TIPS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A FAIRLY USED CAR (TOKUNBO)

Due to the price of brand new cars, some would rather go for fairly used cars as these come in at a more reduced price. Some of these cars look so neat, most especially those foreign used cars and could sometimes pass for a new one by sight.

Buying a fairly used car, gives room for some percent of money to be saved. Used cars are not necessarily poor quality vehicles. Many have durable engines and provide good service for many years after purchase.

They are sometimes called Second-hand cars or ‘Tokunbo’ cars. Before you buy a used car in Nigeria, there are certain things that you should look out for to avoid regrets or wasting your money on something that will not give the needed output.

1. Consider the amount of money available for that purpose
This is a very vital part to consider when buying a fairly used car. It is important for you to define a budget and stick with it. Sometimes after paying for the car additional expenses might arise. E.g You might need to rewrap the interior or change the tyre as well as do some mechanical / electrical maintenance, all these will mean extra spending. You should decide how much you are willing to spend on the car.


2. Compare Prices
It is important that you have an idea of what the price should be, this will help greatly in your bargaining process. One way to compare price is to check online and see prices. Researching the cost for the brand is important, this helps you stay in check. Also, some go as far as ascertaining if it was used on Nigerian roads or if it was imported into Nigeria. This gives you an idea of what the range of the selling price should be.It is important that you tidy up your ends by doing your price research before meeting up with the used car dealer.

3. Create a Target List of Brands and Models
Knowing what you want beforehand is important, this helps your decision process and makes the buying process easy, as you already have an idea of what you want. Times have shown that Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan and Mazda are buyers’ favourites. It is safer to have more than one proposed car brand.

4. Check the mileage
Mileage refers to the total distance travelled by the car since its manufacture. Therefore, when buying a used car in Nigeria, always look out for the mileage as it is a good deal breaker. The average annual mileage for a car is 12,000. If a car that is on your list of consideration has a mileage of less than 60,000 after 5 years, this is a low mileage and is a good car to buy; especially if it checks all other boxes in terms of functionality. The mileage will disclose how long the car has been used, how long it has run and also how much it should be sold for.



5. Request a Pre-purchase Inspection
When buying a fairly used car, you will need the services of a trained mechanic to help check out the fitness level of the car. Just as the saying "All that glitters isn't gold", so also it is in the world of auto, a good looking car might not be as fit as it looks. The pre-purchase inspection can uncover some difficulties underneath the hood.

6. Check the engine’s strength
This can be checked by taking a short drive. You have to turn on the A/C system and see how the engine works. If there is any vibration, it means the engine’s condition is not good enough.

7. Availability of spare parts
I know of a friend that bought a used car, at the initial everything seems fine, but the moment the car needed a part to be changed, that was the end of the journey as the spare parts weren't readily available for purchase and could only be gotten from the manufacturer or another of the car's kind. It will be frustrating putting so much money into purchasing something and at the slightest breakdown, it becomes the end of the journey. Take out time to research if the car you are about buying has spare parts readily available because all cars are prone to have issues that should be fixed at one point or the other.Before you commit your hard-earned money for it's purchase.


8. Think about the reasons for sale of the owner
One of the major reasons people sell off cars is because it's beginning to develop faults, although a few also sell because they want to acquire something better. It is okay to ask the owner for the reasons why he or she wants to sell this car. If the reason is acceptable, then consider other factors.

It is important that you don't take too seriously the words of the car dealer as they are mostly concerned with selling off his cars and making profit. Check out every detail yourself before deciding whether to seal the deal.


https://carmart.ng/public/blog/tips-to-consider-when-buying-a-fairly-used-car-tokunbo-2020/

Nice one

9; Don't be intimidated, pressured or blackmailed by any car seller. If he doesn't agree to your terms, dump his or her sorry assss fast!. There are more cars to be sold than buyers and better ones come up everyday.

Great

duality:
9; Don't be intimidated, pressured or blackmailed by any car seller. If he doesn't agree to your terms, dump his or her sorry assss fast!. There are more cars to be sold than buyers and better ones come up everyday.