9 Tips When Buying A Performance Car

This is a guest post by Michael Sjollema.

The history of the car has majorly been plagued by problems which can turn the whole process of buying your new chariot to a disaster. With this article however I aim to make this process one which can turn around your possible problem into the dream ride it should be. Your average performance car buyer will not be an expert, and in light of this your average sports car dealer will be an expert in taking advantage of this, and trying to sell you a dud.

Here are some words of wisdom from me, so you can turn the tables and don’t end up with the runt of the proverbial litter.

1. First and foremost do not be wowed by a name, even a Lamborghini or a Ferrari can be your worst nightmare, and possibly even more likely so than your average car.

2. A very old trick of the trade is to park the car in a puddle, be especially wary of cars that are, as this is a way to try and stop you from checking the underneath of the car. Although it may be an honest mistake, always take the time to get on your knees and check the underbelly of your beast, do not be afraid to ask the dealer to move the car to do this. Look for rust and loose parts.

3. Take a flash light with you so you can examine the engine thoroughly, even if you aren’t an expert on parts. Again indications of rust or charred parts are signs that the car is one you should pass, a more specific sign is the engine coolant (as pictured); if there is anything other than liquid in there keep on looking!

4. One easily found indication on a bad performance car are the hinges (especially for you batman style door fans) if any of them look out of place to the others or sprayed with paint, think to look into the car more carefully. Hinges are one of the things usually damaged via rust or a side impact and although not something to turn a car down on this may be a sign of other cover ups.

5. Another tool to take is a magnet, although a peculiar suggestion sticking this to parts of the engine will show if the parts have been patched up.

6. A good piece advice if you are enquiring about a private sale of a car, always say “I was enquiring about the car you have for sale”. If they say which car it is advisable to hang up, this likely means they are a dealer trying to pass a bad car.

7. A relatively good place to buy a performance car is at an auction; however this can be a daunting or an even more exciting process depending on who you ask. The best thing to remember when buying at an auction is don’t get carried away in the process, know the average price for the vehicle your bidding on and always stick to your budget. Some auctions even have faux bidders to try and raise the price, it is advisable to go the auction before the one that is displaying the car you’re interested in to get a feel for the place and to see if any of the cars from the previous auction show up again.

8. Buying online is also a minefield, many people sell severely damaged vehicles as “Fixer uppers” however some people still rush into buying the car quickly without checking thoroughly as to not lose the deal! Don’t let this be you and always take your time, and if possible check the car before buying and get a written agreement of status to confirm the cars condition, if the owner lies and has signed you are protected.

Looks fine? It isn’t, so be wary of one picture listings

9. An obvious but important one to finish, always get an insurance quote on the car before you buy as this could be the difference between a real bargain and something that is of no use to you.

Buying a performance car should be a highly enjoyable and thrilling experience and it hopefully will be after following these tips, of course you will always see the vehicles service history documentation but with the help of technology or a dodgy mechanic they could always be faked. Your own observations should be your number one tool so be on the look out and never feel pressured into a buy.

Do you have any tips when buying performance cars? Please let us know in the comments below!