I am buying a used car that looks immaculate and has very low mileage for its age because it hasn’t been driven for four years. The car was offered at below market price and I can’t help but wonder, am I getting a bargain or taking a risk? – Harrison
The price is a bargain because it is a risk. To optimise the chances of it being a good gamble, start by giving it the most thorough service it has ever had or will ever have – as soon as possible.
Of course, any used car purchase is a risk even if it has been regularly used up to the day the keys are handed over. So an early service check is always needed.
But on a long-stored vehicle, there will almost certainly be some immediate spending to do (that is why the price was rightly discounted). Start by changing all the oils and fluids (engine, gearbox, differentials, brakes, steering, radiator and even the fuel), and pumping fresh grease into every lubrication joint. No compromise. All the fluids in a car have best-by dates, and degrade over time as well as with use.
Depending on how the vehicle was stored, the tyres might have flat spots and need to be replaced. Check there are no leaks from any seals in any component, and do that again soon after first full use. Replace any bushes that have any sign of perish.
The battery storage capacity and life is likely to be reduced, and early replacement may be necessary. In some markets corrosion could be a problem, but in highlands and drylands Kenya that is less likely if the vehicle was stored in a shaded but ventilated place. The coolant should be thoroughly flushed, to ensure neither the radiator nor the cooling channels in the engine block are choked.
When you first start to drive the car extensively, drive as though you are “running in” for at least several hundred kilometres to allow all the parts to flex and move gently. Don’t delay the follow-up normal service to check that the remedies are functioning well and no weakness has been missed.
If all is well at that stage, the probability is that you have a car that will give good and reliable service for the rest of its design life. It will be a “bargain” if the discount was greater than the cost of these remedial measures.
The biggest single-cost item would probably be replacing tyres if they have flat-spotted, but that will be partially offset by the fact that you will start with brand-new treads, so halve the replacement cost when you do the calculation.
The underlying principle here is that cars do “age” in some respects, even if they are not used. Gentle regular “exercise” is good for them. These consequences give you a clue on how a vehicle should be stored if it is likely to be idle for a long period. Even for four months, never mind four years.
