The Sunday News
Lovert Mafukure
The used car market is saturated with all kind of cars. New Cars, beautiful cars, “mint” cars, wrecks, rust buckets…you name them. They are all on the market for different reasons.
Cars are assets and as such there may be a need to liquidate when the time comes. They can also be problematic assets and some people get rid of them when they are tired of fixing them every day.
That is the reason you need a Pre-purchase inspection – because you need an asset and not a liability.
A Pre-purchase inspection is a must-have; this article will show you why you should not just jump into closing a deal before an inspection.
It costs a little money but nothing compared to what you can save during the negotiation process or in the long run. If you believe you could pull it off yourself here are some pointers.
The engine would be the first point for inspection. Engines and transmission systems make up the car. If they were human, they would be the heart, the brain and the blood in your veins.
Few people service cars when they are supposed to and poor service or maintenance is not good for any car. Nowadays there are very unscrupulous that they can doll up a dead engine just to sell it but an experienced eye can tell the engine that has put on makeup for a quick sale.
The type of fumes coming out of the exhaust can easily calculate the remaining life of an engine. The fumes can tell you if an engine is worn, if it has internal damage or if it needs a major service.
Likewise the fumes can tell you if you buying an engine that will last you the mile.
An engine that has not yet been opened is always better than one which has. Why, you would ask? Some mechanics know what they are doing and some well, they just shouldn’t be trusted. Others pay attention to detail while others just want to get it over and done with.
With the roads in our country, suspension systems take in most of the shock . Tyres, dampers and bushes all wear out fast.
Alignment issues, uneven tyre wear and worn bushes are common occurrence. It’s good to keep in mind therefore the price of the car and what it will cost to repair whatever is worn.
Some luxury cars that come with air suspension like the luxury Lexus models or S class Mercedes can be a nightmare when the fancy gadgetry decides to give up the ghost.
Over time the airbags or the air struts and compressors stop working sometimes due to wear and tear or wet rust or for any other reason. They are very expensive to fix and when they die out and it’s near impossible to even drive the car as the car will just sit on its own tyres. S class Mercs with plummeting suspension are a common sight.
It’s wise to watch out for suspension issues if you intend on buying such cars. If you see uneven tyre wear, start walking away or start negotiating for a lower price because that’s a sign of expensive problems.
Cars from Europe suffer from one thing and that is rust. Rust is a menace, its like an African eating chicken, they just won’t stop until the plate is empty.
Rust isn’t easily found but causes a plethora of problems under the car. Whenever rust starts appearing on the surface, imagine the spots you can’t see.
You do not want to buy a rust bucket, it’s not safe so watch out for rusty frame, fender wells, springs and the like.
There are many refurbished cars on our roads. Some are accident rebuilds. There are people so good at their job that sometimes you may never know if a car has been repaired or not. You should be able to know if the car you want to buy has any accident history. A good experienced eye can tell. That knowledge can give you a good negotiating edge because some cars are overprized when they are rebuilds.
It’s a good thing that cars now come with onboard diagnostics. They tell you what may be wrong at any given time. All warning lights should go off once the car starts running.
You do not want to buy a car with engine warning lights on or any warning light at that. It simply means something will need attention upfront. While still on the dash cluster, make sure that the odometer works properly; many cars have had their odometers rolled back.
Any evidence of tempering around the cluster may just point to the fact. A car should also idle correct, no hunting, no jerking. It should not be a rough idle. All cylinders should fire then you know you will not have problems in the short run.
Remember, used cars are sold voot-stoets, meaning they are sold as they are, as you see them. If after driving for 100metres the car packs up, it’s your baby.
There are so many pitfalls and one needs to have a car thoroughly checked before buying because you may never know, someone maybe trying to sell you a sour lemon.-@lovert116
Automart Used Spares Centre – Quality Used Japanese Spares
+263 772 33 99 38 – [email protected]/ Facebook: @automartusc
