We know one of the biggest worries for anyone buying a used car is: “Will it be reliable?”
It’s a fair question—nobody wants to spend their hard-earned money only to end up back in the garage a few weeks later. (believe me we feel the same!)
At P. McKenna Motors, it’s something we take seriously every single day, and we’re proud to say it’s one of the main reasons customers come back to us again and again.
Here’s a bit of honest advice on what you should look out for when buying a used car—and how to make sure it’s going to serve you well rather than stress you out.
1. Know Who You’re Buying From
This is number one for a reason. The car itself matters, of course—but the people selling it matter just as much. Are they happy to talk you through the car’s history? Answer any questions you might have? Do they stand over what they sell? Can you reach them easily if there’s a problem?
Here at P McKenna Motors, we deal with every customer personally. There are No middlemen. No sales chat. Just honest, straightforward advice and certainly NO pressure sales.
2. Don’t Just Look at Mileage—Look at Condition
Yes, mileage matters—but it’s not the full story. A well-maintained car with higher mileage can often be more reliable than a low-mileage car that’s been neglected. We carefully check every car we have purchased onsite in our own workshop, and it goes through a Full PDI (pre delivery inspection) before being put out for sale.
It is important to consider how many miles you are doing annually and how long you intend on keeping the car to consider what miles are suitable for your purchase.
3. Ask What’s Been Done Already
Before we put any car up for sale, as above – it goes through a full inspection and prep process. We often service the car, replace worn parts such as brakes or tyres if required, and fix anything that needs attention—so you’re not buying someone else’s problems. We’ll happily tell you exactly what’s been done to each car, and we will keep it on record of your sale.
4. Make Sure There’s Backup
The real test of a dealer is how they look after you after the sale. We offer a full aftercare service for servicing and maintenance, and if you ever have a question or concern you can lift the phone and speak to one of us directly—no switchboards, no passing the buck.
5. Peace of Mind – Warranty
Even with all the checks in the world, cars are still machines—and sometimes, things go wrong. That’s why we stand over everything we sell with our own 3-month or 3,000-mile warranty, whichever comes first (Terms & conditions apply as explained at every handover/ purchase or a vehicle). It’s our promise to you that if anything crops up in those early weeks, we’ll sort it. No runaround, no passing the buck—just us, looking after you like we always have.
(There may be some exclusions as per any warranty! But that will all be explained and laid out in our warranty documents.)
6. Reliability Works Both Ways – Look After It, and It’ll Look After You
We do everything we can to make sure you’re getting a solid, reliable car—but it doesn’t stop there. If you want your car to last for years, you need to take good care of it too. That means sticking to the recommended service schedules, topping up oil and fluids when needed, and sorting small issues before they turn into big ones. A bit of regular maintenance goes a long way in keeping your car running smoothly for the long haul.
SO! buying a used car doesn’t have to be a huge gamble.
LOOK for the right seller, ASK the right questions, DEAL with people who care, AND choose a car that’s been properly prepared and inspected and you can drive away with a real sense of peace of mind.
That’s what we offer every day at P. McKenna Motors—and it’s why we are still here!
