Buying a Used Car Without Getting Scammed? Easy Peasy!

Hello everyone! I'm excited to share my experience with a service that made buying a used car a breeze. If you're a first-time car buyer or not exactly a car expert, this review is especially for you.

Car Selection Reviews

I was looking to buy a car right before I got my license, and a month of searching didn't yield any results. That's when I stumbled upon the YouTube channel 'Ildar Car Selection' (highly recommend checking it out). This channel belongs to the company 'Car Selection,' which offers car selection services in my city. They don't have a service or office in Barnaul, but they do have mobile experts who can provide a range of services to fit any budget. The website is user-friendly and easy to navigate, and you can browse through all the services offered and choose the one that suits you best. If something's unclear, you can just leave a request, and a manager will help you out with the rest.

Car Selection Reviews Car Selection Reviews

The prices listed are the minimum. In my city, it starts at 3000 rubles, while in Moscow it's already more expensive, starting at 4000 rubles. It also depends on the car brand...

Auto-Pickup Reviews The website claims that the check is done on around 100 parameters. And here's the main part of it:They check if the onboard computer is working properly and displaying the correct readings.

They test the work of all electronic systems and mechanical components controlled by these systems.

They check the engine's condition, measure compression.

They have their own algorithm for checking the automatic transmission. They check the fluid level and do a computer diagnosis.

They check the car's production date, voltage, service life, and operability.

They check the turbine's condition, boost pressure, and look for signs of oil leaks.

They do a forensic analysis of the car. They check with the traffic police and credit history bureau.

They check the condition of the braking system, discs, pads, ABS, EBD, and ESP. They look for play, leaks, and clunks in the steering system. They check the level of the working fluid, the condition of the steering rack, and the operability of the power steering.

This is one of the most important elements of the suspension. They directly affect the car's handling, its stability, and its smoothness.

The uniformity of wear, production date, condition, and brand of the tires - this is an important point when buying a car.

Modern cars with Euro 3 and higher emissions standards have pricey components in their exhaust systems, like catalytic converters, which can cost upwards of 80,000 rubles.

The state of the interior can give you a good idea of how someone treats their car.

And let's not forget about using it as a taxi.

Checking the body for repainting, repairs, or removed and reinstalled parts.

If you've got the time, money, and opportunity, consider taking your car to a nearby service center, lifting it up, and taking a closer look at the suspension and other components. That's if you're unsure about its reliability.

Car Selection ReviewsCar Selection Reviews Why bother with a professional when you've got Uncle Vanya or friend Sergei, who've been driving for ages and are eager to lend a hand with choosing a car? If they've got some experience, specialized equipment, and apps, and can check at least a tenth of what a specialist from Auto-Selection can - go for it. But, let's be honest, they'll likely only give it a superficial once-over. They might check the fluids in the reservoirs... maybe spot some external defects. Relying on the sales manager at the dealership isn't a great idea either - I've had my share of encounters with incompetent staff and outright scams at two different dealerships.

Auto-Pickup ReviewsAuto-Pickup Reviews I watched a video by Ildar, and after figuring out the most important criteria for choosing a car, I was able to narrow down my list of potential purchases from hundreds to just 5-10 models. Next, I needed to pick the absolute best one, and have an expert inspect and approve it. I chose the on-site inspection service.

First, you need to fill out a request on the website. It's super easy and quick. The manager will call you back soon after. The manager is polite, speaks clearly, and to the point, immediately explaining all the nuances and details. For example, if the inspection didn't happen because of our fault, or the fault of the car owner - you need to pay half the cost of the service. And it's good to know about that beforehand... After confirming the request, the manager passed it on to the expert in my city, and he called me back a bit later to discuss the details. You can agree on a convenient time for the inspection. Before that, he reviews the ad for the car being inspected (if there is one), and can give advice: is it even worth wasting time and money on this model?

I've had my fair share of headaches when buying a car without professional help. Here are some of the difficulties I've faced:

1. Lack of experience makes it hard to spot major issues. Even if a car looks almost new, it can be in terrible shape.

2. Sellers might not disclose if the car was involved in an accident.

3. There might be problems with the documents.

4. The person selling the car might not even have the right to sell it.

5. It's unclear if the odometer reading is accurate and if the original parts are still in place.

First, my husband and I had to narrow down our search to a single car that we wanted to have inspected. We called up the ads and checked out reviews for the models that caught our eye.

Here are the questions we asked the sellers (they significantly narrowed down our search and saved us time):

1. Who's the owner? Is the car registered in the seller's name?

This is huge! If the seller isn't the owner or isn't registered in the car's papers, they can just take the car back from you at any time. All the owner needs to do is file a theft report. Dealing with middlemen is pretty risky - most of them just take a car apart and sell it for a profit. Or they might list it for way too low, and it looks almost new! It's a huge temptation to buy without checking. But there's a 100% chance of a scam with the documents - I've been there myself.

2. What's the car's real mileage? Sometimes they forget to mention it in the ad. But mileage directly affects the car's condition, and it's often tampered with. I've even encountered this in car dealerships!

3. Are there any drawbacks? There shouldn't be if you don't want to deal with someone else's problems later on. And you should find this out before handing over the money to the seller! Otherwise, you might end up buying a car that can't be registered, with a restriction placed on it. In essence, you've got a car that's basically worthless.

Additionally, you can check the government number or VIN (if it's not mentioned in the ad, don't be afraid to ask the seller) through a program (there are free ones available) and see if the vehicle's details match, if it's not stolen, and if it was involved in any accidents and how it was damaged in them. If for some reason you can't do this yourself, an expert will still check it out.

I asked the owner of the Niva I had my eye on the most pressing questions, and we decided to go see it in person. We arrived, took a look, and it was love at first sight! My husband and I thought the car was in great condition, and we really wanted to take it home. Plus, the seller was offering a discount of 30,000 rubles (out of 330,000). The only thing that had happened during the time the car was being sold was a small crack on the windshield. But I thought, 'Why spend 5-10,000 rubles on a replacement when it's not a huge amount of money?'

I was on edge waiting for the inspection to confirm our purchase. Finally, the day arrived. The expert showed up in his own car, loaded with specialized equipment, a toolbox, and other stuff I didn't recognize. Right off the bat, he noticed the car had been in a minor fender bender – something the owner had conveniently left out. We found rust in small areas and scratches that my husband and I hadn't even noticed. The odometer reading was likely tampered with, too, judging by the car's overall condition. The worst part? The owner had been driving around without any fluids in the reservoirs for ages. In fact, it had all leaked out a long time ago, and the owner had been ignoring the issue. This raised serious concerns about engine overheating – it could have overheated at any moment, and we'd have had to shell out a small fortune for repairs. Most of the hoses and filters were worn out, and it seemed like almost everything needed to be replaced. Even the buttons were worn down... and we hadn't even noticed (no comparison, and we weren't looking in the right places, either). The cherry on top: the tires were listed as all-season, but they wouldn't have been suitable for our winter conditions. There were no winter tires in the package. In the end, instead of saving around 20-25 thousand, we could have ended up spending around 100 thousand on repairs. And new winter tires would have added another 20 thousand on top of that. But the car wouldn't have been any newer... The purchase started to seem extremely irrational. The expert tried to dissuade us from buying it, citing solid arguments and examples from his own experience and other clients. After the inspection, he filled out a formal report, detailing all the issues and giving a diagnosis: not recommended for purchase.

I really appreciated how thorough the inspection was. The specialist didn't just show up and glance over the car - he went through each point with us, explaining what was wrong, why, and how it should be done ideally. He even showed us the data from the programs and broke down the results of the tests. The whole inspection took over an hour, and he checked every nook and cranny. We didn't even need to look at the service history, because everything was already clear.

We'd also inspected a few other cars on our own, and once we'd made our decision, we sent another request to Auto-Selector. I'd rather spend 4-5 thousand upfront than risk losing much more down the line. Plus, we wanted to be sure the car wouldn't let us down on the highway, far from civilization. We asked for the same specialist we'd had the first time around.

I went with the Hyundai i30, and the inspection cost me 4200 rubles. It lasted longer than an hour, and it followed the same scenario. And once again, I uncovered some interesting stuff... Like how the car managed to get involved in three minor accidents, but nothing too serious. And also, some parts had been replaced or repainted. The seller conveniently left out the fact that the bumpers had been replaced and the car had been in accidents. The tool showed a normal paint thickness, and the quality of the filler was rated as good by the expert. Since the frame had been repainted, the company Auto-pickup, represented by our specialist, couldn't recommend the car for purchase. And that was written in the report. But, in reality, the frame wasn't damaged in the accidents - it was just repainted for cosmetic purposes. The car's technical condition was good, especially compared to the other models we'd looked at. The minor issues, like a faulty alarm and some small scratches on the body, didn't bother me. And I took full responsibility for the purchase.

The expert walked me through the documents I needed to get for the purchase, what to check at the DMV, and what to look out for. They also told me when and how to check the car, when to go for the next maintenance, what kind of fuel to use, what kind of oil to put in, and when to change it, and a whole lot more. For me, as a complete newbie in this field, all this information was super valuable.

I decided to add some photos of my new ride) It's been almost a month since I bought it, and I'm extremely happy with it! It cost me 350,000 rubles. I think that's a more than fair price, even for a 2010 model. Despite the expert's efforts to negotiate, the seller wouldn't budge. They threw in a set of almost new summer tires for an extra 10,000 rubles.

Auto-Pickup Reviews I'm really glad I trusted Auto-pickup with helping me choose my first car. I probably wouldn't have gone with another service, but Ildar's approach to work just gives me that extra confidence. He must be doing something right to hire such great staff! If you've checked out his YouTube channel, you'll know what I mean. Thanks for reading my review! Good luck with your purchase!