unrealistic expectations of the used car market???

[AdamIndy]

You could always have a look at some auctions. That way you buy the same cars dealers do but without their mark up.

For example, 2 weeks ago a friend wanted an auto estate car. I ended up finding her an 03 1.8t Passat estate with the awful CVT box.(box was fine though) it had done 113k, MOT until June 16. A lot of car for £450. That was a part ex from a main dealer. Engine management light on due to a faulty jubilee clip on a boost pipe. It's been to a garage and they have given it the all clear.

It is easy to get stung, trust me, I know, but as long as you know what you are looking at then a real bargain can be had.

I have had some absolute corkers over the years.

50k mint Full history MK2 MX5 with hardtop for £2000 about 5 years ago.(was very cheap at the time)
45k Mitsubishi galant V6 with leather, history and all the toys for £450. That was a great car.
Old(r reg i think) Mondeo estate with 70k bought for winter lugging duties for £200. Never missed a beat dispite the hammering it had. Spring came round, put it back in the auction(didn't even wash it) and sold it for £250!

The vast majority of traders/dealers call them what you will, buy their cars at auction. Just beat them at their own game!

[V8RX7]

There are plenty about you just have to look hard and be willing to travel (I'll go 100 miles)

I ask a LOT of questions before travelling and I find anyone who gives short answers is hiding something.

Also wait for the right car.

[Vincefox]

Volvo.

[eldar]

Willy Nilly said:

There are plenty of stories on here about people buying various massive, old German cars for £2.50 and everything working. bks, I don't believe a word of it. There are also plenty of people that tell us on here how they bought some car or another that has covered an interstellar mileage and just needs the dash wiping to get through an MOT. If you had a good car upon which everything worked, met your needs and had done all off its depreciating, why would you sell it?

Death, giving up driving? Good source of low mileage reasonably looked after cars.

You just can't be bothered to look, I suppose.

[Busa mav]

Its a strange market , as cars are almost becoming disposable.

I have just advertised my Volvo V70 D5 , a 2007 facelift model with 144k on the clock. Owned it for 4 years ,got a new 12 months mot too.

I was expecting it to go immediately, advertised it for 3450 , expecting realistically to take 2700.

Did get one cheeky offer of 2k cash mate , today , but nothing else.

May be going back to him later this week as I have a new lease E class being delivered .

Maybe the fact that the engine service required warning light has just come on that is frightening people and I mentioned it in the ad.

or maybe the people of Newbury don't want to be seen in such an old car ?

[Willy Nilly]

eldar said:

Willy Nilly said:

There are plenty of stories on here about people buying various massive, old German cars for £2.50 and everything working. bks, I don't believe a word of it. There are also plenty of people that tell us on here how they bought some car or another that has covered an interstellar mileage and just needs the dash wiping to get through an MOT. If you had a good car upon which everything worked, met your needs and had done all off its depreciating, why would you sell it?

Death, giving up driving? Good source of low mileage reasonably looked after cars.

You just can't be bothered to look, I suppose.

and exactly how many low mileage, one vicar owner that's just died, FSH cars are out there compared with the bulk of which that are workhorses? I'm sure they do exist but finding one will be a full time job.

[steveo3002]

Busa mav said:

Its a strange market , as cars are almost becoming disposable.

I have just advertised my Volvo V70 D5 , a 2007 facelift model with 144k on the clock. Owned it for 4 years ,got a new 12 months mot too.

I was expecting it to go immediately, advertised it for 3450 , expecting realistically to take 2700.

Did get one cheeky offer of 2k cash mate , today , but nothing else.

May be going back to him later this week as I have a new lease E class being delivered .

Maybe the fact that the engine service required warning light has just come on that is frightening people and I mentioned it in the ad.

or maybe the people of Newbury don't want to be seen in such an old car ?

not worth an oil change and put the light out ? probably is scaring people away

[Lowtimer]

Yes, I bet people are interpreting that as a loose description of an engine management fault light.

[danlightbulb]

I appreciate you looking. My thoughts are below. You may think I'm being picky but I feel that I should be able to get what I want for this money - everyone else on here seems to be.

E30M3SE said:

A very quick scan through AT. I've omitted to post and octogenarian spec Merc's.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

its a basic linear model for £1500. I feel it is overpriced for the basic spec that it is. My current car is better.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

It is older than my current car and beige externally and internally. Too old fashioned. If its was any other colour and black/grey interior i'd be all over it. I don't feel that is too much to ask.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Not bad actually. I'm not overly keen on VAG and I did want a more powerful car.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Don't want another diesel after being advised against them multiple times at this age.

[confused_buyer]

"Engine Service Required" in Volvo speak is a management code fault has been logged. If it is a major one it usually says "engine service urgent".

Either way it doesn't mean it needs an oil change. Most common thing on a D5 which brings up this message is something with the swirl flaps, a boost leak or a clutch or brake sensor.

Edited by confused_buyer on Sunday 22 November 18:54

[DoubleD]

E30M3SE said:

A very quick scan through AT. I've omitted to post and octogenarian spec Merc's.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

How can someone be so bad at taking photos as car number 4. Obviously he's into drunk photography!

[confused_buyer]

I think cheap cars have got more expensive in the last 12-18 months.

Cars are generally getting more expensive to fix (not the simple stuff - but the stuff which does them at MOT time such as airbags, traction control, ABS etc.) and there is an increasing shortage of older, cheaper cars which actually still vaguely work.

There is an increasing gulf between tat which will never pass another MOT without big expenditure and something which might work for 18 months.

It isn't impossible, yet, but harder to find a decent cheap one than it was. Enjoy it why it lasts though, I suspect in 2-3 years time it will be very difficult to buy a sub-£2k car which isn't broken.

[Jimmy Recard]

Are there still good Rover 75s and MG ZTs in that price range?

[confused_buyer]

Just to add: That Volvo books trade at 3600 so you'd probably get your £3500 bunging it on an ebay no reserve auction.

I suspect it isn't selling because people see the price (too cheap), the message and assume it has major bork.

[Busa mav]

confused_buyer said:

"Engine Service Required" in Volvo speak is a management code fault has been logged. If it is a major one it usually says "engine service urgent".

Either way it doesn't mean it needs an oil change. Most common thing on a D5 which brings up this message is something with the swirl flaps, a boost leak or a clutch or brake sensor.

Interesting , thanks for that , it has a parking brake problem last month and I was quite sure it was only a dodgy connection.

[iloveboost]

Willy Nilly said:

OP, no machine I have ever used has got better with age, they ALL wear out.

Regardless of rose tinted spectacles, new vehicles are the best, you then have to decide where on the cost v's risk curve you want to operate, new being the least risk but highest cost, I like nearly new and then look after and run into the ground.

I got £111 for an MB2 Civic I had had for 12 years, serviced on time every time, everything bar the rear washer pump worked, including the AC and it ha no leaks. But I thought it was starting to cost too much in running repairs outside normal service items. Were it trouble free I would not have bothered parting with 9 grand for a very low mileage replacement.

There are plenty of stories on here about people buying various massive, old German cars for £2.50 and everything working. bks, I don't believe a word of it. There are also plenty of people that tell us on here how they bought some car or another that has covered an interstellar mileage and just needs the dash wiping to get through an MOT. If you had a good car upon which everything worked, met your needs and had done all off its depreciating, why would you sell it?

You are going to be very lucky to get anything significantly better than what you already have for your budget and would almost certainly be better either considerable upping your budget or keeping the one you have going with your replacement budget.

I think you're right. I'm doing what you suggest by buying a nearly new car that's relatively cheap but nice to drive. I mean if it's not some old lady who has owned a Lexus LS400 from new and had it serviced every year, any car over 100K miles has a high chance of expensive, major parts failing. If you're happy working on a car yourself and do low miles, then maybe you can buy a high mileage V8 luxury barge for £2K. That choice is impossible for most people that couldn't repair it a couple of times a year themselves.

[fivepointnine]

I had a hell of a time finding a car. I was looking at larger saloons and SUV's (Honda Accord and larger) that was automatic, petrol, under 120k miles and under £4000. Thought that should be easy right? WRONG. I refuse to buy a car with any kind of warning lamps on the dash, especially at that price, so that eliminated like 2 cars immediately that the dealer claimed was good to go. Rusty mid 2000's Mercs (E class and M class) beat to crap BMW's. Slipping transmissions, absolutely filthy interiors...the list goes on. I finally found a gem of a Lexus GS300 from a private owner at the top of my price range (actually asking price was above my price, but I was able to make a deal) But it was a massive struggle to find a nice one.

[iloveboost]

fivepointnine said:

I had a hell of a time finding a car. I was looking at larger saloons and SUV's (Honda Accord and larger) that was automatic, petrol, under 120k miles and under £4000. Thought that should be easy right? WRONG. I refuse to buy a car with any kind of warning lamps on the dash, especially at that price, so that eliminated like 2 cars immediately that the dealer claimed was good to go. Rusty mid 2000's Mercs (E class and M class) beat to crap BMW's. Slipping transmissions, absolutely filthy interiors...the list goes on. I finally found a gem of a Lexus GS300 from a private owner at the top of my price range (actually asking price was above my price, but I was able to make a deal) But it was a massive struggle to find a nice one.

I think that the majority of independent dealers are struggling against chains and supermarkets. The many I went to did f**k all prep on anything under £5K as the margins are too thin. There are nice cars out there, but most are the gems you find privately or nearly new stuff where the lease owner has given a s**t. Just my opinion.

[p1stonhead]

Buy privately op there is plenty out there.

I just bought a 2007 Ford Focus ghia estate with 75,000 miles and it only cost £1800. It's incredible value! All the toys inc a proper heated front screen!

[DJP]

Vincefox said:

Volvo.

This.

I only sold my old one because the Missus was getting windy about driving such an "Old Car" and I'd just had a spot of luck on the stock market.

It was a 13 year old V70 with 120,000 on the clock, everything working & not even a dent on it. It passed it's last MOT with no advisories.

I originally advertised the beast with 9 months T&T for £999 and got nothing but time-wasters (complaining "shame it's not xyz colour" ) and tyre kickers.

In the end, I traded it in and got £500. The dealer stuck it on his forecourt at £1800 and it sold in 2 days.

The buyer could have had it for half that, and we'd both have been better off.

But hey-ho.

What peed me off was that even at £6 or 7k I was struggling to find anything significantly better: "Would Sir like a slightly newer car with even higher mileage?" Well, no I frigging well wouldn't, actually.

I eventually bought a Mondeo Estate with 4,000 miles on the clock. It was the closest I could get to the Ovlov without accepting moon mileage.

Edited by DJP on Sunday 22 November 20:47