Opinions on used car

[Popok]

Hi guys,

 

I'm interested in a used car sold by owner. It has only 1 owner, well taken care of internally & externally. Records of all servicing present. However it was involved in 1 minor accident,, but didn't affect the engine.

Car has passed vicom inspection.

 

Would you get it if you were in such a situation?

[Old-driver]

If price is right, why not. Go STA and get it graded

[RadX]

Hi guys,

 

I'm interested in a used car sold by owner. It has only 1 owner, well taken care of internally & externally. Records of all servicing present. However it was involved in 1 minor accident,, but didn't affect the engine.

Car has passed vicom inspection.

 

Would you get it if you were in such a situation?

 

if just a fender bender, ok lah. As long s the structure not affected, go for it. Even my porsche had a fender bender, but still drover perfectly!

[Popok]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies. Vicom inspection passed within 2-3mths for rtax. Would that be sufficient?

[SimonTan]

Did STA do the chassie alignment inspection?

If its ok, i will buy it from owner.

Because car dealers will hide All accidents and not so forthright in their answers.

 

[Vhtfhwlego]

if you buy porker with fender bender, ok..

if buy beamer, must scrap ...

 

How bad was the damage?

If not fender bender, Y go thru all the worries?

Price is right but how cheap is cheap...

remember, if that one suppose to be written off by insurance however was put on road (due to market value too expensive to be written off rubbish load), better walk away because, you buy low, you sell even lower

 

[Maroon5]

TS, the used car inspection and road tax renewal inspection r 2 diff things. i doubt u wld wan to rely on a routine inspection to buy ur car.

[Neutralsg]

Hi guys,

 

I'm interested in a used car sold by owner. It has only 1 owner, well taken care of internally & externally. Records of all servicing present. However it was involved in 1 minor accident,, but didn't affect the engine.

Car has passed vicom inspection.

 

Would you get it if you were in such a situation?

Assuming all other factors are acceptable to me as a buyer except the issue of 'minor accident'. If so, what is the minor accident? This will be the determining factor.

If the minor accident is specified and I'm ok with it, why not since it is unlikely to be a worse deal than from a dealer who may not know the history of the car provided the owner is an honorable person whom I know and not one who has the mentality of a dishonest dealer.

[Popok]

Hi all,

The minor accident resulted in replacing 1side of front suspension & straighten out chassis a bit.

Oh routine tax inspection & used car are 2 diff things..k ok thx!

[Zanter]

Hi all,

The minor accident resulted in replacing 1side of front suspension & straighten out chassis a bit.

Oh routine tax inspection & used car are 2 diff things..k ok thx!

 

Given a choice I wont buy cars in which the suspension or chassis needed to be repaired. The repairs will never reach original state with Sg standard of repair work & may pose handling problems in future.

[Tarquin]

Eh chassis bengkok...hmmmm my case I'll wont go through...some more suspension damage..don't think its a minor accident..

 

 

[Expertz]

i disagree, you are able to get such cars at a good discount and if the car poses no problems then the only problem with the car is in your head and your mindset

 

overseas people buy cars from scrapyards and rebuilt into pristine condition and driven again for decades

only in singapore do we religiously service our cars every 10k and clean and polish like new

 

if the car is able to be driven without problems, able to drive straight, able to take a hump at < 40km/h without unusual sounds then i think i'd rather take the good discount and buy the accident vehicle than to take no discount and get a vehicle that hasn't been in an accident before but still used

[Proton_neutron]

Yup.

 

As long as the car is running well, and repaired well should it be in an accident, why not??

 

Just ask for more discounts if possible to feel more assured =D

[Tarmac]

Well, do spend $100+ and go for the Car Evaluation (not for the purpose of renewing Road Tax) offered by Vicom/STA/AA. For myself, when buying a used car, I take the "if it's your, it's yours" mentality and won't force it :) good luck!

[Neutralsg]

Hi all,

The minor accident resulted in replacing 1side of front suspension & straighten out chassis a bit.

Oh routine tax inspection & used car are 2 diff things..k ok thx!

Base on your description, I will not consider the accident to be minor, more so since suspension is affected by the accident and require replacement. Hence, it's no surprise the chassis needed realignment.

My take on whether I'll buy? The answer is a straight no.

Edited April 13, 2012 by Neutralsg

[Mercs]

Unless really good deal pricing or else I would avoid.

 

But if you intend to drive till scrap then maybe, or may have problem selling in future.

 

Just go with your gut. If buy from car dealers same. They may not disclose also.

[Popok]

i was thinking, if getting from dealers, they will hide everything, and not truthful abt it. No history of servicing etc, accident info.

I just test drove the car arnd the neighbourhood, on the expressway, everything seems fine, no weird sounds while driving etc.

Owner honest with history of car and maintained it well.

Hmmm...to get or not to get..

[Neutralsg]

i was thinking, if getting from dealers, they will hide everything, and not truthful abt it. No history of servicing etc, accident info.

I just test drove the car arnd the neighbourhood, on the expressway, everything seems fine, no weird sounds while driving etc.

Owner honest with history of car and maintained it well.

Hmmm...to get or not to get..

While not all cars nor dealers are bad, let's look at your desire to give this car a shot.

1) Is the price similar to what a dealer would offer because some responsible dealers may not even be interested in cars with such accident record (the good ones probably have their own mechanic / ways to check its worthiness to purchase for resale)

2) Those dealers who don't mind taking in such cars probably will suppress the purchase price to justify their purchase and minimise their risk

3) If the price is lower or based on the maximum a dealer would offer, I will see the difference in price between what is available on the market against the price offered

One other factor to consider is: How long since the accident and repair was the car driven by the owner before he decides to sell.

To me, all the above does not really matter as I will still take my chance with a similar car (if indeed it's the model I simply WANT) elsewhere which does not have chassis realignment verifiable by experts of the field. Reason for my mindset is due experience in getting a car which visited the car 'doctors' month in and month out although the purchase price was justifiable and did cover the repair costs. However, opportunity costs through lost time was regrettable.

Hope you get what you need in getting a car.

Cheers and have a great weekend!

Edited April 13, 2012 by Neutralsg