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What to look for when buying a car |
ÈL ® ö B ì Ñ
Joined: Feb 03, 2005
Posts: 281
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Hey,
I'm travelling around 110miles tomorrow to look at a ford focus I should be buying, but I've also bought a return train ticket just in case there's something I don't like etc.
Has anyone got any suggestions on things to look for and ask?
I've never bought a car before so I just know nothing at all 
I'll check the log book, kick the tyres, that's about it for me
Thanks
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MWEB
Joined: Feb 13, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: somewhere nicer than you
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Service history, receipts, all documents, make sure you are taken for a drive in it, from cold, lift up stuff to spot any accident damage or resprays, take a magnet, and stick it on suspect bits of bodywork to suss out filler, check ALL electrical bits work, listen for odd noises.
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masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
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in uk, even before I go to look at a car from a private seller I do a HPI check. its not expensive and can save you a whole heap of money and time
When buying my MR2 recently I saved myself a trip to Poole because the HPI came back that the car was previously written off in an accident although it had obviously met the criteria to be allowed back on the road. But for me I just couldn't live with that.
for a mileage check, the HPI should give a clue as to how correct it is, and when I get to the car I check any MOT certificate mileages with the service book. Fortunately the MR2 I got has every single MOT and a full service book so that was easy.
its worth then going onto an enthusiast site for the model (like the mr2 club in my case!) where you can usually find details of the specific things to look for and read posts about problems people have had with the model.
a little bit of research goes a very long way to save you money
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ÈL ® ö B ì Ñ
Joined: Feb 03, 2005
Posts: 281
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Thanks very much for the advice guys, appreciate it.
Going to do a bit of research now as you suggested mass, check for specific forums etc.
Will let you know how I get on 
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procterdc
Joined: Jun 03, 2005
Posts: 334
From: Lytham St.Annes
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You can now do the hpi by mobile phone
http://www.thecheck.co.uk/
Its instant reply aswell mate.
It ain't about how hard you hit, its about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward - Rocky Balboa |
jcwhite_uk
Joined: Feb 18, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Dorset, UK Phone:Xperia Z1
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Here is also a list of ommon faults on Fords (seems to be mainly Focus's):
http://www.bba-reman.com/cont[....]_common_problems_and_solutions
Checkout my photos at My Website"Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together." |
totalgsm
Joined: Jan 12, 2007
Posts: > 500
From: totalgsm.org
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They do a checklist of some 100 points or something.
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fatreg
Joined: Jul 26, 2003
Posts: > 500
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On 2008-10-28 20:10:29, masseur wrote:
I saved myself a trip to Poole
That's a shame! you could have come and said Hi!
http://www.drivebuy.co.uk/site/viewpage.php?page=159
that works well...
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[ This Message was edited by: fatreg on 2008-10-29 08:13 ] |
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Posted: 2008-10-28 19:57
