 When it comes to replacing the old vehicle, those who can afford a brand new one are few and far between. For the rest of us (who generally aren't experienced mechanics of AA experts), getting good value for money in a used car can be a tricky business. There are plenty of excellent bargains out there... at least as many as there are lemons! Here are a few tricks to avoid the latter.
Automobile dealers tend to be more expensive. The advantage is that their vehicles are checked and most often come with a warranty. AA still recommends to perform a pre-purchase check ($165 for non-members).
Buying from a private seller is often much cheaper. The New Zealand Herald website, Auto Trader and Trade-Me are a good place to start. However this is where one should exercise more caution (definitely get a pre-purchase inspection done on the vehicle you have selected).
Buying at auction can also turn out excellent bargains. Before you bid on a vehicle, make sure you check it out in person and have a pre-purchase inspection performed. If you're not familiar with the bidding process, it is always a good idea to attend one auction prior to the day. Also make sure that you have a look at the market so you don't end up paying more than you would have at a dealer's. Turners has a good online bidding solution, with free registration – but you should still inspect the car and you will have to pick it up!
 Car fairs can be tricky: if the seller is selling 6 or more cars at a time, they have to be registered – meaning that you have legal recourse. Don't hesitate to enquire about it and always try to check out answers for yourself.
Given that twenty one thousand vehicles are stolen each year. To make sure that you don't end up with one of them, it is useful to get a vehicle history report. If you don't want to go and look for all the information yourself, you can get a report from the AA ($25). It will also tell you whether the car has money owed on it (there are six hundred thousand in NZ alone), or if it was ever an insurance write-off. The AA reports that 45% of the vehicle they check have at least one serious issue.
Even if you do get a report, do make sure that the VIN number on the vehicle matches that on its documentation (registration and WOF), and that the seller is also the owner. It seems like quite a daft thing to say, yet it's too easily overlooked. Don't be embarrassed to ask to see a driving licence. No honest seller should refuse or be offended.
The mileage is a very good indicator of a vehicle condition. In addition, it's useful to find out how many people have owned the vehicle: just the one careful little old lady or half a dozen boys-racers?
The car should have a current WOF certification, preferably less than a month old.
 Whether you know what a cam belt does, you need to know that some vehicles have one and that if they do, it needs to be replaced every 5 years (or 100,000 km, depending on the manufacturer). The replacement cost a few hundred dollars – the damage from not doing it will amount to thousands in repairs. It is therefore useful to request any invoice pertaining to the replacement if you think it should have been done.
Whether you know anything about cars or not, there are a few things that you can check yourself and will give you a good idea of the vehicle's condition.
Here is a excellent NZTA checklist of what you should be looking for. Mainly you will be looking for signs of rust (also known as car cancer, for very good reasons), recent paintwork (maybe masking rust spots, a magnet should come handy too), signs of wear on shock absorbers, problems with panels (windows, doors etc.) as well as the tyres and exhaust.
Odometer fraud is a reality. Getting a check is highly recommended. See here for more details: http://www.odocheck.co.nz/
Don't forget to take the car out for a drive. Half an hour is recommended. Look out for any odd noise or smell and make sure that all lights and indicators are working properly.
Because Auto Trader has such a large number of cars on offer, it can give you a very good indication of asking prices (but not selling prices!). Turners will let you see how much "similar" vehicles went for in previous auctions, which is a good indicator. Remember that it's always okay to bargain. I remember once driving out of a used car yard with one of my three brothers with the salesman running alongside the car reducing the price every couple of metres!
Keep in mind that places like Papatoetoe, in Auckland, are lined with car dealers, making the competition work for you. Often a trip to a larger city will cost you less than the difference in price.
The best of luck and remember, do your homework first!
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