Dreams about four wheels come true Just three decades ago in Poland it was much easier...
Used car – read before buying
(photo: Fotolia)
In recent years, new car sales in Poland have increased. However, the dominant role is played by the offer on the used market. My car comes from this source, so I will try to share my thoughts. Maybe they will be helpful in implementing your plans.
Where to buy a used car?
Some of the cars offered on the secondary market were bought in Polish showrooms. There is no denying that they are the safest choice. As a rule, we can easily check the history of the item we are interested in, at least at a dealer of a given brand or via the platform https://historiapojazdu.gov.pl
The remaining used cars are privately imported to Poland. Most often, they came to us from European Union countries, although there are also connoisseurs of models imported from the USA.
We can buy such a car from a dealer as part of the extended offer of a showroom (that's where my car comes from), from an independent commission, through an advertising portal or directly from a private person. We can also buy it ourselves abroad and bring it to Poland. Regardless of the source, always demand the original service book of the vehicle.
What should you pay attention to before purchasing?
The choice of brand, model, body version, color and finally the drive unit is an individual matter for each of us. Regardless, we start by looking at the car's bodywork. During use, it is difficult to avoid minor scratches or parking abrasions bumpers, contrary to appearances, their presence will prove the "pure" intentions of the seller. However, it is worth checking all elements of the car with a paint thickness gauge. The purchase of such a device for private purposes costs several dozen zlotys, which should be treated as part of the investment in a car.
Let's also look at the markings on the windows. We can easily verify whether it is original if we do not ask the seller for the reason. In practice, it may turn out that after an accident, the door or wheel arch was replaced with a factory-painted element, and the paint thickness meter showed no differences. In the case of windows, this cannot be hidden.
Now we can look under the engine hood. Contrary to appearances, the elements there should not be perfectly clean. While driving, we cannot avoid dirt, which can be easily distinguished from traces of potential leaks.
The penultimate activity is to look at the interior - check the car carefully. We start with the upholstery, headliner and carpet, of course lifting the mats each time. Then the operation of the mechanisms for adjusting the position of seats and headrests, folding sofa backrests, opening doors and windows, fastening seat belts and lighting. The next step is to start the engine, but before you listen to its operation, it is worth taking a look at the individual indicators. So we turn on the external lighting, including the turn signals, set the ventilation and air conditioning knobs to all possible operating positions, and check the operation of the washers, wipers and the radio.
If we have no objections, let's take a test drive. You don't have to be an experienced driver or mechanic to detect unnatural knocking or behavior on the road. The engine should run steadily, accelerate smoothly, and shift into individual gears without any problems.
What's next?
Regardless of the source and place of purchase of the car, we must formally re-register it in our name and insure it. In some cases, e.g. purchase from a private person, you have to pay tax, and when importing from abroad, you have to pay a recycling fee and translate documents. The least amount of work will be required for a car that has already been registered in Poland. You will learn about all requirements in a specific case from any communication department or on its website.
My expenses did not end there, but it was a matter of an individual approach to the car. I also checked the light settings and the effectiveness of the braking system at the diagnostician, and at the tire repairer I checked the wheel balance and tire pressure, including the spare one. I also like to know what I'm doing, and in this case I'm driving, so I had to replace the engine oil, fluids and filters, as well as have the air conditioning checked. Finally, new wiper blades, refilling the windshield washer fluid, cleaning the interior, thoroughly washing the chassis and body and waxing it. By putting my favorite scent inside, I could finally feel at home.
How to avoid a dishonest seller?
If we are dealing with an honest seller and we follow the instructions provided here, the purchase should be satisfactory. However, it is relatively easy to come across dishonest sellers. As we know, it is usually darkest under the street lamp. The same applies to the issue of car trade.
Although honest sellers have nothing to hide and report any defects to the buyer, dishonest sellers are not so effusive. What's more, a dishonest seller will try to hide every defect of the car at all costs.
Therefore, he will look for ways to advertise his vehicle as failure-free. To do this, you need to pay close attention to the tricks it may use. A potential buyer should bear in mind:
- too clean interior of the engine compartment, because while enjoying cleanliness, attention is usually diverted from more important things,
- relatively fresh paint touch-ups, superficial renovation of the chassis,
- non-series paintings, gadgets and accessories,
- too low mileage of the car in relation to the year of its production, when the same models in the hands of other owners have an average mileage much higher,
- interior – the car is unnaturally well-kept
You can also enumerate how dishonest sellers want to draw the customer's attention to the vehicle they offer. The best option is to go for an inspection with someone who knows about cars. Then you can be more certain about the actual technical condition of the vehicle, which is more important than its equipment. It is worth knowing that it is extremely difficult to detect faults on your own. Dishonest sellers can turn even a car in poor technical condition into a brand new car. Unfortunately, only for a short time. Usually, as soon as the warranty period expires, defects begin to reveal themselves one by one.
