There are a few things to consider when buying a used car. In the case of damage, mileage, and contract drafting, manipulation is often carried out to the detriment of buyers when you buy and sell used cars (ซื้อขาย รถ มือ 2 which is the term in Thai).
Tips For Buying A Car
Buying a car takes time, and a serious seller does not push potential customers. You should always go to see it in pairs – ideally with a specialist or an experienced layperson. A checklist, such as that provided by auto clubs and used car exchanges on the Internet, is a helpful reminder. There are also model contracts for private car purchases.
Examine the car from the outside: The car should be viewed in the light in dry weather and be easily accessible all around. If the car is in a hall, it must be well lit. Wet vehicles make it difficult to see repaired parts and paint damage. Rust lurks in hidden corners such as wheel arches, trunks, and under carpets. A musty smell in the interior indicates moisture in the car. If possible, look under the car as well. Oil stains on the floor are an alarm signal.
Accident damage: uneven gaps between individual components are suspect: If, for example, the gaps between the bonnet and fenders are of different widths on both sides, the body has probably warped. Well-repaired paint damage is difficult to see with the naked eye. A weak magnet reveals areas that have been filled because it does not adhere to them.
Retrieve data: After purchasing, you can use the Advice and information system of the insurance industry to request information about your car. In the case of total write-offs, the data is stored for a long time; in the case of minor damage, it is usually deleted after a shorter period, for example, after a repair.
Look under the bonnet: An engine that is too clean and freshly cleaned should make you wonder. With an engine wash, the seller could have removed traces and concealed leaks. Hoses and seals should be dry and not brittle. Are there traces of spilled liquids? If the coolant in the expansion tank is cloudy, this can indicate a defective cylinder head gasket. Look for stickers or tags with the mileage and date of fluid changes and compare the information with the odometer reading.
Check papers: It is essential to have a service booklet to document vehicle maintenance as thoroughly as possible. Repair certificates and test reports from the central inspections create additional trust. When does the car have to go back to the TÜV? With the help of the entries in the papers, the mileage can also be checked – more reliably than with the odometer reading because it is easy to manipulate. Many previous owners can indicate that the car was often resold because it was prone to breakdowns.
Check functions and interior: Test the essential electrical functions such as lighting, air conditioning, electric exterior mirrors, heated seats, and the radio. The interior should look clean and tidy. A heavily worn steering wheel, worn seats, and worn pedal rubbers indicate very high mileage.
Take a test drive: The engine should be cold and start immediately. When the ignition is switched on, the indicator lights in the cockpit (ABS, ESP, airbags) must light up and go out when the engine starts. Some defects such as a warped lane, a broken steering, or defective shock absorbers only become noticeable at high speed: the car pulls to the side or is badly cornering. Therefore, also drive outside of a town and switch through all gears up and back again.
