Buying a car
when you arrange to look at a car, ask to see the car when its cold and hasn't been started so everything is fresh and hasn't had a chance to warm up (sometimes this isn't possible tho), when you turn up before you even start the car, pop the bonnet and open the oil cap, have a look around the cap to see if it has any creaminess, and also give the oil nozzle a little smell to see if you can smell burnt, if there is any cream, start it up if it clears it should be OK, but not always the case, if it was me id walk away.
OK if the oil is fine (no cream etc) then turn the ignition on (don't start the car) and look at all the warning lights to make sure they are their, start the car up and look at the dash and make sure all the warning lights go off, then listen under the bonnet for any whining sounds, this could be either the alternator bearings or water pump, also listen for any abnormal sounds like grinding metal etc as it can be the bottom end, tapping is OK as long as after a few minutes it goes away. while the car is on go round to the back of the car and ask someone to press the gas peddle a few times, if its cold you will get a almost whit/clear smoke, but if it comes out blue then oil is getting into the valve steams, and if its black then petrol is getting into the exhaust at the very least.
next is inside the car, first thing is to always make sure every electrical component works on the car, so make sure the E/W E/M C/L A/C heaters sun roof (if it has one) fold in mirrors (usually only on a import) turn the stereo to make sure the areal goes up. turn the steering wheel full lock left to right, and while you do so listen for any clonking sounds as this can be the links/bushes/top mounts (haggle point), let the car get upto running temp (needle should go no more than half way up, if it goes right to the top its a possible HG problem)
while still in the car (and still running), make sure the hand brake is on real tight, put he car into 3rd or 5th gear and slowly lift the clutch till it stalls, if it doesn't then the clutch is on its way out. this will also help tell you where the bitting point is on the car and help give you a idea of how much life the clutch has left (again haggling point) as a clutch can cost anything for £300 up to £2,000 to buy and fit, depending on what model celica your buying
go outside the car and look all round the body work, specially the arches and look for any signs of rust (i sometimes take a magnet to feel around the arches, if the magnet sticks then the arches are metal, if it doesn't then its likely they have been filled, but this is up to you if you want to be that thorough), turn the steering wheel full left and have a look at the condition of the tyre, do the same to the right, then check the back tyres, you can buy tyre tread depth gauges like the police use from most car places for a few pound, but you can usually tell the tyres are low by the horizontal lines in the tread grooves. while your around the wheels if you can see the brake discs and pads look to see if they look worn or low, and look at the overall condition on the disc, if it has loads of score marks it means either the pads are very low, almost to metal and are grinding on the discs, or have been in the past, its not a big issue, just again a haggling point.
when taking it out for a drive you wanna do several things, make sure if it has ABS it works (find a bit of road thats safe to brake hard, but make sure you give the sleer notice of what your about to do). again when safe brake firmly and while you do this let go of the steering wheel and see if the car drifts left or right, this could be a number of things, but is most common the tracking is out, but you have to ask yourself is it out because of damage, 9 times out of 10 its cos they bump the car up curbs and it puts the tracking out, so again this is a good haggling point. You want to give the car a bit of stick in 1st 2nd and 3rd to again make sure the clutch isn't slipping and there is no unusual juddering or crutching into gears, again while driving listen out for any un common sounds when driving accelerating.
finally if you happy with the car never show the seller you over the moon, never seem to eager to buy the car as this means the seller knows you want the car and will be harder to knock down on price. The best way i find in buying a car is once your happy, get out the car and ask the seller what the price is, when they tell you, you must remind them of all the faults you have found with the car, (dont be silly at this point and say there is a little blemish on the wing as your not buying a new car), and do as they say kick them in the nuts on your offer, so for example if they wanted £4,000 for their car, but you only wanted to pay £3,500 max, offer them £3,200, they will most lightly laugh at you, think for a second and come back with a offer around £3,800, don't jump right in with another offer, tell them thats a bit steep, have a little think 9around 20-30 seconds) and come in with a offer of £3,400, again the seller will probable laugh and come back with £3,600, and at this point you have another little think and say i will meet you half way at £3,500 and hold out your hand to shake for the deal (this add a bit of pressure on the seller) 90% of the time they will shake your hand, therefore saving yourself £500. unfortunately this trick doesn't tend to work on trader, so what you have to do it try and push for as much free stuff as you can, any problems you find ask them to fix it for free, it it has short MOT/Tax as them to MOT or tax it for free, even things like a full tank of full or a brand new set of car mats.
hope this little rite up helps you buy your car for a good price or deal
