Time to part from my car apparently

[FPAlpha]

So i've received outstanding pay from my old workplace and since i have to do the mandatory 2 year check on my car i left it at the mechanic.

Since there were quite some issues with my over 15 year old car (apart from several rust spots) we agreed to let the government technician inspect the car, note what's wrong and repair that since i already planned to retire it shortly before the next mandatory check in 2 years.

They said they'd inform me later in the day how it went and i was prepared to pay for up to 1000 Euro in repairs to keep it going for 2 years. Well.. the mechanic had a different amount for me. Rough estimate would have been about 2500 Euro which was quite a bit of a shock.

Turns out some beams have rusted through and the aft brakes need replacing too. He'll make a full check and call me tomorrow evening with a more precise estimate but i don't think it'll drop significantly.

I don't have any emotional attachment to my car.. it is a machine that gets me from a to b and back and it has done that well for the most part but i guess time has run its course and it's over. Spent the last few hours checking online car sales sites and there's a shitload of offers in my price range and since it would be hell to get to work by public transport (my workplace is in a kinda remote place) i need a car so there's no workaround,

I'm a little anxious though.. i know the basics about cars but i'm not that savvy with the details. Open the hood and let me look at the engine and all i can say about it is.. well, there's the engine. These online sites have guides on car sales/purchases and checklists and what to watch out for but even then i'm not totally sure on how to spot problems with a car in advance.

Any helpful hints, pitfalls to avoid and absolute giveaways to avoid a certain car?

 

[Lindley]

Be weary of rust. Have a look at the undercarriage of a car before buying it used.

Check the Carfax, etc.

Make sure the A/C works and get in writing that there are guaranteed no freon leaks. A slow leak can be masked by refilling the freon, but your A/C could stop working after a week or two and cost lots to repair. If you can find a mechanic who will do a dye check on the car for not much money, do it before buying.

That's about all I've got.....

 

[ed629]

Shit, you do the dye check on a car yourself. The dye kit is sold in auto part stores, and blacklights are pretty cheap. Bought one at Wal-Mart for about $10.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Be weary of rust. Have a look at the undercarriage of a car before buying it used.

Check the Carfax, etc.

Make sure the A/C works and get in writing that there are guaranteed no freon leaks. A slow leak can be masked by refilling the freon, but your A/C could stop working after a week or two and cost lots to repair. If you can find a mechanic who will do a dye check on the car for not much money, do it before buying.

That's about all I've got.....

Is there Carfax in Germany? Well hopefully something similar.

 

[FPAlpha]

I've never heard of Carfax before so i don't think such a service exists in Germany. However trade laws are quite good in Germany and if you have a written contract (which i plan to do.. no money will exchange hands before everything is written down and signed) and something comes up that's the seller's fault or he didn't mention (such as previous crashs) you get your money back.

Since it will be a used car and if i'm 90% sure i want it i'll most likely get it checked and looked over by a mechanic.. he has a proper garage and can lift the car to take a look at the underside and has the trained eye to spot problems i don't notice.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

^ At least you live in a country that seems to protect the consumer pretty well.

Here in the U.S. each state has it's own "lemon law", and in those states whose government is bought & paid for by big business, the consumer is usually out of luck.

Though I did get $3000 out of GM/Pontiac several years ago, without any kind of trial, for numerous troubles with a (then) new GTO.