[chubbysan]

hi,

we planning to buy a car, probably a 2nd hand one. What should we take note during our car shopping trips? Appreciate it if you could share your car tips!

[KnowItAll]

Try looking at some of the related threads ..

Would be happy if you have some specific questions.

General answers you might expect (after all the forum posts have been answered) might tend to lead to the comedic ... "make sure it has four wheels"...

[ontheroad]

Originally Posted by chubbysan

hi,

we planning to buy a car, probably a 2nd hand one. What should we take note during our car shopping trips? Appreciate it if you could share your car tips!

Try to stay away from the northpoint used car dealerships, which tend to be on the dodgy side of things...
Your best bet is to buy one from an expat that's leaving (you can find ads at any Wellcome or Park and Shop/Taste in expat neighbourhoods) or from a proper car dealership, if you want to pay a bit extra for peace of mind. I went to the dealership of the brand I wanted, asked them if they could find me a good used model, and they found one right away from a guy who had bought them a car a couple of years back and wanted a new model.
Buy the smallest car you can find, because petrol prices here are a killer...

[Skyhook]

Onetheroads advice is about how I see it too.

Only buy cars from expats that are leaving, or from the brand specific franchised dealerships, as they will access a good zero owner example with documented service history.

Do not buy any car that cannot prove whats been said, via documented service receipts and you will be fine. Walk away when anybody says there is no service history, they are definately lying their ass off if no solid paperwork can be produced.

I agree about the north point comment totally.

Also try and buy zero owner vehicles, either ex company or private, as they are factory serviced and usually in very good mechanical order, also they are not odometer tampered with.

Our Toyota 8 seater van was a zero owner vehicle, ex company and has been faultless. Purchased direct through the company via a friend of ours.

[chubbysan]

hi guys,

thanks for yr great tips. how should i go hunting for zero owner car or ex company car? usually car dealer will know? by the way, any good car dealer to recommend?

and how do we know if the car had an accident before? anywhere we can check?

Thanks!

[Skyhook]

Ummm, well you pick up the yellow pages under "new Car dealers"
then you choose the brand you are looking for, lets say Toyota, which would be Crown Motors who are the importers, or BMW consesionairs for BMW, Zung Fu for Mercedes Benz or DCH Motors for Volkswagon, Nissan etc etc.

You talk with the sales guys who handle trade ins and they will either have something thats just been traded in, or they will know of a potential new car buyer who is about to trade their car in.

These cars are generally the best because they were the first registered owners, it also states on HK registration certificates how many owners a car has had, 0 = first registered owner, 1 = 2 owners and so on.

Dealing with the original brand is generally the safest way, and as stated earlier, if no service history can be produced just say no thank you and walk away.

If you have a car checked by a reputable workshop, they will look for previous accident repairs, as long as they were not structural, things will be fine, and it will not cost you more than $400 for a condition inspection report.

Good luck