14 Sep 01
Do the vendor's reasons for selling sound genuine? Does what they have to say about the car ring true? How much service history comes with the car? Don't expect a full history on an older vehicle. If you're looking at a valuable or high-performance car, ask to see the service book, which should show main dealer or specialist maintenance. This can be faked, however, so it might be worth checking with the garage. How long is the car's MOT? A genuine seller with nothing to hide shouldn't mind putting the car through a new test as a condition of sale, and you can then negotiate the sale around any problems found. Bargain for the cost of a new tax disc, if that's about to expire.
