Telling a good car from a nail can save you a whole load of heartache and expense later on – so for the next VW you buy, whether it be an early Bug or a late T4, to save time it pays to have some tricks up your sleeve when viewing vehicles for sale. Grab your running shoes, here’s how to spot the pedigrees from the mongrels in a minute flat…

Buying a car can often be a frighteningly time-consuming affair, so anything to lessen the impact on your precious weekends has to be welcomed. Okay, for a Sixties classic or real rarity you’ll want to spend a lot longer than a minute – but the tips here will still come in useful. In truth, there is much you can do to avoid a wasted journey to view a car before you even leave the house. Be honest about whether it’s really what you are looking for – is it the right vintage, spec and price range. There is little point wasting your time, or the vendors, if it doesn’t fit your buying criteria. Time can also be saved by quizzing the owner over the phone beforehand. Targeted questions for a Beetle might include “What’s the floorpan like under the battery,” and “is there any end float on the pulley?”. These will help get a clearer picture of the car. Also consider the attitude of the seller. Do they sound kosher, or are they telling fibs? If they sound disinterested, vague or evasive – call off the viewing.

Once you’ve set aside a Saturday to view a car these are the simple tips to avoid it being wasted…

0-10 seconds
To be honest, much can be established about how good a car is likely to be within the first few seconds and, like it or not, it all comes down to appearances. A car that’s parallel parked in a grotty part of town with abandoned cars as companions should immediately set alarm bells ringing. Likewise, it doesn’t bode well if you are immediately greeted by a scruffy owner with the remains of last week’s dinner down his shirt. All signal a car that’s probably suffered neglect. Conversely, if you arrive to find a well manicured lawn, long drive, and a car cosily tucked away in a double garage then things are off to a promising start.

10-20 seconds
You start the inspection, and these first few moments are crucial. Walk around the car slowly, casting a beady eye at each panel at a time. Are there any differences in colour or finish, and are all the panel gaps even? Stand at each corner and run your eye along the length of the car to spot any dents or misalignment. If there is rust where there shouldn’t be, then expect the worst – chances are that it has had a smash, and poorly executed repairs have resulting in premature corrosion. A car that’s had a lifetime of body repairs is probably best left alone.

20-30 seconds
You should already have a pretty reasonable idea of whether the car is any good by now, but often a car that has been prepared on the outside is hiding an altogether different story underneath so grab a torch and inspect the bottom half of the car, including sills, jacking points, front and rear valence and door bottoms.

30-40 seconds
Now you need to establish a more accurate picture of the owner and, in particular, whether they have been a skinflint concerning routine maintenance? A good clue to this is whether all four, or five (including the spare), tyres are matching. Different makes on each axle signal a tight-fisted owner. More than one key means that the car has probably been broken into and the owner has cut corners and got one lock changed without the other. Penny-pinching like this does nothing for your confidence that this car’s been cherished. Likewise, lift the bonnet and pull the dipstick. If the engine oil barely registers, then assume the owner has spent as little time as possible on basic maintenance.

40-50 seconds
If you have come this far, all good and well but asking to see all the relevant documentation like V5, MoT certificate, and service booklet could quickly spoil things. Does the name and address on the V5 tally with that of the vendor, does the VIN number match the one on the car, and does it ‘feel’ right with the correct watermark? Check the details on the MoT match the car online here.

50-60 seconds
Phew, almost there. As the dust from your frantic activities finally begins to settle, stand back, take a deep breath for a moment and bring all of your evidence together. The advert, seller, the car itself, its condition, its mileage, its price. Does everything tie up? Did the details you were told over the phone match the car – any one flaw in the car’s make-up could either be a reason to walk away, quiz the owner further or go in with a much lower offer. Either way, a minute spent following these basic steps will make finding the right car quicker, and save years of misery later.

Ian

The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of VW Heritage