Buying a sports car? Here are some things to look out for!

Head Gaskets One of the most common issues with purchasing a new car, is the head gasket leaking, or being blown, due to overheating. Simple checks for this can be (a) seeing of there is any 'oil' residue in the header-tank, and also emulsification on the dipstick (will go a 'greyish' colour. These can be a sure sign - and can be very costly!

Transmission Issues Many European vehicles are sensitive to oils, which can differ as per models, especially BMWs. As a result, sometimes gearboxes (especially auto tiptronic) will fail or have issues. Other times, some service providers don't always do a proper 'flush' and replace filters in gearboxes, which can prove troublesome.

Rust Rust can be a common issue, and often more serious when vehicles have been exposed to sea-water air along coastal areas, or, mixture of salt and water on the roads (such as ex UK). Chassis corrosion can be costly - as can panels. Often, panel shops with disguise these will plenty of body-filler and and lovely coat of paint - which, over times, falls out and starts to 'bubble'. Always check this by "hitting" the panel gently with the fist, and seeing how the sounds differ, and any raised patches. Wheel arches are notable areas for this, as also under the sills below the car, in either side. Proper preparation should include removing the rusted areas, replacing it with suitable material as a backing, followed by fibre-filler and finally body-filler (really, just to enhance paintwork/finish - not as a filler in itself!).