Buying A New Car Guide | CarCity.ie

There is much to consider when buying a car.  Ultimately, the vehicle you choose should be cost-effective, comfortable and, most importantly, meet the highest standards of safety.  At CarCity.ie, every model is subjected to an exacting examination before going on sale, while we also aim to keep our customers fully informed, from start to finish.  And so, we’ve compiled a used car buyers guide. Check out our top 10 tips below.

1. Body Condition

Look for scratches, dents, and rust on the roof and the car panels.

2. Car Tyres

Your vehicle’s tyres say a lot. If the vehicle has less than 25,000 miles on the clock, it will probably still have its original tyres.

Check that tread wear is even across the width of the tread. It should also be the same on both sides.

3. Brake Discs

Most vehicles have disc brakes in front and drum brakes in the rear; some cars have disc brakes on each wheel. Cars with ABS have disc brakes all round. Use a torch to see through the front wheel rims. The rotor discs should not have any deep grooves and should be smooth. No need to worry about traces of surface rust on the discs.

4. Seats

Test all seats even though you might not be planning on sitting in the back. While the driver’s seat will have more wear than the passengers, it still should not sag.

5. The Boot

Make sure the car jack and all the car jack bits are included, ensure the spare wheel is in good condition.

6. The Bonnet

Check out the general condition of the engine first. Dirt, dust and even leaves are normal, but look out for indications of oil spattering around the engine.

7. Broken Windscreen

Examine the windscreen and all the other windows to make sure there are no cracks.

8. Exterior

Pull the top of each tyre back and forth. If you feel play, or notice a clunking noise, there may be an issue with the wheel bearings or suspension joints.

Check that the car is standing level, you do this by walking around the car and if it says to one side.

9. Car Lights

Have the person who accompanied you stand outside the car and confirm that all lights are working ok. Test both high-beam and low-beam headlights, parking lights, indicators and fog lights.

10. Test Drive and Final Checks

  • Check the keys work in all doors.
  • Check spare keys.
  • Check to see if any warning lights come on during the test drive.
  • The engine should tick over smoothly without surging/sputtering. It should also accelerate from a standstill without bucking or hesitating.
  • Brakes: Find an empty stretch of road to test the brakes.
  • Try and view the car in daylight.

Ready To Take The Next Step?

View our range of Quality Used Cars or Contact Car City today with any queries you many have about a vehicle, trade-in or finance options.