If you are looking through the “car sales” section of local newspapers for a secondhand car then you much be aware of the great value for money you can get when choosing to buy a secondhand car as opposed to a new car. The trick is to thoroughly inspect the secondhand car first to make sure that it is good value for your money. This prevents you from buying a car that will cost you thousands of rands in repairs further down the line.

Get the best prices on Aeon quads and more at S4 Lifestyle, leading suppliers of lifestyle vehicles.

Inspecting The Exterior

You should always try to buy a car that is in good condition and one that has not had any major repairs done to it. This means that it has not been involved in any major accidents. There are many things that you can look at that will tell you whether or not the car has been involved in an accident.

Have a close look at the bodywork of the car. Look for any dents and bumps and any ripples in reflections. You should also keep an eye out for any rust and body filler. If you suspect any cover ups then you should place a small magnet over the area. The magnet will not stick if there is an excess of rust or body filler in that area.

You can then also have a look at the gaps that surround the doors, boot and bonnet. They should all be equal and even along the length. If they are not then it could also indicate that the car has been in for major repairs as a result of the accident.

Test Driving The Car

The first thing that you should take note of is how easily the car starts up from cold. You should listen to the engine for any sounds that should not be there such as a knocking noise. Before you start the test drive you should check all the electrical components. These include all the lights, wipers, heater, air-con and radio.

When test driving the car it is important to switch the radio off so that you can hear the engine clearly. You should also try to drive it in different conditions so that you can see how the car copes. These can include highways, curvy suburban roads, uphill and downhill. Remember to also test how quickly and effectively the car brakes in these different conditions. Also, pay attention to how comfortable the interior of the car is while driving it. Take things such as leg space, head space and driving height into account.

Once you have completed your inspection and test drive then you should complete your notes before speaking to the seller. You can use all the notes you made to negotiate a better deal with the seller. You should only buy a secondhand car if you are completely satisfied with the deal that was offered. If you did find any faults then the seller should either reduce the selling price or have the faults fixed before you buy it.

Visit S4 used cars for top quality second-hand vehicles.

Related Blogs

S4 Auto Website
S4 Auto
S4 Auto South Africa

There are many things that need to be taken into account when selling your car. Car sales can be a bit tricky but by properly getting your car ready for the sale you can ensure the successful sale of your vehicle at the desired selling price. It is first important to note that you do have the option of selling your car to a dealership. While this may be a lot quicker and more convenient than a private sale, you are unlikely to get the price that you desire. You should decide what is more important between the price you require and an easy sale.

Get the best prices on Aeon quads and more at S4 Lifestyle, leading suppliers of lifestyle vehicles.

Preparing Your Car

You should first decide how much money you are willing to spend on fixing up the car. The most important thing would be the mechanics. You should take your car to your mechanic and have him service the car as well as fix or replace everything that needs to be. This will make sure that your runs perfectly and that all the fluid levels such as brake fluid and engine oil are topped up.

You should then wash and clean the car thoroughly. This applies to both the interior and exterior. Remember to wash your in the shade and always wash it section by section from the top down. Always rinse the section that you have completed as soap can leave marks on your paint when left to dry. You can also wax and polish the car as this will make the paint look almost like new as well as protect the paint going forward.

These two steps will make sure that the buyers first impression and test drive experience is the best possible. You should then also have all the paperwork ready. This can include things such as proof of servicing the car, the maintenance plan and a report from your mechanic detailing the condition of the car.

Selling Your Car

You can sell your car by placing free advertisements online. There are many websites that will let your advertise the sale of your car free of charge. You can also place an advert in your local community newspaper under the “car sales” section. This may cost a small fee.

When placing an advert you should try to include as many positive specifications as possible. It would also be a good idea to mention any faults as well as whether you would be willing to negotiate or not. Try to include pictures of both the interior and exterior of the car and a few contact details.

When potential buyers do contact you to view the car you should make sure that it is ready to be inspected and test driven when they get there. Also, adding some pleasant scent or air freshener to the interior of the car might also make for a more pleasant driving experience. Remember that if they are interested then they have to sign the documents and make full payment before they take the car with them.

Visit S4 used cars for top quality second-hand vehicles.

Related Blogs

S4 Auto Website
S4 Auto
S4 Auto South Africa

If you are selling your used car, you should do so in a manner that will allow you to sell at the highest possible price while at the same time avoiding common problems with payment and paperwork. You could make it an easy process by contact S4 Used Cars that will help you from start to finish selling your car.

Get the best prices on Aeon quads and more at S4 Lifestyle, leading suppliers of lifestyle vehicles.

Repair and replace a few necessary things

Used car dealers usually know that if they clean up their used cars inside and outside, they can probably sell the car for a higher price. You should also use this same technique when selling your own car. Replacing some worn tyres, touching up some paint scratches, repairing windscreen wipers, pulling out small dents,  and balancing the tyres are a few simple things you can do; which efforts will probably pay off in a faster more profitable sale.

If you are not sure how much you should ask for your car, you could compare prices by looking physically at used car sales dealers or going on-line to get your car’s market value. Add about ten percent on top of the value you find which could be your starting asking price. If you want to sell quickly, then you could consider setting your price a bit lower than guide prices. If you do have a vehicle history report that would be great as many people want to make sure your car has not been wrecked or salvaged.

Sell privately or to a dealer

There are essentially two ways you can sell your car, depending on how quickly you want to sell and how much money you want. You could sell to a dealer for a low wholesale price and the dealer will then sell it at a higher retail price to make a profit. Or you can sell it privately to a particular individual. This could bring you a higher price than by selling wholesale.

To draw attention to potential buyers you could advertise in a local car magazine, through newspaper ads, at a car sales lot, on-line car sales sites, supermarkets, word of mouth to friends and neighbours or even putting a for sale notice in your car window as you drive your car around. If you do attempt to sell your car on-line on a classified web site you might well be contacted by seemingly genuine potential buyers. These often turn out to be people who just want your money.  Be on the lookout for these scams and read up about how they operate.

Do not accept monthly payment allowances

Potential buyers for your car will probably want to negotiate a price. Since you have already set an asking price that is ten per cent higher than the car’s market value, you could let the buyer talk you down a bit. Some buyers may ask you to accept a deposit and allow them to make monthly payments on the balance. Even if you know the person, this kind of agreement is full of problems. The best advice here is, just do not do it.

Buyers can pay you cash or get a used car loan from a bank or on-line loan company. They then use the money to pay you for your car after which you will sign the car over to them. It is your choice; you can sell to a used car dealer or sell privately. Doing your homework and learning the facts will enable you to make wise decisions when selling your car.

Find quality assured second-hand vehicles from Thrifty used car sales.

Related Blogs

S4 Auto Website
S4 Auto South Africa
S4 Auto ZA

The debate that goes on about buying a used car or buying a new car is an old one. It  constantly nags at the person who is considering buying a new car. It is sometimes perceived that the car you drive is a reflection of yourself and of your status in society. Some of us want the latest, greatest, fastest and most stylish car we can get our hands on. Buying a car at S4 Used Cars dealership will be your easiest route to obtain the car you dream of. There are many others that will never consider driving a used car at all.

Get the best prices on Aeon quads and more at S4 Lifestyle, leading suppliers of lifestyle vehicles.

Both new and used cars have their advantages and disadvantages to buying. The ultimate decision will lie with you and what you are looking for in a car and what you want to buy the car for. You might have started in a high powered job and you want to impress your colleagues and friends with a car to match your new status, or you might simply be looking for a car that gets you from one place to the other.

Used cars could be better value

When you sit in a brand new car, the smell of the newness is extremely tempting at first and you might have made up your mind that it’s a new car for you. But you should listen to your head and read your bank balance first. To put it simply, you should know whether you can afford a brand new car and you should also realise that used cars actually do make financial sense.

A new car actually loses about forty percent of its value within the first three years after you have purchased it. This means that buying a new car is actually the worst financial investment anybody could actually make. When you purchase a used car you pay lower insurance premiums, you pay lower finance costs, lower registration and licence fees. Your car will also have a lower depreciation rate than the new car which means you will get a better percentage of your investment back on your used car than a new one.

You might think a new car is better value

If we are honest, we will have to admit that nothing compares with a new car.  They might cost you less at the end of the day against a used car in that a new car is less likely to break down and need expensive repairs. They usually have a limited guarantee period where the manufacturer should fix up any problems that are non accident related within a specific time frame after you have bought your new car. Also, new cars are fitted out with all the latest gadgets and safety equipment equipped for modern life and modern driving, like satellite navigation, wireless Bluetooth connection for your IPod and air bags, etc. This is a draw card   for some buyers which probably quite a few used cars will not possess.

It’s up to you to decide

It all boils down to the fact that both used cars and new cars have their upsides and their downsides. It is an exciting prospect at the thought of buying a new car. You should ask yourself two questions, what do you want the car for and can you afford it. If you are willing to spend probably twice the amount of money on a new car that is up to you, but for those who opt for a used car for the benefits it brings, they are also making the right decision.

Find quality assured second-hand vehicles from Thrifty used car sales.

Related Blogs

S4 Auto Website
S4 Auto South Africa
S4 Auto ZA

When we face tough economic times, motor car consumers usually shift their interests from buying new cars to buying used cars. A used car has already undergone the new car depreciation and usually is better value for a buyer who wants to get the most for his money. Sometimes there are a few risks in buying a used car over a brand new car, but S4 Used Cars can help you here with their expertise in the used car business.

Acquaint yourself with the risk of buying a used car

New cars usually come fresh from the factory, have never been driven, and are backed by a manufacturers’ guarantee, etc. You should just acquaint yourself with the risks of buying a used car, for instance you might get a fake seller on the internet that doesn’t actually exist. He will take your money by promising eBay payment protection to make you feel safe about sending money before receiving the car. You might also make the mistake of buying a car long distance through the internet. This will mean you can’t see it or drive it or inspect it.

Get the best prices on Aeon quads and more at S4 Lifestyle, leading suppliers of lifestyle vehicles.

Make you get proof of ownership

When it comes to used cars, there is usually no guarantee period. Sometimes used cars are sold to inexperienced buyers without a legal proof of ownership. If a buyer doesn’t have this with his name on it, the car could well be stolen or not belong to the seller. Such sellers usually have a good story as to why they don’t have the title.  Used cars could also be salvage vehicles meaning the car has been wrecked and declared a total loss by an insurance company, repaired and resold. These cars can have potential hidden problems.

Someone with experience should go with you to notice problems

Used cars are often sold after being wrecked and repaired. The repairs are often done cheaply as possible.  The value of a wrecked and repaired car is always less, even if the repairs have been done well.  Used cars can have hidden problems which are known to the seller, but not disclosed to a buyer. It’s up to the buyer to make sure there are no problems. Sometimes used cars can have problems not known to the seller who then honestly declares that the car has no problems. Many sellers are not mechanically inclined and they cannot realise the tell-tale signs that indicate problems.

Sometimes safety equipment on used cars can be disabled, or otherwise non-functional. If the car has been previously wrecked, it’s possible that the expensive air bags were never replaced for example. These are problems a buyer might not find out about until it’s too late. A buyer should always take caution in buying a used car which he doesn’t have to with a new car.

Let the mechanic inspect your car

Always make sure you get your car inspected by a mechanic before you buy and test-drive the car on the highways for all speeds. Listen for unusual noises or handling problems. Don’t forget to look over the car for signs of water damage, leaks, excessive wear, and accident repairs. Get maintenance records if possible. Also try and get a vehicle history report if possible.

If you follow all the above hints and rules when buying a used car, you should not encounter many problems and you might find yourself driving off in a beautiful used car to give you years of great service.

Find quality assured second-hand vehicles from Thrifty used car sales.

Related Blogs

S4 Auto Website
S4 Auto South Africa
S4 Auto ZA

With the tough economic times we find ourselves in today, owning a brand new car could be out of our reach and we might have to realise that our next choice is a used car. S4 Used Cars is a place where you will be more than delighted with your choice of used cars and the expert advice they offer you in your process.

Get the best prices on Aeon quads and more at S4 Lifestyle, leading suppliers of lifestyle vehicles.

Bargains are to be found

Places to find good used car deals can be found at used car lots, used car dealers, car magazines, newspaper, on-line car sales, supermarkets, friends and neighbours and public car auctions. You might pay higher prices from a car dealer than if you buy from an individual. Some car dealers will inspect the car and provide an inspection report with each car. But do not let their inspection replace your own. Used car dealers usually sell a car as it is with no guarantees like as in a new car sale. You could buy your used car from a private individual. Sometimes a dealer is desperate to sell and might be more willing to negotiate and you could well end up with a sheer bargain because of the urgency of the sale.

Let a mechanic check the car out

Although most used-car deals between individuals go well, some do not because of misunderstandings and dishonesty. When buying from an individual, it is always a smart move, almost an imperative move, to get the car inspected by a mechanic before you buy. It might cost you a bit more, but might save you thousands later. Like dealership used car sales, car sales by individuals are always as-is sales which means you have no right to return the car and get your money back if you find problems later
.
Do not be fooled by scams

Many car buyers enjoy the ease of shopping for a car on-line which is easy and effective. However, you must look out for scams where people want your money first and only. Buying cars long-distance is risky, rather don’t do it.  If you can’t inspect or drive a car or talk directly with the seller; you are taking a big chance that everything will work out well.

Car auctions for cheap cars

You could really find real bargains by attending public car auctions.  Although some auctions are dealer-only, many are open to the public, and some are on-line. Buyers can walk away with great car deals. When you have found the used car you want, whether it is on-line, from a dealer, or from an individual seller, after following a few general rules and ideas, you will probably be one hundred percent satisfied with your choice.

Find quality assured second-hand vehicles from Thrifty used car sales.

Related Blogs

S4 Auto Website
S4 Auto South Africa
S4 Auto ZA