IT'S happened to the best of us.
You set out on your quest to buy a second hand car determined to be hard, critical and eagle-eyed. But you end up pulling away from the forecourt in a beige rust-heap that drives like a pedalo in quicksand.
The other nightmare is roaring into the distance in a plush new drop-top with a V8 engine throbbing away under the bonnet. Sounds nice, doesn't it? However, it's not quite as enjoyable when the bills for petrol and insurance start rolling in and you remember you could only afford to run a supermini.
However, avoiding the pitfalls is relatively easy as long as you are prepared to take a bit of extra care.
Firstly, don't shop for a used car alone, if you can help it. You will probably need some moral support, as well as someone to keep your feet on the ground if you see a car you really like - when it's not their money, they can be impartial. It's also important to have someone else to help you run through the following series of checks. If you know anyone in the motor trade themselves, of course you should rope them in.