells great but does not do metals much good).

3. anything that someone has smoked in.


4. quick changes between owners.... anything less than 12 months has always lit up my warning lights.

Things that have clinched the deal for me in the past:

1. 100% complete Service History including receipts.
2. Garaged - keeps the hood in better nick.
3. previous owner being genuinely interested in the car he is selling.
 
Some good points in there - when I bought my VW Clipper, I rejected any that were near the coast. A couple even had water in the headlights, presumably because of the salt eating the rubbers away.
 
BMWZ4MC said:
mmm-five said:
What would put me off:
  • Little 'bits' that should only take a few quid to sort, but have never been sorted
I gave up trying to get the promised replacement door kick-plate from the place I bought mine from (although for the princely some of £65, I should probably do it myself).
Click to expand...
:poke: :poke: :poke:
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I know, but I don't really want to sell mine, and it's something I know I'll replace and ding the moment the new one is on (it's a little ding that you can only see from one angle. :P
 
pvr said:
Just curious what people would not buy when it comes to a second hand car. This is what is on my list for a new-ish car only of course :

- Car that has not been garaged.
- Kerbed wheels.
- Non main dealer service.
- Major engine work in service history (replacement or part replacement).
- Non OEM or recognised additional items (think Halfords stuff).
- Not 4 the same make/model tyres.
Click to expand...

If you bought your car from a dealer how would you ever know if it had been garaged? Also most cars at some point spend their time outdoors on the dealer forcourt.

Kerbed wheels wouldnt put me off as thats easily remidied... and i tend to change my wheels anyway.

But the other 3 i agree with.
 
pvr said:
aquazi said:
If you bought your car from a dealer how would you ever know if it had been garaged?
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Call the previous owner?
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Ahh good point; i've never tried contacting a previous owner for a car i have bought (all from dealers)
 
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