A personal car is no longer a luxury, but an absolute must, ensuring independence and freedom of movement. When you decide to buy a car, there are many reasons in favor of a used foreign car. Especially if you have just received a license and you need a car not for representative purposes, but for everyday needs and the acquisition of safe driving skills.
Before going to the seller
One of the main stages of the process of choosing and buying a used foreign car is preparatory. Decide what the maximum amount you are willing to spend, and keep in mind that approximately 20% of it will need to be paid after purchasing the car for registration of the transaction, insurance, registration, inspection and repair.
You need to first decide which brands and models are preferable for you, taking into account the remaining financial reserves. This will allow you to go to the relevant forums on the Internet and chat with the owners of such cars, who will be happy to tell you about the features of a particular brand and model, as well as give valuable advice on what you should pay attention to when buying.
You can also use the Internet to choose a car and find out its real market value depending on the year of manufacture and condition. For example, the auto.ru website has a convenient query system that allows you to make selections for any parameters. You can also choose a suitable car on other popular sites: avito.ru, drom.ru, irr.ru, auto.mail.ru or auto.dmir.ru.
Call the owners of those cars that you have selected through the ads. Already at the stage of a telephone conversation, you can weed out those cars that are definitely not suitable for you, and thereby save yourself a lot of time. Ask about the state of the car: whether it was in an accident and how many times, whether the body was painted, whether there is corrosion, what kind of oil is used for the engine and how often it is poured, how much oil is enough for 10 thousand km. Find out what is the consumption of gasoline in city mileage, the general condition of the passenger compartment, the checkpoint - for the presence of noise, whether there are PTS inserts that should not be. Have the owner dictate the VIN to you for verification. If you are satisfied with the answers, make an appointment with the owner.
What to look for
You should immediately exclude the option of buying a car that has been in an accident. This, in addition to the assurances of the seller, can be judged by some indirect signs. For example, if the car is relatively new, but it has already been repainted, or if the glasses have different markings or the year of manufacture. Different widths of the hood and trunk slots, which are sometimes found on new Russian cars, are unacceptable for foreign cars, therefore, it can also be considered a sign that the part was removed and repaired. If possible, check the paint layer for a thick layer of putty using a special device.
Check the chassis and, if the seller drives himself, sit in the back seat to listen to the engine running. Nothing should buzz and knock, and when driving on an uneven surface, there should be no extraneous noise and squeaks. If you are unsure of your knowledge, bring a friend with you with extensive experience with cars.
