Hello all,
Me and the good lady wife are looking for a used car. Its not proving simple. We had 'crossed words' tonight, and i see it happening again soon.
Our budget is 2700 max. Our mechanical knowledge is limited.
Looking for astra 2.2sri
vectra petrol (1.8 or 2.0T)
Astra diesel, previous shape, NOT CDTI
ford mondeo
in no particular order of preference, only stipulations are low mileage <100k, service history , 52 reg onwards.
I find the whole thing daunting, I know what I want, I know what I want to pay, but its all so bloomin difficult.
made three appointments this morning, first for a astra sri, 04 reg, at a large dealer some 10 miles away. Upon arrival, they did not have the car, but offered to show me other vehicles in a similar price range, after making me wait 45 mins. I politely moved on to the next.
Again I called the garage this morning, and asked if I could view the car in the afternoon, this time a vectra 1.8 elegance, on a 03. It was advertised as one owner, full service history, and 40 miles from home. It was advertised in auto trader at 2700. On arrival the screen price was 3295. Swiss tony explained he had had a lot of interest in the car........It was small-ish indy garage on a main road. On arrival, the car was blocked in by loads of vehicles and I knew straight away i would not get a test drive. The car was sporting carcraft numberplates, and swiss tony could not explain why. The back seat was not attatched to anything. I walked away without starting the engine, and moved onto the next appointment after swiss tony said he had no history, just old MOT's. Why would a one owner ex lease car have carcraft number plates? that put me off. I have had carcraft issues before. Best forgotton.
My third appointment was a small-ish garage on a main road, some 5 miles from home. The vehicle was advertised as a 2004(53) astra 1.7dti saloon, at 2895, with 47k on the clock. On arrival the screen price was 3495. A common trick I realise now.
I HPI'd the astra on my phone, but it was described as a 5 door estate, first registered in nov 08? but the car was a 53? You guessed it, I walked away.
Please help, is what I want do-able on my budget? and how do I deal with traders!!!!!!!!
Cheers
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Any particular reasons for those models? I know a lot of people here have considered Nissans, Toyotas and Skodas in this kind of model/budget.
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the reason for the choices is they are cars I have owned in the past, that im sort-of familiar with....like I said, my mechanical knowledge is highly limited, I dont know a lot about any car, but I know a little bit about these :)
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Whereabouts are you? Perhaps others can steer you to good reputable dealers.
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rochdale near manchester, but can travel within reasonable distance, got hire car until thursday. After that im goosed!!
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Try Bluebell Garage on the Bury Rochdale Old Road. No connection but he has been there for years and is the sort of place that relies on repeat customers.
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yeah i think i know the place.... a small bmw specialist i think. im 33 and he's been there as long as i can remember. only has 3 or 4 cars up at a time. Not really thought of BMW, although I saw this on the trader...
tinyurl.com/ygf522l
I thought it was too cheap though. gotta be a scam or catch.
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the cherry on the cake today however was the two tiny seperate stone chips to the windscreen of my hired golf sustained on the trip to see the vectra. One caused by me overtaking a truck in lane 2, and one sustained by an a-hole in a merc, passing me in lane 2 at circa 120 mph.
Never, ever damaged a hire before. :(
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Blue Bell is on Bury Rochdale Old Road near the Bird in Hand
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Our budget is 2700 max. Our mechanical knowledge is limited. Looking for astra 2.2sri >> vectra petrol (1.8 or 2.0T) Astra diesel previous shape NOT CDTI >> ford mondeo > Please help is what I want do-able on my budget?
Should be, a search of Autotrader for 1.8 Vectras produces a fair number that meet your specs.
and how do I deal with traders!!!!!!!!
Telephone first to verify price. If it's not as advertised, tell them, and leave it at that.
A couple of thou should get something quite reasonable, I'dve thought.
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