How to choose a used car. How to choose a used car - the nuances of choosing a used car How to choose a used car without an expert assessment

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Surveys conducted among Russian car enthusiasts show that only every third of the buyers of used vehicles, when choosing a car, puts its reliability at the forefront. Most people prefer to be guided by desires and feelings: if you want, you buy! Someone proceeds simply from how much finance he has available. Others look at the vehicles of friends and neighbors when buying. And in vain! A reliable used car will save the owner from frequent calls to the service center. And, therefore, the owner will save money, time and nerves.

Autocode will tell you which used car is better to buy, based on the degree of its reliability.

What are the criteria for determining the reliability of a used car?

According to experts, reliable used cars must meet the following requirements:

• long service life;
• low failure rate;
• affordable service (repair or replacement of parts and components should occur as soon as possible and with the least number of problems);
• good susceptibility to "gray" consumables.

The opinion of the specialists of this company is most interesting to car owners from Russia for three reasons:

• The information in the rankings is collected by independent technical experts, so the information obtained in this way is considered the most objective (for example, the British Warranty Direct does this on the basis of reports received from insurance companies, and Consumer Reports from the USA - based on information collected from vehicle owners).
• Approximately 10 million used cars, aged two to 11, are inspected annually
• Most brands and models of cars from the TÜV rating are supplied or have previously been supplied to our country, so you can easily buy a used car of the required modification from an ad in a newspaper or on the Internet.

The TÜV rating is based on inspections of 100 used vehicles of each model. The more faults the experts find, the lower the vehicle's position. Which cars are considered the most reliable, according to the TÜV rating, read below.

The most reliable car with mileage 2006-2007 of release

Here, the representative of the German automobile industry, the Porsche 911, is in the lead. Even after ten years of operation, driving such a used car is comfortable and safe (less than 5% of the tested vehicles did not pass the technical inspection, which is an excellent indicator for this age). True, for most Russian car owners, this "iron horse" will remain a dream. To buy a used 2006 Porsche 911, depending on the condition and mileage, you will have to fork out between 1.5 and 3.5 million rubles.

The most reliable cars with mileage 2008-2009 of release

The leader is the same - a beautiful and inaccessible Porsche. In addition to the 911, experts advise paying attention to the Porsche Boxster and Porsche 993.

The most reliable cars with mileage 2010-2011 of release

In this category, manufacturers from Germany lost the palm to engineers from Japan. Experts recognize Toyota Prius and Mazda 2 as the best used cars that you should pay attention to when buying (about 12% of vehicles did not pass inspection).

The most reliable cars with mileage 2012-2013 of release

The best option among vehicles with mileage in this age category is the Toyota Prius (the figure is slightly more than 7% of vehicles that “failed” the technical inspection). Also, when buying, you should pay attention to:

• Ford Kuga;
• Porsche Cayenne;
• Audi A4.

The whole VW family deserves attention: Tiguan, Passat CC and Golf Plus.

The most reliable cars with mileage 2014-2015 of release

• Audi Q5;
• Toyota Avensis;
• BMW Z4;
• Audi A3;
• Mazda 3;
• Mercedes GLK.

And now a small fly in the ointment! German experts are testing used vehicles that "run" on high-quality foreign roads. On the Russian off-road, the number of breakdowns of used cars is increasing. Without imploring the merits of the used cars listed above, let's turn to the opinions of experts from Russia.

Which reliable used cars are best suited for Russian roads

Kira Kaddaha, editor of autospot.ru:

“If you want to buy a reliable used car, feel free to give preference to Japanese manufacturers: Toyota, Lexus, Infiniti. These brands are renowned for quality, especially Lexus and Toyota. But keep in mind that they are on the list of the most stolen. Also, Japanese brands are more expensive than Korean ones. Spare parts are 15-20% more expensive than those of the "Koreans". Therefore, the positions of manufacturers such as Hyundai and Kia have strengthened not only in the primary market, but also in the secondary market. In the past few years, the "Koreans" are among the leaders. They are chosen for quality, warranty (Kia has 5 years) and, of course, reliability.”

It should be noted that the opinions of domestic experts diverge from the rating of German specialists. And, most likely, this is due to the fact that not every Russian can afford to buy a 3-5-year-old BMW, Audi, Lexus or Mercedes (not to mention a Porsche). Therefore, the main task for most Russian buyers is to find the optimal compromise between price and quality (reliability).

For owners of a small amount of money, the best option would be:

• Hyundai Solaris (a 3-4-year-old used car can be bought for 420-550 thousand rubles);
• Ford Focus (the cost of a used car in 2012-2013 is 450-550 thousand rubles);
• Renault Logan (purchase of a 2013-2014 Logan will cost 370-400 thousand rubles);
• "Lada Kalina" (the price of the vehicle in 2013 is 250-270 thousand rubles).

And again, nowhere without representatives of the "people's car" from Germany: "Polo", "Passat" and "Golf". Prices for 5-7-year-old vehicles of these models range from 400 to 600 thousand rubles.

Ilya Ushaev, automobile agency "Forsage":

“Usually a person, when buying a car, looks for it according to the following parameters:

• price;
• year of issue;
• mileage;
• liquid, so as not to lose in price;
• “I want it to be like new ...”;
• better with one owner in TCP;
• unbeaten and unpainted.

This is how the majority sees the vehicle they want to buy. But once people face reality, things get a lot more complicated.

Up to 150 thousand rubles. it is better to buy a Renault Logan or Hyundai Accent (if in good condition - a win-win option).

Budget up to 300 thousand rubles. - leader of Mitsubishi Lancer 9, Renault Logan, Chevrolet Aveo, Hyundai Getz.

For 450 thousand rubles. it is better to buy Ford Focus 2, Nissan Tiida, Honda Civic and Ford Fiesta (the latter is better for girls).

With a budget of 600-700 thousand rubles. there are a lot of options. For family people, this is the Skoda Octavia 1.8 (automatic box, released from mid-2012, not to be confused with the DSG box, we do not recommend it), Toyota Rav 4, Nissan Tiana (but be careful with a CVT - this thing is very difficult to diagnose, and even after diagnosis it can run 150,000 km). Someone will be satisfied with the "Volvo S40" with mileage (expensive to maintain, like any "European").

For 800,000 rubles. it is better to buy a Hyundai ix35 or Kia Sportage, Santa Fe, Lexus IS250, Honda CRV. From Europeans, you can buy "Audi A6", "Citroen C6" (restyled) and "BMW X5 (E70)".

In addition, for those who have at their disposal an amount from 800 thousand to 1.2 million rubles, according to experts, it is better to pay attention to the Chevrolet Captiva and Nissan X-Trail 2013-2015 when buying.

Summing up, it remains to be noted that if you want to buy a reliable used car, it is better to choose a vehicle of German or Japanese origin.

When buying a used vehicle, you should remember that, in addition to reliability, the legal cleanliness of the car is also important. You can check the vehicle for the presence of traffic police restrictions, find out whether it is pledged or under arrest by bailiffs, in a few minutes using the all-Russian Internet service "Autocode". Also on our website you can download a book from which you will learn how to profitably and safely buy a used car.

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According to statistics, the number of used cars bought in Russia increased by 11%. This number continues to rise in 2020. Such interest of fellow citizens in the secondary market of the automotive industry is due to the fact that a used car is much cheaper than a new one. Accordingly, for a smaller amount you can buy a used car of a more popular model. However, it must be understood that such transactions have their pitfalls. In this article we will tell you the procedure for buying a car with your hands.

Step 1. Choose a car

So you've decided to own a used car. How to buy a used car? The first thing any buyer should do is decide for what purposes the “iron friend” will be used:

• hatchback - the perfect car for city trips;
• sedan - a car for those who often travel out of town;
• station wagon is a great option for transporting bulky items in the trunk.

It is also important to consider other characteristics when buying, for example, the type of drive. The most relevant today are cars with front-wheel drive. They are easy to operate and are much cheaper than cars with rear and all-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drive is suitable for lovers of high speeds, in addition, RWD makes it possible to control the car in case of unwanted skids.

All-wheel drive is ideal for off-road use. All-wheel drive vehicles are considered the most stable on the roads, but they differ in cost in a big way.

It is necessary to pay attention to the type of transmission: "mechanics" or "automatic". Despite the fact that a manual transmission will cost a car enthusiast a little less, it will provide many more advantages, for example, the ability to save fuel. However, automatic transmission is easier to manage and is ideal for the fair half of drivers.

Another important point is the power of the engine. The most powerful engine options allow you to load the car to a greater extent.

Step 2. Looking for options

If you have decided on the characteristics and brand of the car that you want to buy from your hands, it's time to move on to the next stage - the search for possible options. The 21st century has given us an excellent opportunity not to get up at 4 in the morning to go to another city to the car market. At the moment, the selection procedure has been simplified thanks to the World Wide Web. There are many sites that offer a huge selection of used cars:

• avito;
• auto.ru;
• car.ru;
• drom.ru;
• am.ru and others.

Step 3. Checking the autohistory

Checking the auto history of a car from private hands before buying is an extremely important step, by doing which you can weed out unworthy used options. The procedure at this stage is as follows: we call the seller and ask for the VIN of the car and the state number. As a rule, the owners of "iron horses", whose history is clean, willingly dictate these data to buyers. You received a VIN and license plate number from the owner, then go to the Autocode website. With this service you will learn:

• information about the accident in which the used car was involved;
• real mileage;
• facts of encumbrance (traffic police restrictions, pledges, leasing, search);
• the number of owners;
• information about working in a taxi;
• information about OSAGO;
• other data of interest.

A unique opportunity of the service is to check Japanese cars by license plate. A car from Japan does not have a VIN, so most services are not able to provide information on them.

Step 4. Communicate with the seller

A telephone conversation with the seller is the next step when buying a car from private hands. There is a possibility that it will not be the owner who will communicate with you, but an outbid or a small car dealership that buys and sells used cars. It is better to discard the option with an intermediary right away, since in most cases resellers buy a used vehicle very cheaply, but they sell it for the amount that it is not really worth.

Talking to the owner of a used car is best done in a positive way. So a person will be more disposed to a detailed story about his "iron friend". Questions to ask the owner:

• What is the mileage on the car?
• Have there been accidents and what are the consequences?
• Number of actual owners?
• Are there any encumbrances on the car?
• Has the vehicle been serviced by an authorized dealer?

If the owner reports that the car is unbeaten, there were no accidents, and checking through the Autocode service indicates the opposite, then you can gently hint that you know this information. There are two options for the outcome of events: either the owner will hang up, or he will be disposed to lower the price.

Gently ask the seller about what investments will be required if you decide to buy a used car. Most sellers try to hide the need for a major overhaul of the car, but chances are that you will be able to find out the truth about how much money you need to invest in a used car after purchase.

Step 5. Checking the technical condition

If you decide to buy a used car, then you should understand that checking the technical condition is the most important step. The amount that you then invest in your “iron horse” depends on it. It is important to prepare for the inspection of the car.

When inspecting a used car from the owner, you must follow the following procedure:

• inspect the vehicle from all sides;
• ask the owner to show the shortcomings that were discussed during the telephone conversation;
• ask to start the car, follow the color of the exhaust;
• pay attention to tire wear.

It is important to check for signs of corrosion. Next, check the thickness of the paintwork. Do not be afraid to ask the seller everything that interests you. Specify for what reason the car was painted, whether the doors, hood and other elements were replaced.

Step 6. We agree on a price

For most people who want to buy a used car, price is a fundamental factor for making a positive decision. Bargaining with the seller before buying is not only possible, but necessary. After all, both the buyer and the owner of the used car are interested in this transaction. The goal of the first is to buy as low as possible, the goal of the second is to sell as high as possible.

In order for the auction to be successful, when talking about the price of a used car, focus on the following points:

• the presence of malfunctions that require repair after purchase;
• external flaws in the form of the absence of a manufacturer's badge, a janitor, etc .;
• internal flaws, such as a dirty interior, defects on the upholstery, etc.

Remember that even if the owner of a used car does not have a second set of keys, it can be a reason to reduce the price when buying. In addition, check with the owner of the vehicle if the amount includes a winter set of tires, speakers and other nice additions.

Step 7. We draw up documents

If the price of the vehicle suits you, and you decide to buy a used car, you can safely proceed to the paperwork. However, we recommend that you carefully check the car again through the Autocode service before buying. It is better to refuse the transaction if:

• there are encumbrances on the vehicle;
• at least one of the numbers (state, VIN or body) of the car does not match the numbers indicated in the report.

If you want to find out the maximum truth about a car, use the services of an on-site check "Autocode". The master will come to the place where you indicate in the application and check the vehicle with the help of special devices.

Today, the procedure for processing documents for a car purchased from private hands has become much easier than it was 10 years ago. Now it is enough for the seller and the buyer to conclude a contract of sale. Further, the new owner receives all the documents, while entering the following data into the PTS: full name, address of transfer of the vehicle, date of sale, document confirming ownership, and signatures of both parties. Then you have 10 days to register the purchased used car with the traffic police and issue an OSAGO policy. Also, the missing columns in the TCP must be filled in the traffic police.

Step 8. What to do after buying a car

The purchase of a car took place, and you became the proud owner of the coveted "iron horse". Now you need to perform several procedures available in any car service:

• change oil;
• drain the brake fluid and fill in a new one;
• change antifreeze;
• balance the wheels
• change the timing belt;
• replace air filters.

If the purchased car has been in operation for more than 7 years, it will not be superfluous to replace the crankshaft and gearbox oil seals. These procedures will require certain costs from you (from 10 to 25 thousand rubles). However, it should be borne in mind that by carrying out a number of the above activities, you will use the purchased car for a longer time.

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 the maximum amount of 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;
• registration of compulsory insurance of civil liability of vehicle owners;
• registration of the car in the state inspection of road safety;
• inspection of the technical condition of the car;
• Maintenance.

The brand of the car is best chosen based on:

• safety and reliability;
• the cost of further maintenance and repair;
• availability of consumables and spare parts;
• availability of official service centers.

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 of long-term operation of the car, the number of its engine 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;
• What engine oil and how often 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 evaluation

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 the front bumper to the rear.

Even minor paintwork defects, such as scratches, chips and dents, can be a reason to 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 the traces of the rear tires exactly match the traces of the front ones, the test is 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 exterior paintwork must necessarily match the color shade of the inside of the doors, trunk and engine compartment. Different paint colors indicate 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. The presence of a slight play on the driver's door is allowed. 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 monitors both the appearance of the 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 inaccessible places on the 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. A worn armrest on the driver's side, worn pedals and a 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 instrument panel sensors. 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:

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 their typical problems, service periods and understand 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 has 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? Is there a service book, work orders and receipts? 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 in the Avto or Avto.ru mobile applications and constantly follow 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 minor damage is repaired according to CASCO.

You need to look to see if the gaps are the same on different sides of the car, if the paint is knocked off the bolts, if there are traces of paint on the seals and moldings, if the shagreen and tone of the paint differ on different parts, if the stampings fit together, if the headlights and glass are the same, is it symmetrical worn tires.

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.

In order not to waste time and effort, you need to determine as accurately as possible what, in fact, needs to be purchased and how much money is available for the purchase.

Spraying on the many proposed "similar" options is not worth it. If you need a sedan, then choose only a sedan. If you need a manual transmission, put "only manual gearbox" in the search conditions. Ideally, of course, by the time the request is made, you need to clearly understand what brand and model of car you are going to buy. We need Renault Logan, which means we are looking at Renault Logan, and not Clio Symbol, Sandero and Polo Sedan to the heap. Keep in mind that even the most “wonderful” used car will require some expenses after the purchase.

Like it or not, but in the first month you will have to fork out at least every little thing like new wipers, anthers, bushings, nuts, new tires, polishing, dry cleaning, and possibly something more serious. Therefore, it is better to postpone 10-15% of the amount planned for the purchase of a car and not spend everything to the last penny. Just in case, which, as practice shows, happens regularly with used cars.

2. Throw out the cheapest and most expensive options

The cost of a car is the most abstract value in an ad, because a person always wants to buy low and sell high. The price tag in most cases does not reflect the real value of the car, but the desire of the seller. Therefore, it is worth determining the average cost of the proposed options and focusing on ads, the range of which differs from it within 20%. Too cheap offers of a car with the same characteristics cause strong suspicions. And the expensive ones in most cases demonstrate the unjustified requirements.

3. Compare year and mileage

Vehicle mileage is another very “slippery” parameter, which is difficult to navigate. In general, almost everyone involved in the sale and purchase of cars is involved in “twisting” the speedometer, from “private traders” to official dealers.

And yet, some conclusions can be drawn before you go to see the car. First of all, it is worth remembering that mileage directly depends on the size of the city in which the car drove. So, in St. Petersburg and Moscow with their avenues, "ring" and trips to the country for 100-200 km from the city, the average mileage can be from 20,000 to 40,000 km per year, or even more.

So if the car, for example, is five years old, then the mileage, most likely, has already exceeded a hundred thousand. Accordingly, when you see an advertisement for a car manufactured in 2008-2009 with a mileage of 35,000 - 40,000 km, you should think about the authenticity of this data.

4. Analyze car popularity category

Exceptions, of course, always and everywhere. Therefore, in addition to mileage, you should also pay attention to a specific brand and model, as well as its popularity among a particular group of drivers.

In particular, cars popular with the beautiful half of humanity can indeed have very low mileage. But "ladies" cars have another problem, namely, a lot of minor body damage. Even brand new cars are beaten, scratched, worn on all sides and, as a result, repainted several times.

Another example: Renault Logan, Chevrolet Lacetti, Hyundai Accent, Peugeot Partner, Volkswagen Caddy, extremely popular among domestic taxi drivers, have a mileage that crosses a hundred thousand miles a year. So, choosing one of the above models, the chance of running into just such a “traveled” car increases dramatically. By the way, the majority of Mercedes cars imported from Germany with monstrous mileage, “twisted” somewhere on the border, fall into the same category.

Do not neglect the theft ratings, which most often fall into Japanese cars. And in cars like the BMW X5, you can easily detect not only problems with documents, but also holes smeared in the body of 7.62 caliber ...

Find out which cars became the most popular last year from our review.

5. Look carefully at the photos

A person chooses primarily with his eyes, so almost two-thirds of the information on the car can be obtained from the proposed photos. Their presence must be treated very carefully, and most importantly, to be able to consider in them what is needed.

Ads without photos can be sorted immediately. It’s not worth wasting time even on calls on an abstract car: what kind of seller is he who hasn’t bothered about presenting his own car? For the same reason, we advise you to send ads with blurry and blurry pictures and photos taken at night, as well as with images where the car is represented only in parts.

Photographs must be provided in sufficient quantity and high quality so that they can be seen pockets of rust, body damage, the size of the gaps, the condition of the paintwork and even traces of body repair.

For example, if the shade of the color of the door (hood, fender, bumper) differs sharply from the main color of the car, then this element has been repainted. And if so, it is likely that it was restored after an accident.

From the pictures of the interior, you can determine how carefully and carefully the owner treated the car, as well as signs of participation in an accident. For example, if the pad on the steering wheel hub (under which the airbag is located) sparkles with newness or differs in color from the steering wheel rim, most likely the airbag has already been changed for no reason.