How To Avoid The Mistakes I Made When Buying A Car

Let me tell you a story about how I ended up spending $20,000 on a car worth 14 grand, and how you can avoid making the same mistakes that I did.

It was August 2019, and I was driving through the Northern Beaches of Sydney when I spotted a Nissan Patrol that I loved the look of. I gave the guy a call, went and checked out the car, and fell in love straight away. He gave me some backstory as to why he was selling it, saying it was too big for his wife, she can’t drive manual and that he already had a Toyota Landcruiser. 🚙

I gave it a pretty shitty look-over, and took it for a test drive. I could hear that the turbo was whistling (something I assumed was minor) and it had some minor paint scratches, but nonetheless I was already sold. The biggest red flag that I missed was that the guy took the price from $16,999 to $14,000 without any sort of negotiation, but we shook hands, transferred the money and the car was mine - I was so stoked. 

I thought I’d take it to a mechanic and fix up the turbo issue. The mechanic gave it a ‘35 point safety check’ and came to the conclusion that it was blowing smoke due to a blocked EGR (don’t worry I still don’t fully understand what it is either), there was a whine from the wheel which was a alignment issue, and that my suspension was bung so I’d need that replaced too. $6,000 was what he quoted. Being the naive guy I was, I agreed, thinking I would get the car 100% fixed and then I’d have nothing to worry about.

The car was back in the shop for the same issues every two weeks for the next six months. I’ve blown $20,000 on a $14,000 car ($10,000 if I’m being honest), the issues still aren’t fixed, and the really sad thing is that I’m still so attached to my car.

I don’t want anyone else to make the same mistakes I did, so here are some things you should do before purchasing your car! 😭😵‍💫

1. Research the vehicle

There are so many people who actually know their stuff about cars all over the internet. A simple google search and read through of some forums might help you better understand what you’re actually buying.
If I had done this I would have learnt that my engine was known as the ‘hand grenade’ and that I should only buy a TD-i Nissan engine.

2. Decide on the purpose

There are many things that you want out of a car. To look cool, to go fast (but always the speed limit!!), to go off road or to simply get you from A to B.
If you’re like me and had grand plans to go camping every weekend then a bigger car makes sense, but I went ahead and got a 2 inch lift kit on my truck, only to never take it off road. Again, if I had done research I would have learnt that I can do everything I do now and even take it on the sand without a lift kit.

3. Take a mechanic with you

Companies like NRMA offer ‘used car inspections’ for around $270 or you can ask your local mechanic for around $100 bucks, but I promise it will pay itself off tenfold. If i had taken a mechanic or booked with NRMA, I can almost guarantee I wouldn’t have bought my car and saved myself a load of money. 

4. If you can't take a mechanic with you, thoroughly check over the vehicle

I know this is annoying but seriously check everything. These are some of the things I’d check:

• Tyres. Worn on edges generally means either worn wheel bearings or bad alignment. BRAND NEW tires are usually a "quick fix" for this and masks the problem for a few thousand miles.
• Body lines where the doors, hood, and trunk lid meet. Body lines are the edges that go all the way down the car. The gaps between all the panels in the car should be the same the entire way around. If they’re closer or further apart in some areas it usually means the car has been in some accident, which could have damaged the car in ways you can’t see on the outside.
• Inspect the underside of the car. I have personally seen cars with less than 30,000 miles look great around the outside and inside but be rotted and rusted under them due to sitting for long periods of time
• Make sure all windows work and aren’t chipped at all
• Check the oil; If it’s low then the car probably hasn’t been looked after too well, if it’s too full, there might be an oil leak and the seller is trying to cover it up.

5. Don't let on you're trading in a vehicle if you're buying from a dealership

For those of you that don’t know what trading in a car is, it’s when you take your car to a dealership and they then take the trade in value of your car off the total price of the car you’re purchasing. Now here’s the BIG thing - NEVER tell them you’re trading in your car until after you’ve settled on a price of the car you’re keen on.
If you mention a trade-in before settling on a price, they might not be as flexible on the negotiation of your new car. When I say new car I mean the car that’s new to you, not a brand spanking new one.

6. If you're not a car expert, fake it 'til you make it

You might not have a clue what you’re looking for, but sometimes faking it will make it MUCH easier during negotiations. Be thorough with your inspection by doing all the stuff above, and taking it to an independent mechanic and you’ll have the upper hand. That being said, keep your eyes out for a negotiation that feels too easy. Often the owner will come up with a yarn about having to get rid of the car ASAP because they’re moving, or it belonged to an ex. Remember, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

Having your own car is basically a rite of passage in Aus - there’s something amazing about being able to go wherever you want at the drop of a hat. As long as you keep these tips in mind, you’ll be turning heads in your dream car for years to come. If you’re still struggling to save up for a car, let alone buy one, don’t stress - we’ve got a whole bunch of tutorials and hacks over on our Academy page for all the stuff they didn’t teach you in school. Take a look here.