Buying a car is always an exciting experience, and whether it’s new or used, there are many different great value buys on the market today. Having said that, there is something you should be aware of if buying used cars, and that’s the risk of gearbox problems. Although you get a cheaper deal with a used car, the reliability might be questioned and anything ten years old and over could be at a high risk of having all sorts of gearbox problems.

New cars on the other hand are always going to stand a better chance of working efficiently without the need for too many repairs. After all, something that is so new definitely shouldn’t have anything wrong with it. Another popular choice is to buy nearly new cars that are considered to be ‘run in’ and tested to make sure they work fine. A new car could have problems, but the chances are minimised because everything is ‘new’. Naturally, used cars will have a higher mileage and that means the car has been put through the mill a bit more so there’s a greater risk.

There’s a very basic premise here, in that things that get used more frequently could go wrong much sooner. As much as you love your 10 year old car, you have to bear in mind that gearbox problems are going to be likely. Keep your eyes peeled for any tell-tale signs like the car making unusual sounds. Don’t leave the suspected gearbox problem. You could find that you end up paying a lot more if you don’t get the gearbox sorted ASAP.

Bear in mind that gearbox problems can be very expensive to repair and so it is best to check the car over thoroughly before you buy it. Make sure there isn’t anything untoward with the gearbox, the main functioning part of the car. Have a chat with the salesman to get his expert opinion too.