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How To Choose A Quality Used Car
Buying a used car is a smart choice for many Australian shoppers, and with thousands of pre-owned cars on the market, there’s
plenty to choose from.
Of course, it’s super important to choose a quality used car – otherwise the money you’re saving over purchasing a brand new one
could be wasted on repairs and higher running costs.
Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do to drive away in your dream used car (whilst avoiding any potential nightmares!)
Private Vs Dealership
Buying a second hand car from a reputable dealership generally carries much less risk than dealing with a private seller. When
purchasing from a private seller, you must ensure you’re not buying an unsafe or unreliable car. This includes obtaining a
roadworthy or safety certificate and logbook, calling the PPSR to see if money is owed on the car or if it has been written off and
requesting a written receipt from the seller.
These important tasks are taken care of by good quality dealerships, meaning less hassle and more confidence for you. Many
shoppers believe that they will get a cheaper price from private sellers, but this isn’t always the case.
As an added bonus at Frankston Toyota, our used cars come fully inspected with a current roadworthy certificate as well as a
three-year extended warranty available on most vehicles in stock. Consult The Web For Guidance
The internet is full of sites that provide information about the general market value of most popular passenger vehicles based on
year, make/model and kilometres travelled.
It’s important to remember that used car prices are also determined by condition, and current popularity within the market i.e. if
there are limited comparable vehicles of the same make, model, year, kms, condition etc. it may mean greater competition (more
potential buyers) for the same car and less room to bargain on price. Other variables such as added accessories can also impact
on price, so use websites such as Redbook, CarsGuide etc. as a guide only – because the car you’re looking at is as unique as you
are and pricing will vary.
drive away in your dream used car
(whilst avoiding any potential nightmares!)
Look Carefully
These days most used cars are available to view in photographs online before a physical inspection. Whilst photos can provide a
good indication about the condition of a car, they only tell part of the story. Ultimately, you should always inspect any potential
car you intend to purchase in the metal. Test driving is also really important, so if you’re serious about a second hand car be sure
to call ahead to take it for a spin.
Always inspect cars in daylight so that nothing is concealed from your sight and then be sure to check:
•
Under the car, the bonnet and the interior carpet for rust or signs that welding has taken place (this would probably indicate
that the car has been in a crash)
•
Under the bonnet, looking for oil leaks on top of the engine. Whilst you’re there, lift up the dipstick and check the oil level – if
it’s low you might question how the car has been treated
•
The tyres, particularly that all four are exactly the same model and that they’re not worn out
•
The gaps between the body panels are equal (if they’re not, the car may have been in an accident)
There’s also plenty you can do when inspecting a used car’s interior as well as during a test drive. We particularly like this guide
from WikiHow which features easy to follow steps with pictures.
Check Us Out
Here at Frankston Toyota, we’re proud to stock a huge range of quality pre-owned cars from major brands. With strict measures in
place to ensure we only sell safe and reliable vehicles, we’re well-equipped to give you advice on finding a pre-owned gem.
If you’d like more information on selecting a quality used car talk to our team.
Frankston Toyota
1-4 Wells Road,
Frankston, VIC 3199
03 9783 8877
frankstontoyota.com.au
LMCT 447