Hi!
I hope you don't mind it, there's another thread on a car-buying question I'd have.
Following your other advices I'm considering to buy a one-year car with a low mileage (up to 10k km) and according to the seller it's in a perfect condition indistinguishable from new.
It has a valid warranty, looks perfect on photos etc.
He says they're not doing MFK on such new cars at all.
The garage is quite far from where I live in Switzerland and I don't know much about cars to be able to check it properly anyways =)
Is there a way to organize its examination "remotely", ie. to have to someone come to the garage and check it or to insist on an MFK to be done by the garage, or in general it's not needed for such new cars? Ie. is it generally useless for such new cars?
I've quickly checked TCS, it looks like someone would need to drive the car to them?
I'm inclined to buy it as is.
For Kanton Zürich, first MFK is after 5 years, then after that is every 2 years. That said, due to backlog, my car bought new in 2014 has only been inspected once. Maybe I get an invite this year.
Yep, MFK is normally in 5 years following the purchase for new cars.
I'm just wondering if I buy a one-year car (with 3-4 years left before MFK), yet considering that it is not entirely new and was used by someone for a small mileage of 9k km, is it paranoid to do a technical examination or pretty normal? And can it be "outsourced" so I'd only get a report of some sort?
UPD: And considering that the warranty is also for 5 years, ie. till the date of the first MFK.
Tow-hook or not?
Tires evenly used-up? Rims spotless?
There's not much that can be spotted by such an inspection that would make it worthwhile in this case.
And the inspection requires the car to be moved there, in case of TCS, to one of its testing-centers.
The seller has either got to let you do that or do it himself.
Most don't bother at that point...
If you are so afraid of buying a used car, just buy new.
Thanks! I am not afraid actually, just wondering what the overall practice is. So I guess it's ok not to bother.
Insist that the seller do it.
Tom
Have you seen the car? Have you driven it?
If the car is only a year old than it should still be under guarantee and that should be good enough. However, inspection would still be needed make sure it was not in an accident. TCS or a dealer can do that. When one buys a used car one has the right to return it within 30 days. So you would have time to get it inspected. Just make sure that the car is not sold to you as is.
No, we're going to see it via a video conference.. And then we can either decide or go there in person and try it. Is it crazy to buy it just based on a video conference and trust? =)
How do I make sure, do you mean I make sure there's a condition about 30 days or you mean checking it person?
Ie. technically within 30 days I could/should inspect it and return it if it's not in a good shape? Then maybe it's better to insist on them doing it pre-sale as discussed previously?
The way we want to have it delivered is to pay ~500 CHF the for the delivery as they are a bit far and we're inexperienced drivers.
Sorry I understand my questions are pretty basic.
PS It's from the dealer.
Discuss with the dealer the guarantee and the return conditions. The dealer should also arrange plates so you can pick it up. You only need to give them the name of the insurance company you want to use.
Also the dealer should have inspected it for any damage. Is it used car or official dealer?
It's not a brand specific official dealer but more of a normal dealer/garage with a small team, for different brands,
They have a good rating.
Over the phone he said the car is like new, no defects or scratches and that a company was leasing it for a year. The warranty is with the brand not with them. He said they aren't normally doing MFK for such new cars.
Also they are charging about 500 for paperwork you mentioned plus cleaning and another 500 for home delivery on another vehicle.
What do you think?
As for asking about the return policy, it's a good tip, I'll do today
Sounds like someone who couldn't afford it was driving it.
Depends! How many KMs? How much less than new?
~9k km
2023
The price difference between a new one and this one is ~33%.
But it's the best price I've found.
There's exactly the same model/year with ~7k km costing ~24% less than new.
Sorry for speaking puzzles =)
Sounds like an OK deal. Go for a test drive. The trip there will pay for itself. Talk them out of the silly paper work charge and arrange to pick it up when ready.
UPD
So, it's an EV.
The seller's price is 43k. He explains it that he prefers to sell in large quantities fast and below the market rather than in small quantities slow and expensive.
On video, it looked great.
The car isn't brand-certified. He says he could get the certification or try to check with the brand if there's any which is a little bit strange, as the certification is a formal process performed by the brand as I've read about, and normally official/non-official sellers try to show off the certification label to increase the price in the ads.
The same certified car costs 49k and it is much easier for me to go there in person. And it has even less mileage.
The new car costs 65-69k.
The diff is like 6k which is essential for my budget, also for 49k there are already many good deals. Ie. I either win 6k for buying 49k or I lose 43k for buying something faulty. =)
I am leaning towards the 49k option.
As for the return policy, he says it'd typically have to go through the court with his boss being present, and that it's a common practice in Switzerland (is it?).
As for the examination he doesn't want to do it still for such a new car and he insists on doing checks on his own when buying a car for sale (but there's no formal report).
Does it sound normal to you? I can go in person but again it's not guaranteed I'll notice more than on video except for some more subtle scratches etc.
Sorry, what does it mean the car "isn't brand-certified"? Some paperwork is missing or what? Was the car registered in CH before?
What the heck is brand certified??
If it has no guarantee, walk away, sounds dodgy as.
It has a warranty. But only some cars have "Volvo Selekt" if we are talking specifics =)
According to the seller, it's a "Swiss car", ie. it was bought and used here.
If you have enough cash to get a car that is 33% cheaper then new; get a new one on a lease the rest or at least go to a reputable dealer and get an ex-demo, again on a lease.
New cars are an ok buy if you keep them long enough; sadly there far too many dishonest individuals out there selling lemons.
Better than that you can get the exact specification you want; so if you don't need electric seats, sunroof and ten speaker sound system factory installed, you don't need to pay for it/get it.
And that saying "too good to be true" almost certainly originates from a car sales room.