An Actual Video of How To Buy a Used Car

I appraise to buy used cars every day in Brisbane.

But sometimes I wonder how others do it.

Every now and again I find my way to YouTube and look at what other people do.

Here is an example I want to talk about:

This is just one video on the subject out of quite literally hundreds to choose from.

I follow my own procedures but I always like watching these because every time I learn something new.

It is a very long video and although the guy seems to know his mechanical stuff, he isn’t much of a cameraman!

But it doesn’t matter.

It is just a good video to go through to help you decide if the car you are looking at is worth the asking price.

The car in this video although in the USA, is a Camry which are ubiquitous here in Australia too.

He starts by looking around the car and seeing the general condition of the body.

I do the same thing tapping areas of the panels listening for “deadened” bits which may be hiding filler and/or fibreglass.

I like his method of testing the struts/shock absorbers. A simple push down on each corner can easily reveal an expensive suspension requirement. If the car bounces, it needs new ones.

Another simple test to do is the see if the wheels move at all laterally. This could mean worn bushes and other suspension related problems which add up in mechanical repair work needed for roadworthy or safety certificate.

Engine mounts are not an incredibly expensive item to fix up, but pushing on the engine and checking the mounts you can see for wear and cracking is an excellent idea too.

A simple look around for existing oil leaks is a good thing to do – check to see if there is any built up grease or leaks forming underneath – therefore bringing a flashlight is a good idea. The inbuilt light in your smartphone can also be used at a pinch.

Overall an excellent video and worth the look. I’m sure you can find a shorter one, but this one goes through a good actual example of a Toyota Camry being considered to buy.

Call me on 0411 362 229 if you either need to buy a car or sell a car in Brisbane today.