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Mec Monday: Things to consider before buying a used car

Living

Many cars on Kenyan roads are secondhand cars generally imported from Japan and other nations. Buying a brand-new car in our country isn’t something everyone can afford hence the secondhand ones are an awesome alternative. Usually, the cars have barely been used and are basically still new. Now if importing isn’t your cup of tea, visit a car dealership or yard to purchase your car.

Before making a decision and emptying out your bank account here are a few things you should consider:

1. Price

This is an obvious statement but yes you need to determine how much you are willing to spend on a car. Your budget will determine which car and model you can get. German cars are usually more expensive than those from Japan. Moreover the larger the engine capacity, the more expensive the car is.

2. Model

After determining your budget, research the available cars within your price limit. During this search, ensure you look for cars that will suit your needs the best. The internet works great here, there are thousands of reviews on basically any car ever manufactured. You may have your eyes set on a certain model and you discover that it comes with a laundry list of problems.

3. Mileage

Mileage basically describes the number of miles the car has covered. The bigger the number, the higher the mileage. When you purchase a car with a high mileage it’s a bit of a risk as this usually entails that there are several parts that have become worn out and might need replacing. This will end up increasing the amount of money you end up spending on the car. Lesser mileage is always better.

4. Review car history

Apart from mileage, it is advisable to ask for the car service history, this will show you the number of services the car has gone through as well any major changes or damages to the parts. Moreover, you will be able to gauge how frequently the car needs to be serviced based on the mileage recorded. Keep in mind that car dealers tend to alter the history of the car in order to make a sale hence the next point is crucial.

5. Bring along a mechanic or someone knowledgeable

As stated above, sometimes car dealers alter the service history of cars in order to sell their cars. Hence bringing along a mechanic or someone knowledgeable about cars is a must. The said individual will be able to sieve through the jargon and actually determine if whatever is written in the service history is true. Moreover, they can have a quick look over the car and the internal parts and assess if the car is truly worth buying. Sometimes the car can be aesthetically pleasing but the engine is a complete mess.

Buying a car is a huge step in anyone’s life so one needs to take every precaution before spending hundreds of thousands of shillings. Take your time before signing that cheque.

What other tips do you have to share when it comes to buying used cars locally?

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