Top tips for buying first car

Revan

Hi

Hopefully going to buy my first car on Saturday. Would appreciate any advice - top tips, things to watch out for, that type of thing.

Looking at 2007 Corolla for 12k - still some haggling to do!

Thanks

Henry Ford III

Pay a mechanic to view it for you?

Also be absolutely aware of the cars true value. Beforehand.

Revan

should have said that am buying from a dealership so presumably a mechanic has looked at it already.

Tipsy Mac

If your paying for it straight with no trade in I would start an offer of 20% less than sticker price and work up, don't pay more than 90% of listed price. Car will have remainder of 3 years Toyota warrenty remaining, would be worth your while seeing what month it was purchased to see when it will expire next year.

bazz26

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

If your paying for it straight with no trade in I would start an offer of 20% less than sticker price and work up, don't pay more than 90% of listed price. Car will have remainder of 3 years Toyota warrenty remaining, would be worth your while seeing what month it was purchased to see when it will expire next year.

And to add to that I would expect a 12 month warranty with a used 07 car, so if there is still 6 months to go on the Toyota warranty I would expect the dealer to add another 6 months warranty of their own on top of that as the 6 months remaining Toyota warranty is really costing the dealer nothing.

Seth Brundle

Revan wrote: »

should have said that am buying from a dealership so presumably a mechanic has looked at it already.

Ha Ha Ha
Don't kid yourself as the mechanic that inspected it will not be an independent one!

Don't forget that there is always plenty more cars out there. Don't feel obliged to buy the first one that you see.

Take heed to the advice of the mechanic that you bring. If you do buy from the dealer, make sure that the warranty is in writing. A verbal warranty is worth the paper its written on!

Reginald P. DuM

MyWheels.ie - Ireland's only FREE automobile history check

Put the reg in here too, its free, will give ya some idea as to it's known history. Also note that for the ownership count, a stint in a garage forecourt awaiting sale counts as 1 owner. And don't pay more than 10k for it.

Mr. Fantastic

Ive been looking for a car for some time now and I am disgusted at the number of con men disguising themselves as "private sellers".

The reality is... if someone is buying cars and selling them on from their home or some makeshift garage they are very likely up to no good.
We all know how easy it is to clock cars today!!

You get the usual stories... selling due to job loss, company car, new baby, emigrating blah blah blah.

If it is too good to be true... its a lie, especially when it comes to buying a car.

The easiest way to find out if someone is a unregistered dealer is to google their phone number. This will show you how many cars the "private seller" has or had for sale online.

Try it and see for yourselves!!

daveharnett

The best advise I can give is to take your time. Drive half a dozen examples of the car you're after, and take them for a proper spin, not once around the block.

Under no circumstances should you put money down before you're ready. Cars aren't moving fast - if a deal is on the table today, it will still be on the table tomorrow.

ABajaninCork

I would say to get an HPI and AA/RAC check before you buy....

MidlandsM

Revan wrote: »

should have said that am buying from a dealership so presumably a mechanic has looked at it already.

Presume NOTHING!;)

Lando Griffin

Its probably better to go with a main dealer and a car with full service history, you might pay more but you should get a warrentee on everything except the clutch. When bringing it for a test drive make sure you get the engine good and hot. Of course always check the ground where it was parked for any type of fluid. Dont look at car in the rain as wont you spot any paint jobs. If you get a good vibe with the car bring along mechanic to have a look over it. Look at car sales media and check what the normal price is for that model.

Alanstrainor

Plesae start a new thread rather than bumping old ones.