I've heard it's a bad idea to buy off a private seller so was also considering doing a pre-inspection check.

That bit is the best part, saving probably £500/800 on what a small dealer would mark it up, but is it being sold by the owner because someone's been painting the tyre sidewalls with shiny tat, which says trader to me, so if you go to look at it make sure the V5 is genuine and shows the address where the car is being sold from...and i do mean where the seller has access to the house and isn't just lurking about outside any convenient house where the occupants on holiday....this appeared to be the case with one of the usual suspects selling a Civic we looked at a few weeks ago, ''Grandad's'' house, how convenient.

Have a look at HJ reviews above for likely problems, i understand the gearbox can have issues so a proper test drive is called for involving plenty of gearchanges and listen to and feel each gear both under power and on overrun.

Looks like the start of rust on both rear wheelarches, so i'd be having a poke nose underneath, Scottish sale so its seen tons of salt in its life, the MOT history has nothing i would be unduly concerned about, but do check for rust carefully.

Very wise if i may say so buying within your budget and not borrowing, pray carry on the good sense SH.

It could be a good little car. The 'magic' rear seats are wonderful - ours held nearly as much clobber as my big 4x4.

Make sure the gearbox bearings haven't gone (the reason we sold ours!). You're listening for a whirring noise when pulling away in first gear - ours didn't do it other gears. Its very obvious if its happening.

As said, a couple of things to check - how long has the seller owned the car/is it registered to him/at the address you're viewing it at? It does rather look as if its been tarted up for sale. That might just be because its been to the car wash, or it might be a dodgy trader.

And check out the wheel arches. I don't remember any rust in ours. I'd be tempted to unscrew the liners and see what's really going on there. And have a look underneath - what other rust is waiting to come through.

But at the end of the day, its £1000 - and if it provides a couple of years of motoring it could be worth every penny. I'd be tempted to put it though a new MOT, even if I had to pay, before buying though.

Edited by Marlot on 17/05/2018 at 15:57

I've heard it's a bad idea to buy off a private seller ...

Buying cars of this value can be a bad idea from almost anyone, especially back-street 'traders' or those who have one or two to sell somewhere near their front door. In fact if you choose your private seller carefully you may be able to find out much more about the car than you would from anyone else. The downside is that you have no comeback unless the car proves to be unroadworthy, but even then you would not want to spend any hard-earned trying to get recompense.

So ask the seller any serious questions, and if you only get evasive answers it may be best to look elsewhere. A genuine private seller is not trying to make a profit and a living from selling cars.