Top Gear highlights potential dangers of buying a used car
Posted by Susannah Mayers
The potential dangers of buying a used car have been highlighted by hit BBC television show Top Gear.
In the latest episode of the show, the three presenters were bought seemingly identical BMW 325i convertibles.
However, each of the vehicles had a very different past and came with issues such as mileage discrepancies.
Nicola Johnson, consumer services manager at Hire Purchase Investigations (HPI), said that six in every 100 vehicles checked by her firm have a mileage discrepancy.
"Not only can these mileage discrepancies inflate the value of the vehicle, but … they could lead to safety risks if vehicles miss out on crucial servicing and replacement work for vital components," she added.
Last month, HPI warned used vehicle buyers not to be distracted by fancy features, such as air-con or adaptive car lights, and to make sure they know about the motor's history so that they can avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
