Used car has soft brakes – should I still buy it? | Ask Honest John

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Used car has soft brakes – should I still buy it?

I am in the market for a used car and recently took a 2011 Mazda 2 Activmatic ( 27,000 miles, Mazda Approved) for a test drive and noticed that the brakes were vague and not sharp at all. There didn't seem to be much resistance.

The dealer told me this was because the car had not been driven for a while and would improve with use. I like the car otherwise so should I just accept this?

Asked on 14 March 2014 by jon 76

Answered by Honest John

Strange. If you buy the car, make it a condition of the purchase contract that the brake are "of satisfactory quality" then hold the dealer to his promise. They probably need bleeding and the fluid replacing.

Tags: buying a used car technical issues brakes

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