buying year old car from dealer - do i need to check under hood

Jupiterx

Hello,

i am about to purchase a one year old car from SEAT dealership. the car has a slight bruise on the inner door edge and Seat have promised to fix it. dont know much about cars, if i look under the bonnet, all i would be able to figure out is how to check the oil

since it has done 2700 miles, it is probably a demo, some one told me that it is possible that it has been abused, could that be possible, is there any way i could know if it has been abused. i drove the car and it felt OK. would looking under the hood reveal anything to me or an experienced guy?the car has done 4300 miles and has pretty much been with SEAT garage. car has standard 3 year warranty, hence more than 2 years on the warranty, price seems to be OK, did a check on parkers (UK) with mileage thrown in. do you guys think i need to look under the hood

intranix

With the mileage concerened, there's little to look at with the eye.

In theory, the car could of been used on the track, and the oil could of boiled, causing excessive wear on the engine. It could of been cold started and rev'd high all the way to work every day. However, it's unlikely you'll be able to tell without getting a borescope out.

The suspension could also of taken a pounding, so listen out for any knocking.

I really dont think you'll have much to worry about though

Jupiterx

thanks for the reply,

i guess the track can be taken out of the equation?

what is the knocking that i need to look out for? i did drive for 15-20 minuites in town (mostly 30-40 miles), a bit of 60 mph. it is an automatic and did seem to struggle a bit picking up around the 20-30 mph mark, maybe it was me (never had an automatic) or maybe the gear ratios are not that great.

would i have noticed the knocking in thie test drive?

Conor_3

So it has body damage? Could've been in an accident. I think I'd be paying for a RAC inspection.

anewman

It's not unknown for someone to take a "test drive" and the car to go on a race track and go back to the dealers.

An RAC inspection is little more than £100. If you're spending over £5000 it's a drop in the ocean really for the reassurance it is likely to provide.

Wig

car has done 2700 miles then you said car has done 4300 miles ???

Take it out, deliberately drive it over bumps and small pot holes, you should not hear any obvious clunks or knocking sounds. If you do, tell them you want the clunking noises fixed.

Check the tyres for wear at that sort of mileage they should all be almost as new with a good 5mm of tread.

On the front wheels (when cold) poke your finger through the holes in the wheel, you will see behind the wheels (through the holes) a shiny metal disc - It is called the brake disc. Run your finger on the shiny face of the disc towards the outer most edge there should be almost no difference in wear. Worn discs have a raised lip (raised by about 0.5mm - 1mm) on the outside edge, and when you do this your finger detects the change in height on the profile of the disc surface. The change in height only occurs in the last 1 - 2 mm of disc. This car should have almost no detectable difference in height between the main disc surface and the outer most edge.

Get a white tissue pull out dipstick and wipe check colour of oil at that milage it should be golden to light brown NOT black. Then re insert dipstick pull out again and check the oil level. should be between the 2 marks.

Ask when it was last serviced, and if the oil was changed. If this was more than 6 months ago ask them to change the oil and filter. try to put a mark on the oil filter before this so you know it has been done.

Unless it has been 'clocked' you have little to worry about.

Check you have all the keys you need, some cars come with a red key or 2 keys or 3 keys, just make sure you have all the keys, ask in a SEAT forum what keys you should have.

Check the spare wheel has not seen the light of day. i.e. should appear brand new.
Check all the lights work, and the wiper blades have no tears in the rubber.

Ask for a full tank of fuel & tax disc and check there are a full set of floor mats in the car, if not, ask for a full set - all to be included within the price, preferably ask for these extras after you have negotiated a price for the car, then you know you are truly getting them free.

highguyuk

Can recommend www.seatcupra.net for a SEAT forum. Although the name suggests it's for the Cupras, it's useful for all models and types of SEAT.

Which SEAT are you looking to purchase?

Jupiterx

thanks for the replies,

it does not have body damage as such, just a bruise (abrasion?) on the edge of the door, which seat is going to repair. the abrasion is 0.5 mm x3 cm on the edge.
does it still warrant an RAC inspection? where can i get the RAC inspection?

my mistake it has done 2700 miles.

i checked the tyres, they are clean

i checked the colour of oil after pulling the dipstick out, it was light brown. did not check the oil level after that, would the oil color after re-inserting the dipstick be golden to light brown again?

they have promised a full service before they give me the car.

i will check the car for the brakes and drive it over bumps and pot holes to check for clunking noises. but it is going to be after i buy the car. i suppose consumer law will allow for a cooling off period.

i will ask in a SEAT forum what keys i should have.

is a full tank of fuel complimentary? i am doing a part exchange of my old car and i am not handing in a full tank.
are the flooor mats complimentary?

i am planning to purshase the SEAT ibiza

anewman

Jupiterx wrote: »

i suppose consumer law will allow for a cooling off period.

Make sure yu are 100% satisfied before agreeing to buy. They cannot re-sell a car they have sold to you without selling it for less.

Jupiterx

how i see it is if there is something which they are hiding, it should be covered by the 2 year warranty in place, correct?

i think the perishables (brake etc) might be an issue, and if i see an issue with them then i will take it to them within a few days and tell them that there is an issue.

on their part they are going to give me the car after the first year service (thrown in for free)

Wig

Jupiterx wrote: »

will it golden to light brown again?

Yes, but I will add to my previous advice, it's better to vview the colour of the oil whilst it is sticking to the dipstick, I think wiping it on absorbant tissue will change the colour slightly. Wiping it on a bit of white plastic would be the best method.

they have promised a full service before they give me the car.

Wouldn't settle for anything less

I will check the car for the brakes and drive it over bumps and pot holes to check for clunking noises. but it is going to be after i buy the car. i suppose consumer law will allow for a cooling off period.

Best to be happy with the car before purchase/deposit than after.

is a full tank of fuel complimentary? i am doing a part exchange of my old car and i am not handing in a full tank.
are the flooor mats complimentary?

They are only complimentary depending on your negotiating skills. Everything is negotiable
The price
The interest rate on any finance you agree
The freebie extras that you can negotiate are an added bonus.

And don't let them decrease your trade in value by reducing your purchace price. Some dealers do this at the paperwork stage after say agreeing to sell you a vehicle
Price = £7,000
trade car in for £2,000
Balance = £5,000

At the paperwork stage it might say on the paperwork
Price = £6,500
trade in value £1,500
Balance = £5,000

So what you might think and sign it anyway, you might spot it and query it and they will say it just helps us with our accounts that way. But if there is a legal problem and you sue for compensation, the value of the vehicle is less than it should be.