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Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - hahaha123

My Hyundai Amica recently got scrapped and I've been considering getting another one (probably unwisely).

Oddly enough, one has come up on Autotrader close to where I live for £1,750 (next MOT end of July) with the following advisories:

  • Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))
  • Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage steering rack (2.1.5 (a))
  • Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
  • Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
  • Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))
  • Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all pipes coated (1.1.11 (c))

are these going to be costly to fix down the line? Should I give this a skip?

Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - skidpan

Considering spending £1750 on a 20 year old Hyundai is in my opinion a bit daft.

Considering spending £1750 on any 20 year old car is a bit daft.

They are potentially months away from the scrap yard.

Surely you can do better.

Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - badbusdriver

I'm no mechanic, but looking at that list of advisories, the only thing I'd be concerned that it might cost a bit to fix (I don't know) is the power steering leak.

Nothing else (IMO) should cost very much to deal with.

skidpan is quite correct that it is a crazy price to pay for a 20 year old Hyundai. But these are crazy times when it comes to used car prices. If there is nothing to indicate imminent failure due to rust under the car, and you are happy enough with everything else about it then you might aswell.

Nothing complicated about these mechanically, the only real concern I'd have would be rust.

Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - elekie&a/c doctor

Interestingly, We buy any car value this vehicle at £550 , thats without inspection . Draw your own conclusion on this.

Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - badbusdriver

Interestingly, We buy any car value this vehicle at £550 , thats without inspection . Draw your own conclusion on this.

Most expensive of the 24 Amica's on Autotrader is just over £3.5k, cheapest is just under £1.3k.

The one the OP is looking at is an automatic with 46k miles.

Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - Engineer Andy

I'm no mechanic, but looking at that list of advisories, the only thing I'd be concerned that it might cost a bit to fix (I don't know) is the power steering leak.

Nothing else (IMO) should cost very much to deal with.

skidpan is quite correct that it is a crazy price to pay for a 20 year old Hyundai. But these are crazy times when it comes to used car prices. If there is nothing to indicate imminent failure due to rust under the car, and you are happy enough with everything else about it then you might aswell.

Nothing complicated about these mechanically, the only real concern I'd have would be rust.

Quite right - if a car is structurally sound and the items to be repaired are wear and tear ones, especially where any 'expensive' items have lasted a long time and still can be found/fitted without too much difficulty, then most often its worth putting that money in the car.

The cost of a new car would likely never be recovered through higher mpg / lower VED, and thus the only alternative would be to buy an older second hand car, which would be a risk given it won't have much of a warranty, if at all (only when bought through a dealer, and even then many aren't worth the paper they're written on), and because you don't know its ownership history, at best it might have a documented service history.

Sometimes the 'devil you know' can be the better option - if you like the car. Whether that's the case for the OP and a Hyundai Amica is something only they can answer - Hyundai (and sister firm KIA) have come a long way since then in terms of engineering quality/reliability and the driving experience.

My Mazda3 is 17 years old and at some point within the next few years will need new front spring/dampers and a new power steering pump. That's likely to set me back in the region of £2k for a car probably worth (at present) £500 less than that (maybe even just a Grand). But other than some rust around the wheel arches, it apparently is fine structurally. If my finances stay tight for the time being, I'll stick with it.

Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - Crickleymal

For that money you can get one 6 years younger.

None of those issues would worry me overmuch but why buy a car that old?

Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - Andrew-T

Leaving aside the wisdom (or not) of buying a 20-year-old car (I recently bought a 30-year-old one, but not as a daily driver), I would say those advisories could be safely ignored until you feel like paying someone to fix them. If you don't, there is a good chance that next year's tester won't mention them.

As has been said, the important criterion on an elderly car is corrosion, which the tester presumably has not mentioned. I assume this is a private sale ? In any case have a look at this car as it's not far away and judge for yourself. Is there any history with it ?

Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - Engineer Andy

Leaving aside the wisdom (or not) of buying a 20-year-old car (I recently bought a 30-year-old one, but not as a daily driver), I would say those advisories could be safely ignored until you feel like paying someone to fix them. If you don't, there is a good chance that next year's tester won't mention them.

Seen that before on my own car. Amazing how they come and go, depending upon the tester or year.

As has been said, the important criterion on an elderly car is corrosion, which the tester presumably has not mentioned. I assume this is a private sale ? In any case have a look at this car as it's not far away and judge for yourself. Is there any history with it ?

One thing that often doesn't get mentioned is when OPs often provisionally 'want' a car because its local and there's nothing much else in their area, or they've got set on 'that car' and look half way across the country and often buy without even looking (never mind checking into) at the thing.

I suspect this 'blinkered' approach can often lead to some very expensive mistakes. It's why I've suggested always keeping an eye on the market generally (including the quality of local second hand dealers) so you can quickly and easily whittle down to roughly want you need and hopefully avoid any problems, especially if a car suddenly expires and you need a replacement promto.

Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - Andrew-T

<< It's why I've suggested always keeping an eye on the market generally (including the quality of local second hand dealers) >>

In the price range the OP has mentioned, second-hand dealers are probably a worse bet than a private sale, where you can at least hope to learn something about a car's history and avoid paying a dealer's putative profit.

Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - sammy1

<< It's why I've suggested always keeping an eye on the market generally (including the quality of local second hand dealers) >>

In the price range the OP has mentioned, second-hand dealers are probably a worse bet than a private sale, where you can at least hope to learn something about a car's history and avoid paying a dealer's putative profit.

Agree with this. With second hand dealers warranties not worth the paper they are written on far better to do private and in this price bracket worth looking at cat cars also.

Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - badbusdriver

I assume this is a private sale ? In any case have a look at this car as it's not far away and judge for yourself. Is there any history with it ?

The car is being sold by a dealer in Glasgow (with very good reviews), there is no mention of service history though.

202211282082055

While I understand the negative comments, I also understand the positives aspects of the car. It is very compact, just under 3.5m long and just under 1.5m wide, but very spacious for its size. It wouldn't be at home on the open road, but would excel as an urban runabout, nipping through gaps and fitting in spaces few other cars could.

There is also the familiarity aspect. Some years ago an elderly customer of mine had to get rid of her long term owned MK6 Fiesta because it wasn't worth spending the money for what it needed doing. Despite the fact that by this time the MK6 Fiesta had been out of production for a decade, she replaced it with another MK6, because she was used to it knew where everything was!

Edited by badbusdriver on 21/02/2023 at 17:34

Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - Xileno

Interior looks like new but I still would hesitate at spending that amount on such an old car. It does have its good points though, as pointed out. Dealer might take £1500 but try lower first.

Hyundai Amica 02/Automatic - Hyundai Amica '02 - MOT Advisories - paul 1963

Interior looks like new but I still would hesitate at spending that amount on such an old car. It does have its good points though, as pointed out. Dealer might take £1500 but try lower first.

Totally agree, looks tidy enough but expensive, bet the dealer gave around £500/£600 for it, if you really want it offer a thousand...you never know your luck, think I'd be sorting the wheel bearing out if it was me...