A CAR mechanic has urged drivers to steer clear of certain second-hand cars even if they are a great bargain.
Sherwood Cooke Jr, owner of Royalty Auto Service, has warned motorists that some vehicles aren’t worth the money and hassle.
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The motor expert has told drivers to avoid ex-rental cars even if they spot a good deal.
He explained that although these vehicles might come with an attractive price tag, they could be a big headache in the future.
Sherwood admitted that rental companies maintain their cars properly with timely checks and services.
But, these vehicles often have pitfalls because of careless drivers who treat rentals worse than their own cars.
The motorists often rent a car when in an unknown city, and it makes them prone to hitting potholes more as they’re unfamiliar with the roads.
They could also be messing with the car’s systems as they push every button trying to figure out how the vehicle works.
Drivers’ attention is also not fully focused on the road when driving in a rental as they get distracted trying to familiarise themselves with the car.
Some drivers when travelling abroad could be taking their eyes off the road to glance at the landmarks around them.
Sherwood said: “You’re in a strange city and driving down the road, traffic is horrible and you’re just driving along and you hit things all the time as far as potholes and stuff like that.”
Although drivers risk losing deposit on a rental car, knowing the vehicle belongs to someone else makes them feel they can get away with speeding.
Overall, the rental car – even if looked after by the company – has likely not received the proper love and care.
Sherwood concluded: “I would say you know maybe steer clear of that. Sometimes you can get good deals on them but be aware they are maybe a little rough around the edges on those cars.”
Sherwood has previously warned motorists of “the biggest scam” at garages that could see them charged double.
The mechanic has shared how some inexperienced workers could be making a crucial error while repairing your vehicle.
Sometimes, the amateur mechanics could be installing the incorrect part on your car – costing you double to fix it.
Sherwood added that these situations could be genuine accidents and not a deliberate stunt of milking cash from clients.
But instead of admitting their fault, some repair shops still charge the customer for their mistake.
On top of that, motorists are forced to pay for an additional part that will actually fix their initial complaint.
Meanwhile, a used car expert has revealed dealers are “slashing the prices of their motors” and how you can bag yourself a bargain.
The average price of a used car was down 7.5% in January to £16,868 according to industry bible AutoTrader.
But demand for used motors remains strong with 85.5 million visits to the website by punters looking for a steal.
However, before saying goodbye to your hard-earned money, road safety experts at etyres have said that ignoring three easy steps before buying could land you in a financial nightmare.
Second-hand buyers could face a £10,000 fine if they don’t carry out three simple checks.
DON’T FORGET THE THREE CHECKS
When picking up a used-motor the three checks are simple to do and easy to remember, but not completing them could have hefty consequences.
First check: Make sure the car has a valid MOT, if it doesn’t then you could be hit with a fine of £1,000 just for driving it, certain websites – like the DVLA’s – will allow you to complete a free check on any second-hand car.
Second check: The health of the car’s tyres can lead to fatal accidents if not maintained correctly, each tyre’s tread length must be at least 1.6mm or fines of £10,000 can be issued.
Third check: Do a deep dive of the car’s history, the only legitimate way to see it is by checking the car’s service book – which should be provided to you by the old owner.
If the owner does not have one and you still want to risk it, make sure to try and haggle the price.
