Advice for Young Drivers when Buying their first used Car
Within this article I hope to bring along some use full little tips along with a bit of humour for a good read!
So you are 17 and ready to pass your driving test. You have it all planned out in your head.
We have all been there! It’s one of the most exciting times of a young person’s life and our real first step into the Adult world. That sense of independence what you have never had before. The excitement of showing off to the ladies in your firstused car, what you have since renamed “the love machine”!
You already have that 15” Sub Woofer ready, your new Sony stereo with your favourite Backstreet Boys CD to be blasted out. What? Have times moved on? Oh yes, it’s all that Techno dance music now isn’t it. Anyway just one problem you haven’t yet been able to find a used car with the same credibility as you. Here are some tips for you young folk on buying that perfect little “love machine”!
Firstly it is important not to rush into anything. As you are young I’m guessing that money is an issue (not for the ones who have the rich Daddy of course). As with any Used Car it is likely that somewhere down its history it has encountered some form of difficulty. So therefore make sure you look through the history of your potential car, because I’m guessing you don’t want to be handed a £400 bill when something goes wrong. Try and look for a Used Car that has been regularly serviced and maintained, this will ensure they are clean and oil won’t be an issue.
Secondly LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS! Until you get your little babe magnet, your daddy knows best. If he says no son you’re not having a Used Car that is made by the French, then that is that. Although it quite possibly is a myth the story your dad heard about French Cars when he was a lad, you have to respect his point of view, Because if something did go wrong on your little speed demon it would be, “I told you so son, I’m not paying”. And you wouldn’t want that would you? Fight off those demons in your head that are telling you to buy that used car that is so low, it is almost scraping the floor! Cool or not, have you tried speed humps in a car that low? It certainly adds time to your journey! Besides buying a used car that has been tampered with so much is likely to come with further issues. The most obvious one being that, the body work has probably been done by a 17 year old who couldn’t afford to get it done professionally. Therefore that spoiler is probably held on by PVA Glue, chances are the lowering springs are just normal springs cut short and that exhaust, oh dear what do we say about the exhaust, apart from it sounding like world war 3, it is probably hanging on by elastic bands.
Taking all that in too account you are almost ready to buy your first used car. Your only other final issue is getting the right price. From a personal perspective I spent £2,000 on my first used car. Which I thought was a fair price for my lovely little Peugeot 106 that was in pristine condition. Also I must add that it was still in pristine condition when I passed it on to a lucky 17 year old 2 years later. Take care of your first used car, it is precious and you will never forget it. Good luck!
