Unlike the main European markets, in Spain the used and second-hand car sector is still in the process of maturing, however, in recent years the awareness of society with the purchase of this type has accelerated vehicular. In fact, we have realized that it does not make sense to pay more for a new car when in 4 or 5 years we are going to change it . Now, how do you know if that second-hand car is reliable?
That the used car is reliable is the most important thing
Just because; Regardless of whether we are used (or not) to buying a second-hand car, this task can raise doubts, especially when you do not know the use given to it by its previous owner or its maintenance history, as ordered by the General Directorate of Traffic.
Just because; Regardless of the type of driver or how you’ve treated this car you’re about to buy, they all have one thing in common: they need their vehicle to be reliable and in good repair .
This, as such, is assumed if it is a new car or one that has only a short passage of time on it (and also has a guarantee to deal with possible defects in its first years of life), but when it is used or second hand it can become a concern for the buyer.
How to find out
As such, and first of all, to make a good choice, the best advice would perhaps be a very simple one, and that is that you should never buy the first second-hand car you see .
Or what is the same; Making a good purchase involves a lot of time looking at ads, getting information and seeing cars in person, so patience, judgment and a good dose of critical thinking, because sellers will always tell us how good their cars are, and our mission is to put everything in order. Doubt until proven otherwise.
In this, the truth is that it is not always easy to detect possible faults or symptoms of a car in poor condition. For this reason, and regardless of the owner’s word, he will have no problem (or should not) allow us to take the car to a trusted workshop. We can also opt for a series of reviews on our own; The purpose of this is to prevent fraud and protect the buyer against defects and hidden defects that were not mentioned in the initial conditions.
Check the condition of the engine
The most important thing when checking a second-hand car is that it does not have mechanical failures, since they can be the most expensive to repair. Thus, when it comes to opening the hood, it will show us at a first glance how it is, seeing if the engine is very old, and especially how the owner has treated and preserved the car. If the engine is very neglected , with a lot of dirt, grease, and corrosion on the battery and other elements, it is better to forget about buying that vehicle.
Then, and if it appears to be fine, you have to check the oil . To do this, we will extract the rod and verify that it is at an optimal level (between the minimum and the maximum), although the best indication for a purchase is that the liquid does not look too bad. It is also worth noting if the engine has leaks . Or what is the same; If we observe the presence of liquids where there shouldn’t be, or improvised rivets or homemade gaskets made of rubber, the engine is in very poor condition. For a propellant to be in good health, it should not have traces of liquid anywhere.
Its interior
Upholstery, gear lever, switches, dashboard, anchors, seat belts… these are important safety and comfort systems . The failure indicators on the panel should go off when the ignition is on after a few seconds.
On the other hand, check the good condition of the lights, the windshield, if there are any blows to the sheet metal… it must be taken into account that they are points against in order to take out a new insurance policy, which can be detrimental to security and that therefore, they must be repaired.
Driving test
On the other hand, it is necessary to carry out the start-up checks. If it does it fast the first time, it means that there are no problems with the battery or the starter motor. Likewise, no mechanical failure warning light or maintenance signal should jump on the instrument panel. As well as strange noises , vibrations or rattles.
Immediately we will look at the smoke that the car expels. Despite being a used car , it should never be excessive , although at first it may be more abundant than when it warms up. It should also be as translucent as possible ; If it is very thick and opaque, depending on the color it can indicate different faults.
