What condition should you expect a used car to be in?
Discussion
I have been looking at cars recently, say 2 or 3 years old with 30-40k miles. All the cars I am looking at seems to disappoint in terms of condition. From scratches to stone chips to being just generally grubby.
Am I just setting my expectations too high or have standards fallen on the used car market?
The type of car I am talking about would be a 2-3 year old Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Insignia for £15-20k.
Am I just setting my expectations too high or have standards fallen on the used car market?
The type of car I am talking about would be a 2-3 year old Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Insignia for £15-20k.
The past 2-3 years haven't been vintage years for driving. If it's accumulated even so much as 30,000 miles since 2019, it's probably been used to drive long distances. That inevitably means a lot more chips and scratches from stones simply due to the higher speeds involved.
I found damage from lower speed driving was much more all or nothing: it'd either be nothing noticeable, or alternatively somebody would drive into you (or you into them, or you into something...) and your car would end up looking a complete disaster.
I found damage from lower speed driving was much more all or nothing: it'd either be nothing noticeable, or alternatively somebody would drive into you (or you into them, or you into something...) and your car would end up looking a complete disaster.
I think the problem is because of the recent shortage of cars many places have been forced to lower their standards to get stock. However when I bought my car in 2019 I had to sift through a sea of s
t to find a decent one. Even mine had white wormed wheels but they were undamaged and paintwork was all original other than a few stone chip touch ups.
Additionally rental companies are holding cars for longer due to new car shortages, so when they are defleeted they are 3-4 years old with 40k of rental abuse rather than the 12 months and 9-12k they are normally subjected to.
Guy at work has a 330d from enterprise while his car is being fixed by the insurance. It’s a 19 plate with about 40k on the clock, is overdue a service and is absolutely battered with a front end respray that’s the wrong shade, laquer peel on the rear bumper and every wheel kerbed and corroded.
t to find a decent one. Even mine had white wormed wheels but they were undamaged and paintwork was all original other than a few stone chip touch ups.Additionally rental companies are holding cars for longer due to new car shortages, so when they are defleeted they are 3-4 years old with 40k of rental abuse rather than the 12 months and 9-12k they are normally subjected to.
Guy at work has a 330d from enterprise while his car is being fixed by the insurance. It’s a 19 plate with about 40k on the clock, is overdue a service and is absolutely battered with a front end respray that’s the wrong shade, laquer peel on the rear bumper and every wheel kerbed and corroded.
Years ago second hand cars were always prepped for sale but having recently been looking for a car for my son that ethos seems to have gone out of the window.
I've never previously seen such a display of dirty/scratched/unattractive stock offered for sale in the last forty odd years.
I've never previously seen such a display of dirty/scratched/unattractive stock offered for sale in the last forty odd years.
I drive a three year old car with 42,000 miles that I’ve had from new & will be replacing soon.
It’s clean, has no dents, scratches, rips in seats, the wheels are neither corroded or kerbed, it has a full service history & everything works as it should.
Surely I can’t be unique in actually looking after the car I rely upon for daily usage ?
It’s clean, has no dents, scratches, rips in seats, the wheels are neither corroded or kerbed, it has a full service history & everything works as it should.
Surely I can’t be unique in actually looking after the car I rely upon for daily usage ?
I think a much larger proportion of brand new cars are leased, pcp'd, hire cars, company cars etc, so they tend to get 'used' more than looked after.
A car that someone has stumped up a large wedge of cash for brand new from a dealership I would say is more likely to be cared for than one that someone is 'borrowing' and will likely be handed back at some point.
A car that someone has stumped up a large wedge of cash for brand new from a dealership I would say is more likely to be cared for than one that someone is 'borrowing' and will likely be handed back at some point.
N111BJG said:
I drive a three year old car with 42,000 miles that I’ve had from new & will be replacing soon.
It’s clean, has no dents, scratches, rips in seats, the wheels are neither corroded or kerbed, it has a full service history & everything works as it should.
Surely I can’t be unique in actually looking after the car I rely upon for daily usage ?
My car is 4 years old, no intention of changing it, but it's in the same condition as yours by your description.I've two friends who want first refusal when I do come to change it, they know I look after the carIt’s clean, has no dents, scratches, rips in seats, the wheels are neither corroded or kerbed, it has a full service history & everything works as it should.
Surely I can’t be unique in actually looking after the car I rely upon for daily usage ?
I'd be just as inclined to look after a pcp/lease car as I'd always be thinking they'll pick up every small chip/scratch and bill me accordingly. Having said that I'm now retired so won't ever entertain any other way than buying my own car.
2-3 year old Mondeos and Insignias are largely going to be ex fleet cars or ex rentals because at this point very few people were buying Mondeos and Insignias anymore for private purchase, they just aren't too popular hence Ford giving up with Mondeo.
As a result I suspect they have been largely driven by people who don't care too much about the cosmetics of them and that will be reflected.
I think also dealers currently are doing no prep work before sticking them out for sale such is the market.
As a result I suspect they have been largely driven by people who don't care too much about the cosmetics of them and that will be reflected.
I think also dealers currently are doing no prep work before sticking them out for sale such is the market.
I’d expect a retail used car to be prepared to at least the standard I could do myself.
So a full valet, stone chips and any minor dings addressed, windscreen chips filled, rubber and plastic trim tidied up, no kerbing on the wheels, reasonable life left in the wiper blades, brake pads etc. I don’t expect it to be new but I do expect it to be maintenance free for 6 months / 6000 miles and present we’ll.
Sadly reality doesn’t match my expectations and I end up doing these things myself but it’s a pleasant surprise when the to do list is short.
So a full valet, stone chips and any minor dings addressed, windscreen chips filled, rubber and plastic trim tidied up, no kerbing on the wheels, reasonable life left in the wiper blades, brake pads etc. I don’t expect it to be new but I do expect it to be maintenance free for 6 months / 6000 miles and present we’ll.
Sadly reality doesn’t match my expectations and I end up doing these things myself but it’s a pleasant surprise when the to do list is short.
I guess all a seller is making sure is that they get the prep costs back (and a bit more) in the sale price. I think the market at the moment means that isn't the case - they can do minimal prep and still sell quickly with a good profit.
I'd like to think they'd at least sell clean stock for their own pride but I suppose some don't.
I'd like to think they'd at least sell clean stock for their own pride but I suppose some don't.
Many are company ex lease at that sort of mileage. Generally they are good mechanically but as you have seen they are battle scarred.
Of course the previous user will have been charged for the dents/scuffs and the leasing company will have pocketed it rather than sorting the damage before moving it on…
I understand the sub £10k stuff having some paintwork issues as there isn’t much profit in them anyway but no excuse on the newer stuff bar the odd scratch you can reasonably expect when second hand.
I remember looking at a BMW dealers forecourt about 8 years ago and walking away when I saw the state of their stock, many of it in the 2-3 year old range. Ended up crossing the road the Lexus where it was a completely different attitude, they got my money instead.
Of course the previous user will have been charged for the dents/scuffs and the leasing company will have pocketed it rather than sorting the damage before moving it on…
I understand the sub £10k stuff having some paintwork issues as there isn’t much profit in them anyway but no excuse on the newer stuff bar the odd scratch you can reasonably expect when second hand.
I remember looking at a BMW dealers forecourt about 8 years ago and walking away when I saw the state of their stock, many of it in the 2-3 year old range. Ended up crossing the road the Lexus where it was a completely different attitude, they got my money instead.
I wouldn't buy any dealer car sale with poor paint etc at 2-3years old.
I went to see a Octavia at a Skoda dealer and the salesman couldn't have looked less arsed and wouldn't sort of the paint scratches out.
He said it'd sell AS IT IS within the week.
Same with a Polo GTI with the bonnet coveted in dimple dents.
He said the VW dealer wouldn't sort them out and was more interested in getting a finance application in.
Same high prices, zero prep outside of a £20 valet.
It's why I ALWAYS buy from private sellers.
Same with motorbikes. Absolutely awful service from both.
I went to see a Octavia at a Skoda dealer and the salesman couldn't have looked less arsed and wouldn't sort of the paint scratches out.
He said it'd sell AS IT IS within the week.
Same with a Polo GTI with the bonnet coveted in dimple dents.
He said the VW dealer wouldn't sort them out and was more interested in getting a finance application in.
Same high prices, zero prep outside of a £20 valet.
It's why I ALWAYS buy from private sellers.
Same with motorbikes. Absolutely awful service from both.
shtu said:
At the moment there's so much demand they don't need to bother.
Random list of not-unusual prep work, and some made up prices
Valet - £30
Wheel Refurb - £150
2x Ditchfinder 5000s - £100
Couple of Dents - £100
Bit of paint - £100
Why spend it if someone will buy without?
^^^^ this - used market is stupid at the moment with high prices and cars selling quickly, a lot of sellers aren’t making the effort as it will sell anyway, especially it’s a small, cheap and economical hatch backRandom list of not-unusual prep work, and some made up prices
Valet - £30
Wheel Refurb - £150
2x Ditchfinder 5000s - £100
Couple of Dents - £100
Bit of paint - £100
Why spend it if someone will buy without?
The problem is twofold when it comes to paint.
1) Manufacturers across apply it very thinly these days which is why so many 2-3 year old cars are showing stone chips
2) Orange peel & swirl marks are the norm from the factory, hence the boom in Ceramic Coatings/Paint Correction & PPF.
3) People rarely clean/polish their cars, at best it'll be done at the local handwash & at worst the petrol garage carwash.
1) Manufacturers across apply it very thinly these days which is why so many 2-3 year old cars are showing stone chips
2) Orange peel & swirl marks are the norm from the factory, hence the boom in Ceramic Coatings/Paint Correction & PPF.
3) People rarely clean/polish their cars, at best it'll be done at the local handwash & at worst the petrol garage carwash.
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