olexjay:
The fact is that most used cars are put on sale after the current owner notice some issue with the car, most seller will tell you they're putting the car on sale cuz they need money and won't tell you if its having some issue but later after you take it home and after some month you will still noticing fault.


If u take a mechanic down for inspection this mechanic will only tell you it's good and have a sign with the seller whereby he would go back to have some shares.

I would say buying tokunbo is kinda ok and then asking the dealer to give you some duration guarantee and most importantly you make a purchase from a trusted dealer, request for the VIN and then you give someone to look it up for you, I know Cosplay is good in doing that (nairaland user)

Once you check the Vin and know the car formal condition, if it's accidental car and the accident is minor and don't affect the engine you can go for it.

I'm not saying all used cars are bad some are good and perfect than tokunbo just depending in the ex user how it's been used and maintained.

Wish you all the best bro

barikay:
Thank u. You make sense there

fuckwell2080:
you have to be very careful.Going with a mechanic does not give you full guarantee that you will buy a good car.I once buy a car for 480k orobo Camry the mechanic did not do proper check on the car.engine and gearbox was in top condition but after buying the car the next day problem started with battery it refuse to start.I took to electrician he told me the battery is gone no need to charge again. I bought new one for 30k,the inner part of three tyres are gone not the outermost part.you can't even see the inner part of tyres when you want access the car except you loose the tyres.I bought three new tyres for 75k, then alternator 25k,then radiator after 8days it started problem I bought that.I spent close to 200k to put the car in good order.so just keep some money aside like 200k in case problem arise for ur Nigeria use car.That is the real truth so follow this advice it will help you.

quentin06:
if this is your first car, my advice will be to keep it simple:

go with a trusted mechanic friend to check car.

dont buy vehicles sampled at mechanic workshops.

check vehicle documentation, walk away from vehicles without particulars and custom papers.

a vehicle shud have at least 2 keys, don't deal if there's one key.

dont buy a vehicle without spare tyre or jack.

if it has ac the unit should cool even if it is low on gas, don't fall for the ac needs gas trick commonly seen on this forum

a leaking ac system is very expensive to repair you will drop the dash board.

finally trust ur gut.

Cosplay:

Alternate perspective
Perhaps the mechanic deliberately misled you to get a repeat client?

barikay:
I am planning of buying a used Camry 1999 -2003. I am a novice about car. What should I look out for? I need help because I don't want a car that will give me problems (going to mechanic everyday) I know Someone will advice me to go with a mechanic, that's sound good but you can go with a mechanic and still end up buying the wrong car. I was told buying a tokunbo car will not guaranteed buying a good car because some Nigerian car is even better. What actually are sign I look for?

quentin06:


a vehicle shud have at least 2 keys, don't deal if there's one key.

dont buy a vehicle without spare tyre or jack.

DonX001:

Why do you say this?
Just curious.
Agree with all your other points.

quentin06:


helps to know if the person selling is the original owner, how can you buy a car with only 1 key?

DonX001:

The owner could have misplaced the other key nau. Is that not the reason car keys come in twos, so that if one is misplaced, you could still have a spare?
And depending on the owner's inclination, he may choose not to replace it if one key gets missing.

Although the other possible fear may be that the owner may just be hiding the spare key, and can just surface one day with his spare key and drive the car away from wherever you parked, maybe while you're inside the mall shopping with your family.

But that seems a bit farfetched in my opinion.

quentin06:


but its possible.

DonX001:

Yea it is.
In this Naija wey we dey, anything is absolutely possible.
But whether the degree of possibility is enough to prevent you from buying a car you like, that's another ballgame entirely.

If you Google it, you'll find that buying a used car with 1 key is very commonplace globally, and pretty much standard practice, or at least acceptable practice, even from dealerships.

DonX001:

Why do you say this?
Just curious.
Agree with all your other points.

quentin06:


whats wrong with used nissans, all of them cant be bad, got to be specific, altimas and primeras can be trouble some but the highest expenditure may be to replace an engine or transmission.

olexjay:





request for the VIN and then you give someone to look it up for you

Once you check the Vin and know the car formal condition, if it's accidental car and the accident is minor and don't affect the engine you can go for it.

tojahh:
Abeg if you have money just buy toks so that you can go back to the dealer and arrest his salesman we you begin see drama. Na so I buy Orobo 1999 380k with abeg, owner say him get another car that's why he's selling, AC only need gas, power Window one for back no dey work that's the only issue. My broda, I buy motor for February I sell am for April 140k to the mechanic.

I cannot die untop Orobo! Na so so wasiu rewire, Monday Electrician, Oshare vulcanizer, Aboy key starter, Ozioma engine, Ganiu AC man na come full my phone.

tojahh:
Abeg if you have money just buy toks so that you can go back to the dealer and arrest his salesman we you begin see drama. Na so I buy Orobo 1999 380k with abeg, owner say him get another car that's why he's selling, AC only need gas, power Window one for back no dey work that's the only issue. My broda, I buy motor for February I sell am for April 140k to the mechanic.

I cannot die untop Orobo! Na so so wasiu rewire, Monday Electrician, Oshare vulcanizer, Aboy key starter, Ozioma engine, Ganiu AC man na come full my phone.

tojahh:
Abeg if you have money just buy toks so that you can go back to the dealer and arrest his salesman we you begin see drama. Na so I buy Orobo 1999 380k with abeg, owner say him get another car that's why he's selling, AC only need gas, power Window one for back no dey work that's the only issue. My broda, I buy motor for February I sell am for April 140k to the mechanic.

I cannot die untop Orobo! Na so so wasiu rewire, Monday Electrician, Oshare vulcanizer, Aboy key starter, Ozioma engine, Ganiu AC man na come full my phone.

Shalomc:

That your evil orobo.... Parked @ the mecho's place...no engine...on the way to Benin.