I Had A Thought.......

[mumof4]

We get many questions asking what to look out for when buying a Galaxy.What about compiling a list of things to check when you go to view one?.This could be for any car....Just thought it might be useful. As not everyone will/may check a car out fully before buying..

 

May also help those who have bought a Galaxy in the last few weeks etc..as they may checked everything that is obvious..but not the bits that are not so obvious..

 

Yes i covered this subject on my course so i know what to check...but not everyone will know what to look out for..

 

 

Soo.....what do you think?

 

Could be a list of hints, tips and a checklist?

[Guest gooner52]

well one of the first things i would do is get the car hpi and get a inderpendent check done on the car.well worth it for the peace of mind(aa/rac etc)

 

i would also take my laptop and vagcom lead and check out the codes on the said galaxy i was thinkin of buying

 

good idea maz,if we can get a list going and post it in the fag section

[AVSDOYLE]

Great idea. A few things I would add to the list are:

 

Condition of wiper mechanism - is it about to stick

Evidence that timing belt and tension pulleys? had been changed

Check/ask if motor has been involved in crash

Air conditioning - does it need regassed

[Guest MATT jr]

i would also take my laptop and vagcom lead and check out the codes on the said galaxy i was thinkin of buying

 

lol! gone are the days of a simple kick of the tyre! :rolleyes:

 

on the test drive...

ensure 1.9 diesels get up to speed nicely - if it seems to be lacking - MAF sensor

go over some bumps and listen for knocking noises - drop links

try all electrics

check for even tyre wear

if automatic, test out the whole gearbox - including tiptronic

check the sills arnt crushed

check engine over - check service/milage

 

 

MJR

[Guest gooner52]

them days went ,with the rear bushes on the mk iv cortina :rolleyes:

[mumof4]

A few of my own...

 

inside..

Check interior, is it clean?

check the steering wheel, has it got too much play in it?

Foot rubbers, you can tell if a car has been clocked if they havent changed the foot rubbers as they wear over time.

Check the seat belts,

If the seats are supposed to move..move them and make sure that they do

If it has a stereo, make sure that it works

Make sure the air con works and the heater

 

I think paper work should be checked aswell...MOT cert...V5....service history...and also how long owned for.

 

always view in daylight.

[Guest gooner52]

a old trick i got told years ago to check paint work and body

 

was if and i state if the owner does not mind

 

get a bucket of water.go to os or ns first and chuck the water don the side,and get down on your knees,at a slight angle,and bad bits of paint or bodywork will show up

 

also take a magnet,if you think some parts have been filled etc

 

also take a coin ie,10p or a

[big matt]

Dont hold me to this i've been told to check a clutch park on the flat handbrake on hard select 5th or 6th and try to pull away it should stall if it dont the clutch is slipping and will probably need replacing.

 

( i do it when they are'nt looking (on a test drive on your own if you get one))

[steve67car]

one thing no one does is take a cd/tape or md and check it works

we all turn radio on but what about the other parts of the audio

also test drive with all noisy items off radio heater (even on a cold day )but make sure it does work while car is stationary also leave heater of and see if car over heats as with heater on the car runs cooler

also make sure car is cold when you get there as noises disappear when warm

once got to a car i was interested in at 5 am to make sure it was proper cold cause a 6 grand plus engine rebuild on a car you paid 12k for aint funny ( car was a 3 door cossie ) ;)

[mumof4]

Also check the tyres for tread depth/damage also the spare if it has one.

Check the body work/windows/ and that the wipers work!

 

what about the engine compartment?

 

All fluid levels, air filter, when was the cam belt changed?.....spark plugs tell a lot about the state of the engine...so check one if you can

 

One tip.....if when you first see the car..go with your first impression..if you dont like it then walk away, as the longer you look at it the more you will convince yourself that you will like it!

 

also if possible, take someone with you so that if you do take it for a test drive, they can see if it "crabs"..(subframes)

 

White cars have a lower value as do high milaege ones.

[Guest gooner52]

sad thought

 

in the uk we see a car with no service history ,but has low miles ,we buy it

 

out side the uk(and the right way).service history miles maybe a bit higher bargain)

 

why is it we r like this in the uk.

 

also worth checking the service history with the garage/dealer that done the work

look to see in the service book,that not all the writing looks the same,ie some stamps to the left,some to the right,the signature was buy different people etc,black ink and blue ink use

 

seen peeps caught out on this one a few times

 

quick check on the brake disc for scoring and lips,take it for a test drive brake at 30mph nice and easy,should not pull left ot right,if the road is smooth(hard to find one i know)

[teresa]

check the footwells for water

[steve67car]

also aviod blue bmw at bargain prices in suffolk area at the moment

especailly with bin bags of clothes in the boot ;)

[Guest wolfie]

also aviod blue bmw at bargain prices in suffolk area at the moment

especailly with bin bags of clothes in the boot :lol:

 

your a sick man very very sick! but not as sick as me!

 

10%

Added to warn level Adding jokes that offend is not permitted ;)

[steve67car]

so mr kippling was found no guilty on the grounds he put six tarts in a box at a time

[Guest Cepheus]

Remove oil filler cap and look for creamy gunk either attached to the cap or in the filler hole. Could indicate either water in the oil (possible head/gasket problems) or condensation build up due to the car being used for too many short runs. Either way, a good indicator to run a mile or take a chance and haggle for big reductions on the price!

 

Drive the car on an uncambered straight road (with no other cars around and only briefly for safety reasons!) and let go of steering wheel - should drive straight. Then brake without holding wheel and should brake straight. Any deviation to either side could be track rod ends, drop links, warped disks, unevenly worn pads, tracking, balancing etc etc. Again, either walk away if you don't want the hassle of trying to put it right, or use it to your advantage and get the price reduced!

[lazyb5]

Take somebody who has had a Galaxy/sharan/alhambra for at least 2 years they will definately know what to look for!!! :lol:

[Guest ForeverFord]

Interesting read here!

Just asking if Galaxy have electric seats, if so, does it goes up & down and of course back & forward, also personal memory seat setting ?

Cheers!

[mumof4]

Electric seats?...havent heard of that one...........

[Guest ForeverFord]

I see!

Both of our Granada have electric seats in them!

Anyway, so the Galaxy driver seats can be wind up for 'not tall people' and can be wind down for 'a tall people', also should have seat that moves forward for 'short legs people' and moves backward for 'long legs people' ? :rolleyes:

[NikpV]

I have electric moving seats in the escort (at least up and down) and although the ghia gal has up/down forward/back its all manual, in fact the spring that raises the seat is strong - many the time I've pulled the wrong lever to swivel the seat and catapulted the seat up :rolleyes:

[Guest ForeverFord]

Ah! Thanks! That is all we need to know! ;)

[Guest gooner52]

the specks of the grannys was way ahead of its time

[Guest ForeverFord]

I can understands that, but still a Ford! ;)

Never mind. ;)

[Guest ForeverFord]

Sorry having to ask some questions on this same Thread as I can't click onto 'New Topic' yet...anyway, would someone be kind enough to tell me what year did the Galaxy starts and is there a MK1, MK2, if so, MK1 from & to, MK2 from & to, please ?

Thanks!