Choosing and buying a car, especially on secondary market used cars are not an easy task for a beginner. How to choose a used car so that after a short time it does not overshadow the joy of acquiring it, we decided to ask Alexei Frolov, head of the Center for used cars at the Mandarin Auto Center.
Alexey, when the buyer has chosen the car he wants to buy, where should he start his check?
I recommend starting with the identity of the car, it is certified by the Passport of the technical equipment (PTS). This is very important document, it reflects information about all owners, the current owner, year of manufacture, color and body type, an identification number. Note that the text in the document is never filled in by hand.
It is necessary to verify the data from the PTS with the indicators of the machine itself. The PTS blank, like banknotes, is issued at Goznak enterprises and is protected by microtexts and watermarks. The text on the hologram should be easy to read and clearly visible. On the reverse side in the upper left corner, there is a holographic sign that changes color from bright green to gray.
I advise you to pay special attention to data reconciliation:
Year of manufacture of the technical equipment (included in the identification number, it is often written on seat belt anchors and glasses);
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) consists of seventeen digits. Only on old domestic cars or Japanese domestic releases, this number may not be available;
Model and engine number. All signs on the engine platform must be legible and clear. In case the digits are faintly visible or damaged by corrosion, there must be a police report of the examination. Otherwise, there may be a suspicion that the number was interrupted for fraudulent purposes;
Frame or chassis number (relevant for SUVs);
The body number can be found in the cabin under the passenger seat or under the hood. Be careful, license plates should not be repainted.
How can you protect yourself from unscrupulous fraudulent sellers?
Today, checking a car for the fact of theft or other criminal past can take place in any department or post of traffic police. If you buy a used car from a dealership, then you may be provided with a service to check the car for “cleanliness”. Do not neglect this. For example, in our salon, such a service exists as part of the Deal Guarantor program.
What useful information should a potential buyer take from the car's service book?
The service book reflects information about the latest fluid changes or official repairs. If the repair work was carried out a very long time ago, take a closer look at the operation of the engine and the condition of the chassis.
Many people have a question, how to identify damage to the car body?
In the secondary market, more than half of the cars in the past have been in accidents, so a body inspection is very important when choosing a car. It does not matter if it was repainted due to poor-quality factory painting. It is more terrible if the owner masked the traces of a serious accident by painting. It could affect the quality of the chassis and the geometry of the body.
Before checking the car body, make sure it is clean. I advise you to inspect the surface of the body to check the quality paintwork materials and the presence of corrosion spots. The coating must have a uniform structure and one color tone. The difference in graininess in metallic shades, shagreen, smudges in the form of frozen drops, turbidity, stains - all this gives you a reason to ask a couple of extra questions to the seller.
Don't forget to check the car for corrosion. The main areas where it occurs - thresholds, bottom, fenders, wheel arches, can be checked with a magnet. The air that has accumulated in the metal exfoliated from corrosion will prevent tight adhesion. Be carefull! dense layer anti-corrosion coating best masks rusty places.
Do not be lazy and drive the car onto the overpass, if this is not possible, then use the mirror. Inspect the bottom inside the cabin for driving position under the rug, tap with a screwdriver, sinking or dull sounds indicate the presence of corrosion. Surface defects body parts dents or bulges also speak of repair work Low quality.
Stand perpendicular to the surface you are looking at and pay attention to the following nuances: along the hood, roof, left and right side of the car. You will immediately see all the irregularities. Check suspicious places with a magnet. Attach it and swipe along. Remember that a large amount of putty reduces the attraction of the magnet to the iron.
When checking body parts, pay attention to the fact that the gaps must be equal along the entire length. At foreign cars gaps from 3 to 5 millimeters, Russian ones have a little more. Mounted parts (doors, hood and trunk lids) should not protrude when closed, the joints should ideally be even and symmetrical. Check that everything hinged parts well and equally closed, without the application of additional efforts. Problems may indicate a violation of the geometry of the body.
Assess the location of the engine if it has tilt angles and is not horizontal the vehicle has probably been in a head-on collision. Pay special attention to the side members, paintwork chips or iron folds indicate body deformation, apparently, the car was “pulled out” before the sale.
An important point when buying a used car is to identify the accuracy of the body geometry. How to identify this detail?
Of course, the accuracy of the body geometry, check the control points on a special stand. Another option is when driving. Violation of the geometry will show the wrong angle of the wheels, as soon as you release the steering wheel, the car will lead to the side. In the presence of such damage, it is better to refuse the purchase.
Tell me how to check the engine, brake system and suspension?
Let's start with the engine, because it is the heart of the car. Be demanding when inspecting the engine, and be sure to break the car in. Cars older than 5 years cannot have perfect cleanliness under the hood - you will see soot and residues lubricants. Perfect cleanliness will indicate that the engine was washed during the repair. Overhauling the engine of very old cars is good, but it's worth asking why it was done.
When you turn on the ignition, look at the readings of the sensors on the dashboard, the system will display the presence of malfunctions on its own. When the engine is started, only the switch on indicator should light red. parking brake- "manual". After unlocking the handbrake, the indicator should turn off. Shut off the engine and quickly turn the ignition on again, the flashing of the emergency oil pressure sensor will indicate engine malfunctions.
Start the engine again and inspect it. Look into expansion tank: if there are bubbles, this indicates the flow of gases into the engine cooling system. this may mean that the head gasket is defective. Also, one of the signs of an engine malfunction is color changes. exhaust gases. Ideally, if the color is a pale blue tint. With the engine running, apply a cloth to the exhaust pipe. If oily spots remain on the napkin, then the piston rings are faulty. The black color of the exhaust gases will indicate the health of the fuel system. When working on idle engine shut up exhaust pipe if it does not stall, this will reveal a malfunction in the exhaust system.
As for the brake system.
On examination brake pads Pay attention to the thickness of the pads. The degree of wear should be uniform, this indicates the quality of the cylinder. When checking on the go, evaluate the brakes. Accelerate and brake sharply several times in turn. If the car "nods" when braking or sags back during acceleration, there is a problem with the shock absorbers. The drawing should be evaluated stopping distance: its unevenness is a sign that brake system not normal. Check operation with downhill stop hand brake. When braking, there should be no suspicious sounds - rattles and squeaks.
If the car is equipped with ABS, then when braking there should not be strong vibrations, shocks and shocks of the body. strong vibration steering wheel - a sign of deterioration of the chassis and bent discs. The suspension should not make rattling, knocking, buzzing sounds, the presence of which is a sign of wear of the rubber bushings of the stabilizers, a malfunction of the suspension joints.
And lastly, the suspension.
When the steering wheel is locked, the wheels must not have play. This moment is checked when raising the car or alternately raising the wheels on the jack and swinging the wheels in different directions. The presence of backlash indicates a malfunction of the steering or suspension elements. Wheel disks should be free of dents and cracks. Tire wear is important. This fact characterizes the correct geometry of the body and suspension. Check the condition of the shock absorbers: press the fender sharply and strongly, the car should not sway much. Look at the integrity of the fenders and anthers, the presence of a leak is a bad sign.
Alexey tell me how to determine the malfunction of the gearbox?
The lever should “walk” clearly and smoothly, without the use of force and clamps. extraneous sounds, such as crunches or squeaks, indicate the presence of malfunctions. Often sellers change lever knobs, instead of a 4-speed one they put a 5-speed scheme, it is important to check the match.
When checking the automatic transmission, set the handle to position "D", remove the "handbrake" - the car should remain in place without moving. When you press the gas pedal, the car should move smoothly without jerks. If you hold the brake pedal and press the gas pedal hard at the same time, the engine will stall.
While holding the brake pedal, switch the handle in turn in all positions, the car should not twitch sharply. Drive up the hill after stopping. If the car enters, only gaining 1.5 thousand revolutions, then automatic system worn out and there is a possibility that in the future the car will not master the rise. When stopping on a descent in the position of the lever "P", the car must remain in place.
The used car market is growing every year for economic reasons. It enables most people to buy a car at an affordable and adequate price.
If everything were so simple, at the same time there is a big risk of buying a car in which you will have to invest unplannedly additional funds. And sometimes this amount can exceed the cost of the car. How to choose a used car? How to protect your finances and make right choice used cars?
Car search features
Choosing a car is a responsible and especially risky business when it comes to a used car. Such a purchase can be compared to a dark horse that will either pleasantly surprise or disappoint. In order to become a happy car owner, you need to choose and select a car carefully, following certain rules.
The search for a car begins with determining the amount that you plan to spend on the purchase. You will have to take into account that usually another 25% must be added to the allocated budget.
The difference will include car refurbishment costs, registration, insurance, technical inspection, etc. Also, when buying a used car, a small repair is likely, so to speak, bringing it “to mind”.
After resolving the financial aspect, you can proceed to direct searches. Offers for the sale of a used car can be found in newspaper ads, on specialized sites and in the car markets themselves.
Don't be in a hurry to make a choice. No need to rush to the first suitable offer. Compose for yourself list suitable options , some of them will disappear by themselves during the first telephone conversation with the seller.
Rules and questions when choosing a car
The right questions to the seller used by the car will save time. We can say that the choice begins precisely at this stage of the negotiations. And, the main thing that should worry at this moment is legal purity deals. Therefore, it is necessary to set next questions regarding the vending car with mileage:
Choosing a car based on just one phone call is unreasonable. The conversation will only help to discard the "doubtful" options. And the cars that passed the selection will need to be scrutinize when viewed directly.
The more calls made, the better. Thus, there will be an objective idea of the market, prices, sellers. It is likely that desired car will be found.
Car inspection
If you have little experience in such matters, then it is better to take a reliable and proven pro with you, who will help you assess the technical condition of the machine. You must also take with you:
When inspecting the car must be perfectly clean.
car body
First of all, carefully inspect the right and left side of the car, its roof and hood separately. This is done while squatting, at the level of the headlights. There should be no deformation, line or color defects.
All doubtful places can be checked with a magnet, if it does not hold, it means that they ran into putty. It is necessary to carefully inspect the entire surface of the body car.
Suspicions can be caused by various "stickers" that mask defects. These can be plastic thresholds, moldings, linings, etc.
Doors must be closed with easy movement from the first time and with a characteristic sound. If this is not the case, then there is a violation of the geometry of the body.
Can the car be repainted? install on the remnants of paint on plastic and rubber body elements. For example, the shade of paint under the seals will be different. Under them, you can also find the first signs of metal corrosion.
Inspection of the salon
Visually check the surface for damage to panels, upholstery, covers, etc. Special attention should be given to adjusting the seats, especially if it is automatic. driver's seat must not be deformed, for example, failed. The back should not hang out.
Everything needs to be looked at: steering wheel, wipers, switches, power windows, including additional options(heated seats, stove, mirror adjustment, air conditioning).
Chassis. There should be no play on the steering wheel and wheels that can be seen with the naked eye. It is also necessary to inspect the covers of the suspension and steering joints. There should be no cracks on the discs.
If the tires are unevenly worn, then this may indicate a violation of the geometry of the body or suspension.
Check shock absorbers for leaks, rubber bumpers and anthers should be intact. Need to look carefully brake hose fittings and cylinders.
Engine check
A clean engine should be dry and the hoses should not be cracked. Cleaning with a steamer can be confusing, adding gloss, so the poet needs to be especially scrupulous examine the unit for leaks oil.
The oil itself should also be examined. If it is fresh and too thick, then it was poured to divert eyes from serious defects such as various wear and low compression.
The engine needs to be inspected and in running state. Before it warms up, climb into the expansion tank, if there are bubbles, then the head gasket is damaged.
Inspect the running unit, there should be no oil and antifreeze leaks. And his work should not be accompanied by extraneous metallic sounds.
Arrange exhaust system check- plug the exhaust pipe with a rag, the running engine should stall. Also check the temperature of the engine on the gauge and the efficiency of the stove.
Test Drive. The vehicle should be tested in various conditions, from parking downhill on the handbrake to hard braking and gear shifting. It is necessary to evaluate not only technical points but also their inner feelings. How comfortable are you with this particular vehicle?
Before you go to inspect the car, you can online watch helpful video on the topic "choose a used car." They will help you decide on the main parameters of choice.
Nuances of choice
How to choose a car, perhaps, every car owner knows when it comes to buying a brand new car in a car dealership. But in the case of purchasing a used car, it is worth reconciling in advance with a difficult choice and the fact that there will still be flaws.
It is important to simply identify them and estimate the cost of their elimination. Therefore, going to the auction, in advance check out the price tags for the most running parts selected model. Such information will greatly help in the bargain.
And in order to assess the condition of a car with a history as accurately as possible, you need to diagnose at a service station you trust. This will help in the future to avoid big troubles and expenses.
The slightest flaws should serve you reason to lower the price and don't be shy. Bargain to the last, including all possible upcoming expenses in your amount. There is no need to be afraid to offend the seller, he still will not sell the car below the cost that is favorable to him. And the money you save will come in handy.
Leave 10-15% for repairs and unexpected expenses. They will definitely be, even if the car is a year old and it is under warranty. Otherwise, the family budget will quickly begin to collapse.
2. Don't choose a car on the principle of "something for 400,000 rubles"
Determine for yourself 2-3 models that you will look for. This will help you not to be scattered and not to make a rash decision on emotions. Plus, you can study the selected models on the forums, find out typical problems, service periods and sort out the intricacies. All this will make your search much easier.
3. Calculate the average price for the car you are interested in
Most precisely, this can be done manually, remembering the mathematics for the fifth grade, or using the Price Statistics tab on the Avto.ru website. Knowing the average price, it will be easier for you to think sensibly, bargain and not fall into the hands of scammers and resellers.
4. Don't expect someone to sell a good car for less than the average price.
If a person urgently needs money, he sells the car through intermediaries and instantly receives money. All other cars that are sold at a reduced price, beaten or with legal problems. Or is it a scammer ad.
5. The first conclusions about the car can be made from the ad
If it contains disgusting photos and a description of two lines like “All questions by phone”, “Everything is on time, the car is in perfect condition” and so on, you don’t even have to call. In 95% of cases, this is a reseller.
6. Talking on the phone gives a lot of information and saves time
Ask specific questions that cannot be answered in general. For example, at which dealer did the car pass MOT? When was the oil last changed? What's new in the car? Is the PTS original? How many owners are recorded in the PTS? How long does a person own a car by Title? Is the interlocutor the owner or helping someone with the sale? Whether there is a service book, order-orders and checks? And so on.
7. Before inspecting the machine, always check the documents
This can be done on the traffic police website or avtokod.mos.ru if the car is from Moscow or the Moscow region. You can find out if the car is pledged on the website of the Federal Notary Chamber.
8. Keep track of new offers
The best cars sell out in days or even hours. Therefore, if you want to get the best possible car at the most attractive price, subscribe to updates on the model you are interested in at mobile applications Avto or Avto.ru and keep an eye on them.
9. When buying a car in a car dealership, carefully read all the clauses of the contract
It should not take more than 5-6 pages. If they brought you a contract, then took it away and brought it again, read it again: there may be changes that are unfavorable for you. If you buy a car on credit, read the conditions with triple attention. Unofficial dealers are very fond of including hidden fees in the price and taking a commission for refusing a deal.
10. To inspect the machine, rent a thickness gauge
Look online to find out what paint thickness a particular car model should have and measure it at the time of inspection. True, the thickness gauge is not a panacea, since sometimes cars are painted specifically for the device or not repaired. significant damage by CASCO.
You need to see if the gaps are the same with different sides cars, is the paint knocked off the bolts, are there any traces of paint on the seals and moldings, does the shagreen and tone of the paint differ on different parts, do the stampings fit together, are the headlights and glasses the same, are the tires worn out symmetrically.
11. Don't trust the odometer
Best of all, the mileage of the car gives out the condition of the interior: the driver's seat, steering wheel, armrest and gearshift lever.
12. When you test drive, pay attention to all the little things.
Check whether the steering wheel is level, whether the car is pulling away during acceleration and braking, whether something is knocking in the suspension, whether the air conditioner and electrical equipment are working.
13. Drive the car into service before buying
If you liked the car in all respects and you have no doubts, before concluding a sales contract, be sure to go to the service and diagnose at least the suspension. Ideally, even an engine with an electrician. This will cost a maximum of a couple of thousand rubles, but it will save you from buying a car in poor condition. In many cases, diagnostics allows you to identify those problems, due to which you can bargain well and certainly recapture its cost.
14. You can conclude a sales contract and make changes to the TCP yourself
The main thing is that with one pen and one handwriting. It is better to transfer money to a pre-opened account through a bank cash desk. This will protect against fakes and fraud.
Buying a car is always a pleasant experience, but in order to make a successful purchase, you need to overcome the state of euphoria and approach this responsible process with a cold mind and a clear plan for future actions. It should be remembered that the purchase of a used vehicle requires increased attention and the availability of some basic knowledge that will help at the inspection stage to identify the shortcomings hidden by the seller, as a result of which it will be possible either to refuse a disadvantageous purchase or to significantly reduce the originally set price.
The main criteria for choosing a used car
An inexperienced buyer in the vast majority of cases vaguely imagines how to choose the right used car. As an aid, you can use the following algorithm of actions, the observance of which can greatly facilitate the task.
The first thing to do is to decide on maximum amount money you are willing to part with when buying a used vehicle. At the same time, it should be taken into account that from 20 to 25% of the funds from the total cost will be spent on the following actions:
- drawing up a purchase and sale agreement;
- decor compulsory insurance civil liability of vehicle owners;
- registration of the car in the state inspection of road safety;
- inspection technical condition car;
- Maintenance.
The brand of the car is best chosen based on:
- safety and reliability;
- the cost of further Maintenance and repair;
- accessibility Supplies and spare parts;
- availability official centers service.
preliminary telephone conversation
If the desired car is sold on one of the specialized sites or information about the sale is indicated in the newspaper, you must definitely call the seller. During a telephone conversation, you can first find out the approximate condition of the car and understand whether you need to go for a visual inspection or the search should continue. A list of questions that are appropriate to ask during a telephone conversation:
- Whether there are stickers in the vehicle passport. It is advisable not to buy a car with stickers in the TCP. Their presence is evidence that:
- as a result long-term operation the car number of its motor or body has become difficult to read or unreadable at all;
- the vehicle was stolen for some time, and the attackers carried out a rewrite of its serial number on the body or engine, after which the car was found and returned to the original owner;
- the part of the car body on which the number was embossed was significantly damaged as a result of an accident, so it was restored or replaced with a similar part that did not have a number;
- vehicle engine was replaced.
- Under what conditions will the purchase and sale agreement be drawn up;
- What is the Vehicle Identification Number. After clarifying the VIN - code, it should be checked for being in the theft or search databases, for the presence of registered accidents with its participation;
- Which engine oil and how often it is poured into the engine. How much oil needs to be added to the engine after 10 thousand km. run (this value should not exceed 500 ml.);
- How much fuel the vehicle consumes while driving around the city / highway;
- What is the condition of the interior of the car?
- Do all additional options work;
- Do shock absorbers need to be replaced?
- Are there any malfunctions in the gearbox;
- How many owners did the car have?
- How long has the car been in use by the last owner;
- Why did a car enthusiast decide to sell his car.
If during the conversation all the answers completely satisfied you and did not arouse suspicion, you can safely go for a visual inspection.
The procedure for conducting a visual inspection and assessment
The main rule that should be followed when buying a used car is as follows: you should not unconditionally trust the seller, you need to check everything yourself. If during the pre-sale inspection the existing defects are not detected in a timely manner, then after buying the car, the new owner will have to eliminate them on their own, spending their time and unplanned financial resources on this.
It is necessary to start checking the vehicle from the outside of its body, gradually moving from front bumper to the back.
Even minor defects paintwork such as scratches, chips, and dents can reduce the final value of the car. To do this, during the inspection process, all noticed damage is best recorded in a notebook, and then discuss their origin with the owner of the car.
Next, you should move away from the vehicle for a couple of meters, squat down at the level of the front optics and carefully inspect the doors and wings for violations of the body geometry. After that, you need to stand on half-bent legs so that the roof of the car is at eye level, and check the ideality of its surface. If, as a result of such actions, some waviness is revealed on the surface of the roof of the body, then with a high degree of probability it can be argued that the car has a disturbed body structure. You should refrain from buying such a vehicle even with a significant discount promised to you by the seller in the event of a deal.
The waviness found on the doors does not always indicate a violation of the centering of the body, however, the existence of such flaws will be a weighty argument that allows you to significantly reduce the cost of the car, announced by the seller at the beginning of the auction.
Suspicious places on the body can be checked for putty with a small magnet, which should be wrapped in cloth to prevent damage to the paintwork. The magnet will not be attracted to the surface of the body in those places where there is a layer of putty.
Any changes made to the design of the car by its owner on their own require a detailed inspection. This is explained by the fact that often they try to hide places with defects behind various stickers, wheel arch liners, moldings, cut-offs, overlays, etc.
The next step is to make sure that the front and rear suspensions are in place. To do this, you can do a simple test showing whether there is a single track between the rear and front wheelbases. The essence of the method is to drive a car on a wet section of the road and go to its dry section. Next, you need to carefully examine the prints of wet wheels. If traces rear tires exactly match the traces of the front ones - the test was passed successfully. Otherwise, you can be sure that the car has been in a major accident, and it is better to refrain from buying it.
Rubber seals for doors, hood and trunk must not contain traces of paint. The color shade of the outer paintwork must necessarily match the color shade of the inside of the doors, trunk and engine compartment. Different colour paint indicates that the car was repainted either after a severe accident, or in order to hide numerous traces of body corrosion.
Car doors should open easily, their hinges should not play. A slight play is allowed on driver's door. If there is a gap in the hinges in all four doors and all the seats in the cabin show signs of wear, the car has been used as a taxi for a long time.
Checking the soot accumulated on the inner perimeter of the muffler can tell the buyer quite eloquently about the condition of the vehicle's engine. The presence of dry ash-colored soot indicates a well-groomed and efficient engine that has a decent margin of wear resistance. Oily and thick soot, resembling resin in its consistency, indicates an extreme degree of engine wear.
The general condition of the trunk often fully reflects the attitude of the owner to his vehicle. Dirty and clogged with unnecessary trash trunk can only be a lazy and untidy driver who, to put it mildly, does not give a damn about the condition of his car. A well-groomed trunk is a sign of a caring car owner who looks after both appearance vehicle and its technical condition.
There must be no rust on the car body. Most often, corrosion begins to form on the thresholds, fender liner, under the seal, at the joints of welds, in wheel arches. It is best when the search for traces of corrosion is carried out on a special flyover or on a lift. In this case, you can take a good look at the bottom of the car and check the most hard-to-reach places body.
The salon needs a leisurely and scrupulous inspection. The first step is to check the condition of the odometer. All numbers must be at the same level, the presence of paint chips is unacceptable on the device itself, indicating that the counter has been twisted. Worn with driver's side the armrest, worn pedals and the poor condition of the driver's seat indicate an impressive mileage of the car. All options that are in the car must be in working order. Fan, oven, air conditioning and climate control should be tested in each mode. Wipers, washers, steering column switches, power windows are subject to careful inspection. Under the interior mats, the surface must be dry and free from corrosion.
The operation of the shock absorbers can be checked by a single sharp and strong pressure on the fender of the vehicle. In response to this, the car body should rise, fall and rise again. If the oscillatory movements continue longer than the described cycle, the shock absorbers need to be replaced.
Particular attention should be paid to the engine. Its external inspection is carried out only with a clean engine. This is the only way to have a good look at all hoses, on the surface of which there should be no cracks, and to find possible places for oil leakage. The cooling system is also checked for leaks, all its hoses must be elastic and not have cracks on their surface.
When you turn on the ignition, you should pay attention to the readings of the sensors dashboard. It is necessary to check the performance of all sensors, make sure that they do not signal any breakdown.
After starting the engine for some time, it is desirable to listen to his work. The absence of uneven extraneous or intermittent sounds indicates that the motor is stable.
All of these actions can be attributed to the category of primary inspection. If during its implementation no critical deviations from the norm were detected, the car can be sent for detailed diagnostics, which is carried out at specialized service stations.
Video
For more information on choosing a used car, see the following video:
