I have seen a 2003 53 Reg VAUXHALL Corsa 1.2 16v SXi 5 door for 3995 at a local dealers. It is in very good condition and has a low mileage, it has had 2 previous owners, the last of which was a 50 yr old local who has owned it from 6mths old. The dealer will include 12mths MOT and tax, 6mths warranty and will discount £50. We have been looking for a while for a 5 door corsa, there aren't many about. Parkers guide gives a price of £3495 for an independant. The dealer says that good second hand cars are in short supply. We have seen similar car at a different dealers and they wouldn't budge at all on their price, again this was valued lower on Parkers.
Do you think this is a fair deal for this car?
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I would get £1k knocked of it, then keep the change for a spare engine when the camshafts decide to snap.
£4K seems steep for a 6 year old small car but I know from experience superminis keep their value well.
Have you got anything to back up the suposed low milleage?
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£3,995 is a lot of money for a six year old Corsa when a brand new Panda is £5,000
Despite low mileage it`s still had six years of salt on the underbody, frames and brakelines as few people seem to look after a car these days (they polish the top, while the underbody rots with salt)
I would want to see proof of brake fluid changes and antifreeze. Has it got original fluids in rotting the wheel cylinders internally and eating away at the water galleries and rad core?
What about oil and filter changes? Done on the proper low mileage schedule - or left for longer.
All the rubber seals around the car will have had six years of exposure - possibly hardening despite the low mileage
Look for sludge in the camshaft area and consider recent posts here about snapping camshafts and bolts unscrewing in that context.
Get down and look underneath - are the subframes and brakelines scuppered in rust - previous owners having completely ignored them while whistling on Sundays putting hours into polishing and waxing the upper body paint..
In another six years it might be a heap of junk - while a new Panda would be like new in particular if you greased the frames and brake lines before the first winter.
Banger or new car with only £1,000 £1,500 difference?
All the best with your decision OP
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Thanks for the advice.
The service book has been stamped regularly. We presently own a 1994 nissan primera as our second car which we've had for 14 years, we need a smaller second car which is suitable for our daughters to learn in. We've decided on a corsa as we all like the look and drive of it. I've driven a peugeot 206 and wasn't over keen, really don't like the look of the Panda, We don't want to pay more than £4000 for the second car. We will shortly be replacing our main car. We're struggling to find a resonably priced 5 door in good condition that is near enough to go and view. We did a 160 mile round trip the other weekend to look at 2, one was in good condition, but similarly priced; the dealer would not budge at all on price, not even a measly £50! The other one was quite a low spec and not so good.
Reading through the threads the camshaft problem seems to affect newer models; would this be correct, or are problems known with the 53 plate?
many thanks
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I would get £1k knocked of it then keep the change for a spare engine when the camshafts decide to snap.
It's only the 2005 year with camshaft troubles.
Our 2002 low mileage Corsa appears to be still worth over £3,000 judging by local prices but I'd have thought £3,500 would be nearer the mark for your target vehicle.
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>>it has had 2 previous owners, the last of which was a 50 yr old local
How can that be verified, or is it just what the salesman is telling you?
>>The dealer says that good second hand cars are in short supply
Well, he would say that wouldn't he.
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>>it has had 2 previous owners the last of which was a 50 yr old local
How can that be verified or is it just what the salesman is telling you?
We live in a place full of old people and the colour wouldn't be the choice of a young male driver.
>>The dealer says that good second hand cars are in short supply Well he would say that wouldn't he.
Yes, he would.
MOT's run out on the Nissan so we're down to one car; hubby is going to work on his bike. I am getting fed up of looking so i think I am trying to talk myself into it. It's just so convenient; in town, really nice condition. No more chasing around the north west spending time and money looking at cars that are tatty or prices the dealer won't budge on. If we did that every weekend for a few weeks we would spend that price difference on petrol and lunches out! I would like a fairy to come and park a nice car in my drive overnight!
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It's just so convenient; in town etc...
There's some value in all that you say - I don't mean to sound flash but I gave up buying used cars years ago, it's too much hard work and too time consuming. Some friends of ours needed a 5dr supermini recently and they really struggled too.
Is there no way you could reasonably get your Nissan MOT'd? You'd be able to get the £2K scappage then. Maybe a Nissan dealer would do something anyway, I think they have offers in addition to scrappage.
One thing on the 1.6 Corsa - you mentioned it'll be used for the kids to learn to drive in, have you checked the insurance cost for both learning, and when they pass (often jumps up a lot once they pass). We had a 1.6 Clio a few years ago and it was hard to get a decent price as most people wanted 1.2's.
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