On the hunt for a new car? You’ve probably been given a lot of mixed opinions on whether to buy second-hand or brand new.
And if you’re reading this, you’re probably in the middle of Googling “second-hand car yards near me”, right?
Second-hand cars from a trusted dealership – like Tony Lahood Motors - are a great option for a number of reasons. Mainly, a used car is much more affordable than a new car, often coming with the tech features you’re after, and typically comes with service history.
While some second-hand cars might seem like an absolute bargain, you should always ensure you check out the condition and specs of the car before you sign on the dotted line.
Tyres are one of the most important components of any car, so it’s important to check the condition of the tyres on any car you’re interested in.
Make sure to check all four tyres PLUS the spare tyre for signs of wear and tear. Tyres should be worn evenly, in a visibly good condition, and show a decent tread depth.
If one tyre out of the four has noticeable wear or damage, it could be an indicator of wheel alignment and suspension problems.
Learn the basic tyre checks to know if you already need a new one.
One of the most commonly asked questions people have about used cars is: “What mileage does it have and how old is it?”
If you know the age and mileage of a car, you can determine the average kilometres travelled per year by the car and therefore, how much wear might be remaining in components such as brakes and the engine.
The average Australian travels between 11,000 – 13,000km per year, so you can use that figure to determine if the used car you’re looking at has done more or less than average.
Plus, the age and mileage of the car play a role in the pricing of the car, so knowing these details can make sure you are paying a fair price for what is on offer.
Regular car services are essential to maintaining the components of a car, so a car without any service history, or with limited history available, can be a sizeable red flag!
A car’s service history will tell you important details such as whether a car has been written off prior because of damage, a logbook of repairs and corresponding odometer readings, and how many owners the car has had.
On the inside, there are a lot of little aspects to cast your eyes over; from the reliability of the air conditioning to the condition of the seats and seat belts, to whether or not features like Bluetooth and electric windows are working as required.
If you’ve never purchased a car before, the paperwork surrounding the car registration, warranty, insurance, warranty, vehicle transfers, and finance can be a little overwhelming.
You can check a car’s vehicle registration on the NSW Government website here, which will give you some key information.
By taking the simple steps to check these important documents are all current and there are no issues before the sale, you will save confusion and issues down the track.
There is a lot to consider when purchasing any new or used car, so why not let the team at Tony Lahood Motors take the guesswork out of the equations.
At Tony Lahood Motors, we only offer the best quality car sales on Parramatta Road. This means that our team are full of advice on all things related to the cars we sell and can help you to find the perfect car for you – without any hidden problems or missing paperwork.
Contact our team at Tony Lahood Motors today to experience old fashioned customer service as you search for your ideal second-hand car.
