Navigating the world of used cars in Belfast wide, can be a daunting task at times, looking into the previous ownership, miles, servicing, age, the list goes on.
Generally speaking, a car that has clocked up more miles will mean that the price is lower. While in the current market that might not remain exactly true.
What Type Of Miles Has The Vehicle Done?
Understanding the difference between a car that has done 60,000 miles stopping and starting in the city and a car that has 60,000 miles that have been a commuter car and spent the majority of the time at high speed in 5th/6th gear is paramount to making an informed decision.
The car that has completed a lot of short trips probably didn’t have the oil heated up enough during these trips and the stopping and starting of trips of this nature mean more wear and tear on the gearbox, suspension and brakes.
TIP: Looking for an up to date service history is a great place to start when looking at used cars Northern Ireland wide, the dealers that we associate with operate with transparency.
How Many Miles Should A Used Car Have?
A good rule of thumb to go by is 10,000 miles per year.
[Age x 10,000 miles = Miles on your used car]
There are also many cases where this differs, any of the dealerships that we work with will be more than happy to talk through this with you.
Mileage is important to consider of course, but if there is a used car with 80,000 miles and a full service history with very few problems, compared to a used car with 45,000 and no service history. It is likely that the latter is not the better deal based on the miles that have been clocked up.
The Importance In Attaining All Of The Information That You Need When Buying A Used Car Northern Ireland Wide
Coming across Used cars Belfast and beyond is certainly not a difficult task, but coming by reputable dealers that have established trust and put your mind at ease can be.
Making sure that you do not fall victim to a bad deal is avoidable if you follow our simple ‘checklist for buying used car’:
- Engine Leaks, oil, head gasket, exhaust smoke.
- Bodywork Walk around the vehicle, check the paint, for dents, chips and inconsistencies in panelling
- Test Drive Listen to how smoothly the gear change and test the clutch biting point
- Tyres & Wheels 20p tread depth test, the make/condition of each tyre
- Interior Spec dash for mileage/lights, boot, electronic function
- Documentation Service History, MoT.
In private sales, you will be majority responsible for spotting all of these problems, which can have you feeling under immense pressure. The seller doesn’t have to volunteer much information to you, it’s down to you to ask the right questions. Under the wonderful eye of the law, when buying from a dealer, there are certain legal rights that you possess, aka the car must function in the way that is promised that it will.
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