Many people sell on a car when it starts to give them trouble, so it’s important to know what to look for. Buying the wrong thing can cost you a lot of money. The clutch in car is a prime example. In certain cars, the assembly is complex to de-construct, and the parts expensive to replace. Don’t expect to be on the good side of £1500 for a premium car, and don’t expect it to be a warranty item – a clutch shouldn’t wear for 80,000 miles by most estimations, so if it wears out before then it’s almost certainly driver error, and by the time you’ve done that mileage the car will be beyond even Kia’s 7 years in most cases.

Fortunately, there is one really simple tip to check. Drop it into 3rd, and try to pull away from standing – if it moves away, keep well away.