Things to keep in mind when buying a Second Hand car in NZ

[Ankur]

Hi,

Request to please guide me as what things to keep in mind while buying a second hand car in NZ.
Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Ankur

[Ankur]

Please don't worry. I have found enough old threads.
Just wondering which is good brand when deciding for a car. I came across which suggests to keep distance from European second hand cars as maintainence prices are very high for them.

Please provide your inputs on brands and cheap spares in-case car breaks down.

[Fern49]

That doesn't apply to all secondhand European cars.

[Sun777]

Information and reviews provided about cars is relative. I find European cars much more comfortable than the Japanese/Korean cars, the control is much better and the driving on the roads is smooth, the only problem is with spare parts & repairs (which you might have read).

Repairs & spare parts for Japanese cars are relatively cheaper but you will end up compromising on the quality, stability, comfort etc. However I have known few of ours friends who have used these cards for 5+ years without any major issues.


While buying 2nd hand car, do check the Odometer, tyres, get mechanical inspection, cam belt (if applicable), read reviews & tesimonials about the make & model, Warranty of Fitness

[Ankur]

Thanks Fern49 and Sun777

[batgirl1001]

There are quite a few quality Japanese cars and don't believe you would be compromising on quality and comfort there. Toyota has quite a range of cars and we drive a Harrier which is top of the line in comfort and quality and very fuel-economical. There are many comfortable, safe and good quality cars from Japanese brands. It is just personal choice.
I personally wouldn't buy European cars, although I admit they are wonderful to drive. They are expensive to maintain and downright hideous to repair. A friend who drove a BMW has to recondition his gearbox to the tune of over $6000.

[Ankur]

Thanks for your comments.
Is there a website where I can evaluate price of the old cars based on Model, Year, Odometer reading, Condition, Type etc?
I am searching but couldn't find any so far.


Regards,
Ankur

[batgirl1001]

Simply going to trademe.co.nz (NZ's largest selling site) will be sufficient for you to do a price comparison. Most NZ cars are old anyway with the average age being 12 years. If you want a more in-depth analysis, then redbook.co.nz but you will have to pay for using that service.

[Trumpnut]

We bought classic British cars when we arrived. We drive them every day and they get W.O.F. every 6 months. Reg for a year is less then $100 and parts are cheap. So it really is relative on what you want from your car and how much you want to spend.

[Tcam478]

I agree with Batgirl1001 thatTradeMe is a great place to start. Turners Auctions also sells lots of second hand cars, and they provide a lot of information about them.
I guess there are no "safe cars" that are always reliable and won't cause trouble. Best thing to do is ask to test drive the car and take it to a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection. You might need to call ahead and make a booking with them first. They can give you a really good idea on the state of the car, the kind of condition it's in and how long it's likely to last.