The essentials
- Do not compromise on rust on structural parts or an engine with white smoke.
- Scratches and worn seats are cosmetics, not mechanics.
- Always keep €500 aside for the first week.
Which faults you accept
Under five thousand euros every car has a history. The question is not whether there are faults but which ones you accept.
Where not to compromise
- Rust on structural parts. Paint covers it, and welding often costs more than the car is worth.
- An engine with white smoke or oil in the coolant.
- Papers that do not match the seller.
- An automatic gearbox that jolts — the repair often exceeds the car’s value.
Where you can let go
- Scratches and worn seats — cosmetics, not mechanics.
- Air conditioning that does not cool: a refill is cheap, a compressor is not. Ask which it is.
- Tyres and brakes: put their price into your offer rather than rejecting the car.
Always keep €500 aside for the first week. In this class it is almost always needed — and whoever has it does not panic.