Car guides

Inspecting a used car

You do not need to be a mechanic to avoid the worst purchases. Most serious problems leave visible or audible evidence.

Outside

• Check panel gaps are even on both sides. Inconsistent gaps suggest repair after a collision.
• Look along each panel at a shallow angle in daylight for ripples and colour mismatch.
• Check tyre wear across the tread width. Wear on one edge points to alignment or suspension problems.
• Confirm all four tyres are the same brand and roughly the same age.

Inside

• Compare wear on the pedals, steering wheel and driver's seat with the odometer reading. Heavy wear on a low-mileage car is a warning.
• Turn the ignition to the accessory position and confirm every warning light illuminates, then start the engine and confirm they clear. A light that never illuminates may have been disabled.
• Test the air conditioning at full cold. Repairs are expensive and common in this climate.

Engine and drive

• Start from cold and listen for rattles that fade after a few seconds.
• Blue smoke suggests burning oil; white smoke that persists can mean coolant entering the cylinders.
• Check the oil on the dipstick: a creamy texture is a serious warning sign.
• On the drive, brake firmly in a safe place. Pulling to one side or vibration means attention is needed.

Pricing a car to sell

The asking price decides how many people contact you. Too high and the listing is ignored; too low and you lose money you did not need to.

1. Find at least five comparable cars currently listed — same model, similar year and mileage.
2. Note their asking prices and how long they have been listed. Cars sitting unsold for months are priced above the market.
3. Adjust for your car's condition, history and extras.
4. Add a small negotiating margin, then publish.

If you get no enquiries in two weeks, the price is the problem — not the photos. Full detail is on the selling page.

Renting without surprises

The advertised daily rate is rarely the total cost. Before booking, confirm the deposit amount and release timing, the daily mileage limit, the insurance excess, the fuel policy, and the rules for additional drivers and late returns. The rental page covers each in detail.

Maintenance in a hot, dusty climate

Jordan’s summers and dust are harder on a car than a temperate climate, and the standard service interval in the manual assumes gentler conditions.

• Air filter. Dust clogs filters faster here. Inspect more often than the manual suggests; a restricted filter raises fuel consumption.
• Cooling system. Check coolant level and hose condition before summer. Overheating causes some of the most expensive engine damage.
• Battery. Heat shortens battery life more than cold does. Expect a shorter service life than the rating implies.
• Tyre pressure. Check when tyres are cold, and remember pressure rises on long hot drives. Under-inflation and heat together are a common cause of failure.
• Air conditioning. Run it briefly even in winter to keep the system's seals lubricated.
• Paint and glass. Sun and sand dull paint and pit windscreens; parking in shade genuinely extends both.

Logging each of these with the date and mileage — in the My Car app or anywhere else — turns servicing from guesswork into a schedule.