|
eTyres care about our customers. The
following article may be of interest.
The smart girls' guide to buying a car
by Sophie Evans
Buying a new car, or a car that's new to you, can be a
minefield. Women are traditionally vulnerable to con men
when buying cars, taking their cars for a service or
anything else related to motoring for that matter.
Although we'd like to think that times have changed, and
in the most part they have, there are still car sales
people waiting for an innocent looking female to trot
through the door. This applies to men too, so don't be
offended! At CoverGirl Car Insurance we want you to get
the best deal, cheap insurance and above all a great
car. So, we've compiled a concise guide to what can be
one of the most expensive purchases you'll have to make.
The first thing you will need to do is decide whether
you want a new or used car. You probably have a make and
model in mind already, so it's best to do as much
research into the car as possible. You can look in trade
guides and on the internet to get some ideas about the
production and engineering of your desired car. If you
go to the dealer armed with this information then you
will know what to look for and will know about any parts
of the car that are particularly expensive to replace.
Whilst doing your research you could also look out for
any common problems with your car. For example certain
vehicles have notoriously bad electrics and you could be
left having to pay a large bill to have them repaired.
So what's the best bet, new or used?
Buying a new car Buying a new car gives you the peace of
mind that your car hasn't been rescued from an accident
and 'cut and shut' (more about this later). Plus you
don't have to worry about service history and recurring
problems.
If you decide to buy a new car then you have three
options. You can either buy from dealership, from a
broker or by personal import from Europe. There are pros
and cons to each option so you should look carefully at
each to decide what's best for you. The benefits and
pitfalls of each are as follows:
Dealership: Many dealers offer cheap finance schemes
with frequent special offers, you can take the car for a
test drive and you also may be able trade in your
existing car. This is often a more expensive option so
it's worth looking around.
Broker: It is often cheaper to buy through a broker and
relatively easy to organise. You may not be able trade
your car in.
Personal imports from Europe: Cheaper in the majority of
cases. However this is not the easiest way to buy a car.
You'll have to put in quite a bit of work.
What to check when you collect your car We advise that
you check your new car over before you drive off the
forecourt. There are a few key things to check:
•That you've got a copy of the dealers pre-delivery
inspection form •Check that all lights, electrics, sound
systems, alarms, door locks and windscreen wipers work
•Check for any scratches and check that there is no
damage to the interior •Check you've got the spare tyre
and any tools that are supposed to come with the car
•Make sure you've got the manual and service book
Buying a used car When you buy a used car there are a
few more pitfalls to look out for but you can bag
yourself a bargain if you look in the right place. It
can also be great fun deciding whether you want a sexy
classic like an Alfa Romeo Spider or a bargain
run-around like a Ford Ka. Whether you chose to buy from
a dealer or from the private market you'll need see the
history of the car. This is really important. You can
either buy from a franchised dealer, a used car dealer
or privately. Here are some of the pros of buying from
each:
Franchised dealer: One of the safest places to buy a
car. You'll get a great choice from a franchise. You can
get used or nearly new cars. A franchised dealership
also might know the entire history of the car. They will
also provide you with a warranty, so if anything goes
wrong you can take it back and they will fix it.
Used car dealer: They will usually have checked that
there is no bad history or outstanding finance. Most
dealers have an excellent reputation but you should
exercise some caution and again, do your own research
about the type of car you've chosen. You will usually
get at least a 3 month warranty from a used car dealer.
But check to see what it covers. Service items like
tyres, exhausts and brake pads are not usually covered.
Private purchase: Best place for an excellent bargain.
This is the riskiest way to buy a car as the car could
have been involved in an accident, and might not belong
to the seller. You should ask to meet at the sellers'
home or work and ask the following questions:
1.Is it your car? 2.Has the car ever been in an
accident? 3.Can I have a signed receipt?
'Cut and shut', counterfeit parts, car ringing and
clocking
Unfortunately there are many unscrupulous people out
there wanting to make a buck out of the innocent car
buyer. Some of the tactics undertaken by an unethical
minority leave drivers with dangerous, illegal and
unreliable cars. Many cars are stolen and sold on or
taken from accidents and patched up to look like new.
The following are some ploys that con men use to cheat
the buyer:
'Cut and Shut' This is when two cars are taken from a
scrap yard after write off accidents and welded
together. This is extremely dangerous and potentially
difficult to spot. Look for mismatched panels, traces of
paint on window seals and door handles, mismatched
upholstery and signs of serious repair work. It is very
difficult to spot a cut and shut but it's worth a closer
inspection in case the person who carried out the work
has cut corners.
Counterfeit parts These are fraudulent copies of genuine
manufacturer branded components. They are intended to
deceive motorists and can be incredibly realistic. They
are however not intended to be safe. Their makers don't
care about the potential safety threat to future
drivers. They have started to make fake brake pads,
discs and steering linkages. All of these could cause
fatal accidents if they go wrong. You probably won't
have the opportunity to check parts before they are
fitted to your new car, but it is something you should
be aware of when buying a second hand vehicle.
'Car ringing' This is where a stolen car has its
identification number changed. The vehicle
identification number is taken from vehicles that have
been written off in an accident. By forging these
details thieves can pass off stolen cars as the genuine
article to innocent car buyers. Once you've paid for a
'ringer', it's too late. It does not belong to you and
if it is traced it will be returned to the original
owner, so you will lose out considerably. You can look
out for this by checking all documents to see if they
look forged. If there is little or no paperwork you
should also be suspicious.
'Car clocking' This is when the car's odometer is
reduced to make it look as if the car has not done as
many miles as it has. This makes cars look more valuable
than they are. If the mileage of a car looks
suspiciously low you should look for other tell tale
signs such as wear and tear to the pedal rubbers and
seats.
All of the above are seriously detrimental to the buyer
and will leave you with a stolen, dangerous or faulty
vehicle. If you have any doubts it is advisable to get
an independent vehicle inspector to check the car before
you buy it. This will avoid any potential fraud and will
eliminate the risk to you.
Good luck! Buying a car should be fun. You could end up
with the car of your dreams - if you follow our guide.
It really is worth checking for any discrepancies before
you make the purchase. There are many ways to check the
history and safety of the car so it's easy to do and
worth it in the long term.
Once you've bought your car you'll need to insure it.
Visit CoverGirl Car Insurance
www.covergirlcarinsurance.co.uk 0800 195 48 52 to get
car insurance exclusively for women.
-ENDS-
Editorial notes: CoverGirl provide cheap car insurance
for women. Great value quotes are available online at
www.covergirlcarinsurance.co.uk
About the Author
By Sophie Evans CoverGirl Car Insurance
www.covergirlcarinsurance.co.uk 0800 195 48 52
|
