Assistance in buying a second hand car Cape Town

[ar.rev]

Hi Guys

I read the pinned piece of information in regards to purchasing second hand car. really useful. but some of the pointers i dont have the luxury of time as my work requires me to be mobile at all times.

I am wanting to buy a second hand car in cape town asap! the longer i sit at home the longer i lose money and work a car is my life line. my previous car i bought second hand was a lemon. other then the pointers that was pinned, how can i guarantee i dont purchase another lemon.

I was informed before making the final purchase i should schedule an appointment with the AA to verify the cars status. I was also informed by a car dealership using AA to validate a vehicle is a mistake and those who operate at the AA are mechanics who cant get work.

any help would be appreciated, desperation has settled in for me and i dont wanna make a bad decision whilst being so desperate.

 

[el_guapo3291]

It all comes down to how much car/mechanical knowledge you posses yourself, I am by no means an expert but I used to help out my uncle at his workshop when I was 10/11. First thing you want to do is write down of all the checks you want to do, I probably will miss out a lot of things so check on youtube and google for a more comprehensive list but some of the things I look for:

1) Engine Oil, pull out the dipstick check the consistency of the oil and especially watch out for debris or milky consistency which I would say are major red flags, walk away right then. Also check the Radiator coolant for traces of OIL or severe Corrosion.
2) Check the service history, lack of service history should be considered as no servicing was done unless there are invoices to prove regular services were done (much better to have a proper service history with a reputable workshop though)
3) Check all the the hoses and rubbers in the engine bay and while doing that also look out for any oil leaks, don't forget to get under the vehicle check from there as well.
4) Walk around and check all the body panels, look for mis-alignment which would mostly likely indicate an accident, also pay attention to paint consistency and keep an eye out for overspray.
5) Inspect and test all equipment in the interior, try not to miss anything out.
6) Start the engine, pay attention to how smooth the start is and if it's idling smoothly
7) Go on a test drive, keep the windows open and don't use the radio. Listen carefully for any weird noise either from the engine or suspension. Try to get a mix of suburb and highway driving. Pay attention to power delivery and where possible do some slighty hard pulls on it. Also a good time to test the brakes
8) Write down the VIN number and go have it checked with the police or there are services that can do it for you
9) Lastly you will often find the previous owner's number in the service book, might be worth giving them a call and see why they sold it.

Main thing don't be afraid to walk away and also remember if it's too good to be true then there probably is something wrong with it.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[ar.rev]

appreciated! my car knowledge is horrendous, will insure i take a list and all of the above. my better judgement is absent as i am currently bleeding money so appreciate it!

 

[Qui_Illustrati]

appreciated! my car knowledge is horrendous, will insure i take a list and all of the above. my better judgement is absent as i am currently bleeding money so appreciate it!

Take a friend along as well. 2 pairs of eyes helps. They could spot something you're missing and have no skin in the game so able to offer an unemotional perspective. Also helps having the 2nd person around to check exterior elements lights,rear, front, brights, fog, brake, reverse, indicator lights, smoke out the exhaust etc etc etc.
Also, something to add to the list, check disc brakes and pads. Run your finger over the disc brakes and check for excessive wear or a prominent lip.

 

[ar.rev]

thank you!

 

[IOPS]

Ask a lot of questions, they don't have to be technical and don't rush into making a purchase decision.

AA checks are great. If a dealership is trying to avoid it, that's a red flag for me.

Try and save time by scrolling around autotrader.co.za, instead of blindly walking into a dealership without a set goal in mind.

 

[PsychoErtjie]

Used Car Buying Advice | Cars, Bikes, Trains & Planes

Warning. This is a TLDR post. If you are not interested or in the market for buying a car don't bother reading further. If you would like a few tips for your next vehicle purchase then read on. This is a pretty long post and I may edit and add in a few things over time. So there have been a few...

carbonite.co.za

Here you go

 

[ar.rev]

Ask a lot of questions, they don't have to be technical and don't rush into making a purchase decision.

AA checks are great. If a dealership is trying to avoid it, that's a red flag for me.

Try and save time by scrolling around autotrader.co.za, instead of blindly walking into a dealership without a set goal in mind.

i went into a dealership and i asked if the AA would be acceptable before payment is made and though he agreed he than insulted them which left a sour taste so i didnt stay long and left.

I eventually just decided to be safer side of things and go to Barons V&A and get a used car there with a service, maintenance and warranty plan. they also said i can bring the vehicle back within 30 days if there is any issues. I didnt take a car yet as I wasnt able to test drive the one that has my interests ,as it was stationed on in the lot warehouse as its next up scheduled for a full barons servicing before it can be test driven and sold.

they said they'll call me tuesday or wednesday when the car is ready for a test drive and a full inspection and ready for the AA to inspect it, i placed a holding buyers fee on the vehicle which is fully refundable.

they did offer me a warranty for the engine, clutch and gearbox but id rather go with the full plan for 5 years.

excuse my naivety as cars is not my playground nor is it a language i am able to process for some reason which is shocking quite frankly. so thoroughly appreciate the help here.

i aslo forgot to mentioned i surfed autotrader found cars thats less than 3 years old with low milage, but they were sold i was either a day or 3 days too late, i also visited a few dealerships some were dodgy and not willing to help and some were helpful but offered nothing that peaked my interest or measured up to this great list on the pinned forums, i noticed a few cars with the paint issue exactly as stated in the "posted pin" and walked away immediately.

 

[nephilm]

Not really an answer to your question but this might help you when it comes down to actually choosing a ride if the current offer falls through:
A very useful video on how to check for mechanical issues on the car if you're not a petrol head:

Check out some of his other videos on purchasing a car for more helpful tips.
If you have a prospect but are unsure about its history, use this site if you can access the VIN number:
VIN number & Car history checker or VehicleCheck ™

 

[stevencal]

i went into a dealership and i asked if the AA would be acceptable before payment is made and though he agreed he than insulted them which left a sour taste so i didnt stay long and left.

I eventually just decided to be safer side of things and go to Barons V&A and get a used car there with a service, maintenance and warranty plan. they also said i can bring the vehicle back within 30 days if there is any issues. I didnt take a car yet as I wasnt able to test drive the one that has my interests ,as it was stationed on in the lot warehouse as its next up scheduled for a full barons servicing before it can be test driven and sold.

they said they'll call me tuesday or wednesday when the car is ready for a test drive and a full inspection and ready for the AA to inspect it, i placed a holding buyers fee on the vehicle which is fully refundable.

they did offer me a warranty for the engine, clutch and gearbox but id rather go with the full plan for 5 years.

excuse my naivety as cars is not my playground nor is it a language i am able to process for some reason which is shocking quite frankly. so thoroughly appreciate the help here.

i aslo forgot to mentioned i surfed autotrader found cars thats less than 3 years old with low milage, but they were sold i was either a day or 3 days too late, i also visited a few dealerships some were dodgy and not willing to help and some were helpful but offered nothing that peaked my interest or measured up to this great list on the pinned forums, i noticed a few cars with the paint issue exactly as stated in the "posted pin" and walked away immediately.

Baron’s by the V&A is definitely a safe bet, have had family members purchase cars from them and their staff were incredibly friendly and as of yet none of the cars have had any mechanical issues whatsoever.
Hard vouch.

 

[RyotNomad78]

One other thing is to keep brand in mind.

BMWs and stuff are nice but they come with a lot of uncertainty.

Similar with french and italian cars. They're nice cars but cost of ownership can be high.

It doesn't matter how well a car is maintained if it's design is prone to problems

Stick to the simple japanese and korean cars.

 

[TheJudge]

Take a friend along as well. 2 pairs of eyes helps. They could spot something you're missing and have no skin in the game so able to offer an unemotional perspective. Also helps having the 2nd person around to check exterior elements lights,rear, front, brights, fog, brake, reverse, indicator lights, smoke out the exhaust etc etc etc.
Also, something to add to the list, check disc brakes and pads. Run your finger over the disc brakes and check for excessive wear or a prominent lip.

Another great reason for two people is that it's far harder to distract two people. My wife and I always check things together, she talks and I walk around. The person can't focus on both of us at once so can't guide us around issues they don't want seen.

 

[ar.rev]

you guys are legends! thank you!

 

[🇹🇭🇪 🇩🇴🇳]

You can pay smaller garage mechanics a R500 or so to accompany you. Look for retired workshop guys preferably and they usually have no investment other than being honest. Randomizing this work to someone with a great rep can be a good cost-effective pair of eyes that will immediately flag inconsistencies on your behalf. The other thing is prep work, a car with an oil leak and such can be temporarily fixed, wiped, and hidden in ways to pass a test drive even sometimes, they may pre-heat the car to hide misfires. They may polish with paint matching gloss which even to a lot of car guys will not allow them to clearly distinguish an over-spray. The thing is even if you get a great car it's a hunk of moving parts so anything can happen, get a good plan on the car, and do not skimp with cheap warranties from small providers. Some cars come with a great history and well-timed selling so you may be buying a car that is highly prone to failure around the mark and lack of care in those regards can land you into high ownership costs.

 

[Joshuaj]

It all comes down to how much car/mechanical knowledge you posses yourself, I am by no means an expert but I used to help out my uncle at his workshop when I was 10/11. First thing you want to do is write down of all the checks you want to do, I probably will miss out a lot of things so check on youtube and google for a more comprehensive list but some of the things I look for:

1) Engine Oil, pull out the dipstick check the consistency of the oil and especially watch out for debris or milky consistency which I would say are major red flags, walk away right then. Also check the Radiator coolant for traces of OIL or severe Corrosion.
2) Check the service history, lack of service history should be considered as no servicing was done unless there are invoices to prove regular services were done (much better to have a proper service history with a reputable workshop though)
3) Check all the the hoses and rubbers in the engine bay and while doing that also look out for any oil leaks, don't forget to get under the vehicle check from there as well.
4) Walk around and check all the body panels, look for mis-alignment which would mostly likely indicate an accident, also pay attention to paint consistency and keep an eye out for overspray.
5) Inspect and test all equipment in the interior, try not to miss anything out.
6) Start the engine, pay attention to how smooth the start is and if it's idling smoothly
7) Go on a test drive, keep the windows open and don't use the radio. Listen carefully for any weird noise either from the engine or suspension. Try to get a mix of suburb and highway driving. Pay attention to power delivery and where possible do some slighty hard pulls on it. Also a good time to test the brakes
8) Write down the VIN number and go have it checked with the police or there are services that can do it for you
9) Lastly you will often find the previous owner's number in the service book, might be worth giving them a call and see why they sold it.

Main thing don't be afraid to walk away and also remember if it's too good to be true then there probably is something wrong with it.

Hope that helps a bit.

i offer a service of checking the vehicle you before you purchase. from accident damage to oil and general motor checks etc, dont get caught buying a lemon of a car or even a stolen car. contact me and i am happy to assist