Buying Seconds

Freedom, personally, is defined as the ability to move about without any sort of impediment or hassle. Based on this, there’s no better indication of it than driving your own car. It removes you from the hassles of taking public transportation or having to rely on your family chauffer.

However, be that as it may, first time car buyers, especially students, may find shouldering the price for a brand-new car just too painful for the wallet, even with the revised excise tax scheme and all. This puts the spotlight on the value of second-hand vehicles.

Admittedly, there’s a danger in buying a used car. With all the imported rigmarole rolling out of Subic everyday, picking just the right car is like picking a dandelion among the mine field—it’s one tough job. But, it’s not impossible. Here are five tips on how you can bypass the salesman’s pitch and learn to fend yourself.

Tip # 1: Paperwork is important

Like any choice breed of canine, a car’s lineage is important. Though they’re assembled from a line, each and every car can tell a different story on how they’re taken care of. First, make a preliminary scan of classified ads on the car you’d like to buy. Check out magazines and websites to learn as much as you can about the pros and cons such as fuel economy, reliability, overall comfort and so forth. Once you’ve decided on the car of your choice, make sure you approach someone who’s reputable. Ask around from family and friends or post questions on message boards and chat rooms about second-hand dealers in your neighborhood.

Approach the person selling the car with frankness and ask about the car’s history. Queries about who drives the car and where it’s being driven everyday can tell a lot. For example, cars owned by single or old women are commonly taken cared of. On the other hand, cars handled by the twenty-something may have been trashed one time or another during its ownership.

When in doubt, always ask for a detailed service history. Read the warranty booklet if it’s been stamped during each scheduled periodic maintenance. If the owner keeps detailed receipts, check if it has gone through tire changes, rust proofing and so forth. There are some items such as timing belt replacement (for older cars) and brake pads, which could be fairly expensive. Check if the owner has done those already to save you hassle of having to do it yourself.

Lastly, ask if the car has insurance, and if it’s transferable. Read the insurance policy carefully because this can save you a bundle in the long run.

Certified pre-owned units such as those from BMW can save you the hassle, since they’ve been put through a rigorous inspection process—they come with a 12-month warranty as a bonus. However, be prepared to shell out more, as going this route could be pricey.

Tip # 2: Rust is a woe

There’s no bigger crime than to see rust on a car. Take the time to carefully look at the body work for any signs of ferric oxide. While you’re at it, pop the hood and carefully scan the details such as hinges, these are usually not well protected by factory rust proofing and could be a starting source of rust. The occurrence of paint bubbles could be a major sign of rusting underneath a cheaply coated paint job.

Speaking of paint jobs, don’t be fooled by a shiny new coat of paint. A usual modus operandi done by owners to increase the asking price, a bright baby-blue bodywork may have been the result of a hastily done patch up job after a vehicular collision.

Check the original registration papers if the color of the vehicle matches with what’s on the paper. If not, ask the owner why he or she had the color changed. If in doubt, here’s a great tip: check carefully the nooks inside the hood, between the headlamps and the inside of the trunk. These are the areas commonly left unchanged during a paint wash over. If you’re not sharp to color differences, bring a friend who is, and check the consistency of the paint. If there are slight discolorations between the doors or the hood and the front fenders, it might have been in an accident, or at least repainted.

Repainting of plastic parts such as side mirrors and spoilers are fine. These do not harbor rust, but make sure they’ve been installed in the right manner or else the mounting points could be a weak point.

Tip # 3: Check what lies beneath

Wheels, tires and suspension are the mostly commonly forgotten areas when it comes to a second-hand car purchase. However, these are vital not only for an enjoyable ride, but for safety as well.

Check the overall condition of the wheels and tires. Take extra precaution in examining the alloys—making sure that there are no chips or dents, as these could ruin a car’s overall balance and stability. Light scratches and minor dings are no problem. For aesthetics, make sure all the center caps are in place. These can be stolen quite easily and are hard to replace, especially for older models. While you’re at it, check if the alloys in question are the original ones that came with the car. If not, ask the owner if you could at least swap them for the OEM—believe it or not, sometimes fitting seventeen inchers into cars designed for thirteens could very well destroy the other suspension components.

The same story goes for the entire suspension system such as shocks, springs and such. As previously stated, ask the owner where the vehicle is commonly driven everyday. For example, if it’s commonly seeing action on the highway, the chances of seeing ruined ball joints and tie rod ends are minimal. Cars which have been tuned may require another re-check. Short cuts to get that lowered look are common, so look for any signs of coil springs which have been cut or compressed. The dragster look is a no-no.

It’s common to see cars not anymore sporting the factory original parts. Don’t fret if that’s the case. Just make sure that these third party manufacturers conform to the standards originally set by manufacturers.

Tip # 4: Take time to sit inside

A common mistake with most second-hand car buyers is they don’t tend to look at what’s inside. Pause and think a while… you’ll probably be sitting in this car going to work or school, perhaps even to the occasional weekend outing for quite a while, so make sure you’re comfortable with what you see and feel. For instance, some original factory steering wheels and gear knobs may have been replaced by wooden ones (or worse)—make sure you’re alright with that. Otherwise ask the owner if you could have the original one swapped back for a cleaner, more consistent look.

Examine the upholstery or leather carefully. If it has a seat cover put on, asks the owner to remove it. Bright fabric or beige leather cannot easily hide the cruelties of everyday use unlike those that come in charcoal or black. Commonly, dried stains such as melted crayons or spilled coffee are quite hard to remove—so make sure you’re alright with what you see. Don’t forget to peek at the rubber door seals and the trunk—these can also hold some information about the possibilities of rust formation.

Try the air con and make sure that there’s ample coolness and no uncommon smells or sounds emanating from the vents. A non-cooling air conditioner might say the need for a new compressor or evaporator—two of the most expensive purchases when it comes to a car.

Check all the controls as well. Make sure that the handbrake is nice and firm, the shifter is tight and that all instrumentation lights are still working. Commonly, a non-functioning warning lamp could tell a different story…

Tip # 5: Electrical can cause havoc

Non-functioning lamps or weakened cranking may indicate a faulty electrical system. Although the usual cause is a busted bulb or maybe an old battery, it could also be a by-product of a tampered electrical wire harness.

The wire harness could be liked to your car’s nervous system, feeding the proper electrical juice to the car’s ECU regulating functions such as timing, ignition and so forth. Now, audiophiles who’ve taken short cuts to improve a car’s sound system might have tampered with the wire harness. Likewise, some anti-theft systems might have the same effect. In any case, this can cause serious voltage problems.

Ask the owner if the car has had its audio system changed or a third-party anti-theft system installed. If you’re not given a straight answer look for some of these clues: loose wires in the engine bay may signal a hastily removed alarm system; a second floor in the trunk might have been used to house a sub-woofer or two; modified headlamp covers and bulb installation brackets could be the result of having the wattage increased.

Of course, there’s no way to figure out exactly how these modifications would degrade a car’s overall electrical performance. Try some simple tests such as starting up the car with all the lights on. Once it starts up, try to push the electrical load to a maximum by turning the air conditioner, radio and interior lights on. If it works fine, then it should be alright. If you have any doubts, you can bring along an automotive electrician to have his personal opinion on the matter. While you’re at it, you may want to listen to some noises from the engine such as loose or old engine belts and such.

If still in doubt, test drive

If you still have any sort of doubts with the car’s overall performance, the final judgment would have to be a test drive, even if it’s one of those around the block kinds. You’ll be able to feel how the car accelerates, brakes, and handles. In case the owner doesn’t feel like letting you take the wheel, just take a test ride then. Either way, you’ll be able to experience the car in someway—much better than staring at stationary.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to walk away from a dubious purchase. Even if you’ve already set your sight on a beautiful bargain, if you find something wrong with it, no matter how small, as long as it’ll bother you during your ownership, tell the owner. If he’s good natured, he’ll probably offer to shoulder the needed repair or attention, or perhaps just throw you a discount.

By Ulysses Ang | Photos By Ulysses Ang