Where is the best place to buy second hand or used car?

mazdaspring

Sorry I don't know which section I should post this thread. Please move if it shouldn't be here.

Anyone know where is the best place to buy used car for a good price and good condition. Is it OK to buy used cars from Gumtree or ebay?

Or anyone know the forum that I can ask for advice on buying used car. Cheers.

Sally_A

The last place I'd buy at the mo is a car off gumtree or ebay - especially without doing an HPI check first, and then I'd wait a day or two to let the HPI info filter through on their database.

Ask around locally, you will soon find out which garages have a good reputation, and personally I'd choose a garage with an inhouse service and repair team that I would like to think have done a thorough presales check.

forgotmyname

Depends how much you plan to spend and what car your buying.

Best deals are usually word of mouth. I have bought part ex vehicle from dealers, Auctions
privately, Dodgy garages. You need to do your homework and know what something is worth
and what the main faults are on that particular car.

The newer the car the more they can cost to repair. Dual mass flywheels which breakdown have replaced
solid chunks of metal that usually never needed replacing. Cost can be £1000+ for a new clutch and flywheel.
On an older car it maybe £200- £300.

mazdaspring

forgotmyname wrote: »

The newer the car the more they can cost to repair. Dual mass flywheels which breakdown have replaced
solid chunks of metal that usually never needed replacing. Cost can be £1000+ for a new clutch and flywheel.
On an older car it maybe £200- £300.

Thank you for the reply to both of you. Anyway, from the quote message above. How old the cars should I expect to get low cost parts. Is it ok for the cars between 2004-2008? Because I prefer to pay low cost when parts of the car will be broken down.

Sally_A

If you are thinking ahead for 2nd hand parts, I'd go VW/Audi. I don't know why but there seem to be far more VW/Audi breakers around these parts than for any other model.

Just remember, the breakers have no liability cover for 2nd hand parts, so would suggest you never buy safety critical parts from them.