Hello all
Only just registered now so apologies if there have been many similar threads. I am looking at getting a cheap car for around £800 (can't afford anything more unfortunately!). Will only be used for social/shopping etc as I commute on the train to work so will probably do about 3/4000 miles per year. I've got a wife and 2 young kids so needs to be quite something I can fit them in. Been looking at the usual, Fiesta, Escorts, Polos etc and I have 3 main questions if anyone could help out?:
Trader or private?
Any cars you would recommend or avoid?
What would be the max mileage you would recommend buying a car at?
Cheers in advance for any assistance you can offer as there's so much out there that i'm stumped and really can't afford to buy a dodgy one that will cost me fortunes!
Kev
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>>Trader or private?
At this end of the market, where I buy, almost always private,they'd be very little money fora trader on an 800 quid car.
>>Any cars you would recommend or avoid?
Condition is all important, not make or model. If you're old enough for insurance not to be a big issue then bigger cars ( Vectra /Mondeo etc.) tend to give you much more metal for less money than something smaller.
>>What would be the max mileage you would recommend buying a car?
I generally buy cars at around 110,000 and run then to around 160- 180 without major grief.
Bear in mind that ANY car can suddenly present you with a 200-300 quid bill, so don't spend every penny on the purchase of the car.
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Trader or private?
Private - more value, and the margin a dealer takes on an £800 car is huge in %ge terms, and there's no real chance of a warranty at that price.
Any cars you would recommend or avoid? Look at the seller - would you trust them? Then look at the car and its history - has it been cared for, or hacked?
What would be the max mileage you would recommend buying a car at? Not an issue, frankly.
I'd be looking at Mondeos, Nissan Primeras etc. Wife and two kids need lots of space...
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Thanks for your replies. I was thinking private to be honest, my only concern was what comeback you've got if something goes wrong with it soon after you get it but then I suppose if you buy an 800 quid car from the local car lot, you're not likely to get much joy if you go back to them with problems either.
It's interesting what you say about the mileage because when I was looking, I was avoiding anything that had 100,000 upwards on it so it's worth knowing that they have still got a good bit of life left in them (hopefully!)
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It's interesting what you say about the mileage because when I was looking I was avoiding anything that had 100 000 upwards on it so it's worth knowing that they have still got a good bit of life left in them (hopefully!)
Yes, lots of people avoid 100K+ cars, hence they're cheaper, and that's why I look at them. Don't expect the ride and handling to match a 20K car mind you.
look for a car with plenty of receipts for servicing, has it got 4 different budget remould tyres on it etc.etc. In July I bought an N plate Vectra CDX for 650 quid, all it's cost me so far is an oil change and an indicator stalk. Be prepared to walk away from lots of tatty / rusty old sheds at this end of the market though.
Edited by SpamCan61 {P} on 02/02/2010 at 13:41
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Cheers Spam, I think that's what i'll look at from now then and maybe try and pick up something with over a 100k on there for about £600 and keep the rest for when the first thing goes wrong or need to get it MOT'd
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I was avoiding anything that had 100 000 upwards
Proves it works if it's done a reasonable distance.
If it's ever been taken apart to be repaired, don't buy it. If it's done very few miles, don't buy it. Make sure it sounds OK, and the oil in it looks OK - if not, don't buy it. If it burns oil, don't buy it. If there's evidence of water coming in, don't buy it.If it's rusty, don't buy it. If it's dark or rainy when you see it, don't buy it.
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I like this advice, 5 years I've worked in the trade and this is good.
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I once bought a year old Mondeo with 13k miles on it. I took it up to 100k, then sold it to my sister who added another 50k miles. Then her husband wrapped it round a tree. Not one single thing ever went wrong with that car, not even a bulb went. I swear the inside and outside looked brand new just before its sad demise.
This was a Mk 2 Mondeo, 1.8 petrol LX. If I were buying a car for under a grand, I'd be looking for one of these, privately.
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Cheers, will have a look on autotrader and search for one and see if there's any Mondeos near me
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FT, thanks for the advice. This may be a silly question but how would I know if it burned oil when I went to see it, is there a way I would be able to tell from looking at it?
Cheers
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In the old days blue smoke came out of the exhaust but now with cats they eat the smoke.
Check for service history thats the key but really it's up to you to keep it maintained and roadworthy it may require £££ spending if you know nothing about cars take somebody who does.
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Thanks bigtee, i'm planning to take a mate of mine who does a few repairs on his old banger himself so should at least be able to spot the obvious stuff.
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>>i'm planning to take a mate of mine
Good idea. You'll both see things the other missed.
Don't look over a car in a lay-by, it's probably nicked.
If you're buying privately, try and get inside the house to make sure the seller lives there.
Don't believe stories 'I'm selling it for a mate/wife's cousin' etc. They're probably a dealer trying to avoid their responsibilities.
Do check the VIN (and engine number if possible) against the V5. Do an HPI type check.
Be wary of V5s starting with BG and BI IIRC.
I like to exchange cash with keys and documents in a bank, building society or post office. If the seller doesn't agree, I wonder why.
Walk away from anything you're not 100% happy with. You'll probably walk away from the first twenty or so if you follow all this advice. ;>)
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Try a SEAT Toledo Mk1. Essentially a Golf MK2 with a different body shell. Built especially for Spanish taxi drivers. Seats (pun intended) 4 adults comfortably and has huge boot.
Go for the petrol as people ask silly prices for the (admittedly excellent) diesel and at your mileage it will make no odds.
£500 will get you a mint face lift model (post 1995) one and leave cash spare.
Stretch to £1,000 and you get a MK2 (post 1999) which is even sweeter.
Essentially a Golf for non-Golf money.
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Another good tack is to get on the right side of a few franchise dealers after the scrappage scheme and let them know you're interested.
Some of these guys will be unwilling to entertain you but others may feel differently.
The problem is that there are plenty of good cars in your price range being scrapped thanks to the scrappage scheme. I even heard of a Discovery 2 being traded in under this scheme. The owner should have sold it privately and haggled on his new car.
A couple of weeks ago I had the offside hub of a clean Nissan Almera 1.4. The car had done 73k and ran as sweet as a nut. The interior was spotless. But because it had been traded in under the scheme it had to be scrapped. So perhaps one of the best examples of a 1999 Nissan Almera was condemned. Mind you I benefitted from this £50 of my hard earned got me 3 very good tyres (one new) and the complete hub with an AS sensor that I needed for mine ;)
Having said that you may be better waiting for a while until the scrappage scheme is over and prices for these cars settle down again.
Back on topic, I would look at the primera, or even the Almera. I am quite tall and personally find it difficult to drive over long distances. Also my two children are quite tall. If your family are not freaks like us then it would make a well equipped car. Also I would favour some of the smaller Citroens. The ZX is not a bad car though probably a bit long in the tooth now. Some of the Fords and vauxhalls around that time are worth a look, and the same is true for Rovers and Daewoos. Avoid Renault.
With your mileage I wouldn't concern yourself with diesel unless you come accross a gem for the right money.
When you get it spend your money wisely. get to know a few good breakers yards that can keep you equipped with nearly new tyres and other spares. Spares are always a good bet. At £10 a pop, preferably on the right rims to save you the cost of fitting. They can work out very cost effective.
Many will disagree with me here but if you're fussy you can make real savings with tyres quite easily. This subject is a discussion in its own right.
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Mk2 Mondeo 1.8LX.
Cheap, big enough for everyday use, easy to maintain and service at home. Plenty of spares and there's thousands of used examples to choose from. A good all rounder in my opinion.
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Redkev
Do you live anywhere near Surrey. See HJ classifieds.
Mods - Am i allowed to post this..?!
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Mk2 Mondeo 1.8LX.
Seen loads of these with mega-mileages - seem to go on forever.
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