When buying a performance car it is vital to get it right because you’ll be making a very significant investment. We all know horror stories about getting it wrong by buying a lemon and this is far more serious when you’re buying a performance car because of the level of investment you’re making. Here we explore the key checklist you should follow in buying your performance car.
Don’t be wowed by the name
Even when a car is a Ferrari or a Lamborghini they can still have problems. You cannot become wowed by the name and assume that the badge means it is in good order. Carry out every check you can to ensure it is as good as it looks.
Get underneath
A common trick of the trade is to park a car in a puddle to stop you getting down and looking under it. You must always get under the car to look at the condition beneath, however, as this will allow you to identify rust and loose parts that can be a problem.
Check the engine for wear
You don’t need to be an expert to identify wear and damage in the engine. Take a flashlight and inspect the engine fully so that you can spot any signs of an impending problem. If the engine looks aged then it most likely is and will most likely be in need of repair sooner than you’d like.
Check the hinges
When cars are in accidents the hinges on the doors usually take a beating. It is worth checking the hinges for signs of damage that may indicate an accident that has been covered up by the owner or dealer. Repainted hinges or bent hinges are a common sign that not all is as it seems.
Check the registration
Performance cars are high value and are commonly stolen. You don’t want to end up stuck with a stolen vehicle as this can cause you no end of problems. To avoid this it is worth running a registration check. This will give you a VIN number that you can check against the chassis to make sure they match. A registration check will also tell you if the vehicle has been in any accidents and can give you useful information about the number of owners and their duration of ownership. If the last owner has had it only for a few months this is a common sign that there is something major that needs doing to it.
Be prepared to maintain it
While you don’t want to buy a performance car that needs a lot of work doing, you do need to be prepared for the cost of owning a performance car. A performance car will have performance parts that come with a hefty price tag and you need to be ready to pay the right amount to maintain it. The key advice is not to blow your entire wad on the car and leave yourself some disposable income with which to look after it and make some performance upgrades too!