What Desperate Seller says about Honda used cars
Reliability is massively important to used car buyers and few manufacturers can match the record of Japanese giant Honda on this score. Honda is also renowned for its engine technology, with its VTEC petrol engines and i-CTDi diesels having been consistently amongst the best four-cylinder units on the new and second hand car markets. Honda doesn't tend to offer the breadth of choice in its model ranges that other manufacturers do but used examples are not hard to come by. People looking to buy a used Honda might find that the prices are slightly higher than mainstream alternatives but that can generally be attributed either to Honda's strong residual values stemming from the durability of its cars or to the brand not offering budget engine options with its models. The Jazz is Honda's supermini and one of the most spacious cars in its class. Pre-owned models are in strong demand and for good reason, but prices may soften as more examples of the new version launched in 2009 filter through. The Civic was once a practical, dependable and slightly boring family car but in 2005, Honda let its hair down with an all-new model that majored in futuristic styling. Both this latest car and the generation before it have something to be said for them and each was offered in high performance Type-R guise for true petrolheads. Other Honda used cars to look out for are the Accord, Honda's handsome medium range saloon or estate, the CR-V 4x4 and the FR-V six-seater MPV. Used second hand versions of the charismatic S2000 roadster bring big fun for the money and the HR-V was a small but stylish 4x4 designed primarily for urban use. Honda was one of the last mainstream marques to embrace diesel engines, so earlier models are predominately petrol.


Buying tips & useful advice
Who would have thought that buying a car you’ve never seen from a seller you’ve never met would ever take off? Well it certainly has thanks to the internet, and now more and more of us are purchasing new and used cars online. But, how do you pick a winner and not a banger?

The following tips will show you what you should do when you shopping for a car online.

Preparation Is Key
Before you start shopping, you first need to make two vital decisions: how much do you want to spend and what kind of car are you looking for? This is where the internet can really help. Several sites, including DesperateSeller.co.uk have buyer’s guides that can help you compare one model to another within your budget. You can also read comprehensive reviews and ratings from leading car magazines and consumers who drive your potential future car every day.

As helpful as the internet is, there is one thing it can’t offer, and that’s first hand experience of how a particular model handles. So as soon as you know which car you are interested in, go down to your local dealer and take it for a test drive.

Know Your Price
Once you’ve selected the car you want, read all the reviews and taken your future car out for a test drive, it’s time to research prices. If it’s a used car you are thinking about buying, first check for the car's current value.

To determine the price you are willing to pay for your future car, you need to find out the minimum price being offered to private sellers on online sites, the maximum price from retail dealers and the going rate from an average of the prices asked in the classifieds.

What you also need to include in your budget for your new car is the cost of insurance. all leading insurers by filling in one simple form. Within minutes we can provide you with the cheapest quote for insurance.

Start Searching
Looking for your new car online as opposed to the local newspaper, gives you the opportunity to search and compare prices for thousands of cars in your area and scanning multiple pictures can also help you to get an idea of the car's overall condition.

This is a great place to start your search. You can search using a range of different options, such as new or used car, private seller or dealer, price, engine size, automatic or manual and so on. All searches require your postcode, so that every listing returned includes the distance in miles from your location to the seller.

We recommend limiting your search to vehicles within 20 or 30 miles of your home. This way you can easily test-drive them and get them inspected by a mechanic you trust. Start searching for cars now by clicking here.

The Test Drive
Once you’ve selected a potential vehicle to buy, a test-drive is a must! Try and arrange the test drive at the seller’s home, this should give you a better feel for the car by visiting the seller’s home and talking to their family. Also, never be swayed by shining looks: a quick valet and a new set of number plates will make any old banger catch the eye.

Insist on viewing the full service history from new to the most recent service and check that all the paperwork is in order. And, if it is more than a couple of years old pay for a full independent mechanical inspection.

Buying The Car
Before money changes hands, make sure you're up to speed on the legal aspects of buying and selling by reading the AA's advice for private car sales.

We can also help you get an independent car check. This checks the records to make sure the car hasn't been written off, stolen or has outstanding finance. To perform a check on any car, click here now.

By arming yourself with used car knowledge and know-how, beginning with these tips above, you’ll greatly minimise your risk of buying a vehicle that will be more of a costly headache than a joy ride.