unrealistic expectations of the used car market???
Discussion
danlightbulb said:
I'm on there and have been monitoring the classifieds. There was a seemingly well looked after 9-5 in bognor regis but it was high miles (not a problem in itself), but I just couldn't get there. 3 hr+ drive just to view it and if I buy it a 5hr+ train ride needing a day off work to pick it up. I hadn't considered a wanted advert. I guess my thought is that if someone wants to sell their car they will put it up for sale.
Ive been looking almost daily at AT, ebay, gumtree, exchange and mart and various car forums.
You'll notice a lot of the people who come on this forum to show off their bargain fsh cheap purchases aren't quite as picky about the car, age, etc. Ive been looking almost daily at AT, ebay, gumtree, exchange and mart and various car forums.
Edited by danlightbulb on Sunday 22 November 17:32
Also they sometimes buy without viewing based on a forum purchase (usually honest sellers) or a decent advert and phone call, and may well travel quite a way to collect. It's easier to find a bargain if its a few hours away, and the right price / can be won on eBay cheap.
I know this won't necessarily work for you as you need a car that works without anything dodgey, but if you perhaps could keep your mondeo for a few days while you collected a new one just so your covered in the event the new car needed a bit of work, then it could be easier to travel for a bargain.
Remember, if when you arrive to collect an ebay purchase, it isn't as described, you can walk away.
You can't find a decent car for the budget without putting some effort in so if you're not willing to either travel or compromise a bit then it's no real surprise you're struggling.
Ghost91 said:
You can't find a decent car for the budget without putting some effort in so if you're not willing to either travel or compromise a bit then it's no real surprise you're struggling.
I am putting in effort, but I have to be realistic about travelling distance simply due to time constraints. I'm in the Midlands. You'd think the law of averages would mean some cars are for sale fairly near me, because the midlands is in the 'middle' of the country. But its not happening.There was one I saw advertised last week. I contacted the guy and said I was interested but I can't get there until Sunday (it was about 80 miles away). It sold a couple of days later. I travelled 120 miles round trip yesterday to see a dog that was supposedly a good runner. There is one in Peterborough I like the look of, but I won't be able to get there until next Sunday because I simply can't get time off work this week. Its not like travelling round a few local garages for a browse, every car needs a full day out.
I'm not willing to commit to buy anything until Ive seen it first. God knows how people can bid unseen. It does my head it as it f
ks it up for everyone else.Edited by danlightbulb on Sunday 22 November 21:14
andy-xr said:
£2500 rebuilt with a warranty and a compression test
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331712321177?_trksid=p20...
I'd avoid these like a warm dogshttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331712321177?_trksid=p20...
t.Proper wallet hoovers that drink fuel like it's free and use more oil than an old tractor.
danlightbulb said:
I am putting in effort, but I have to be realistic about travelling distance simply due to time constraints. I'm in the Midlands. You'd think the law of averages would mean some cars are for sale fairly near me, because the midlands is in the 'middle' of the country. But its not happening.
There was one I saw advertised last week. I contacted the guy and said I was interested but I can't get there until Sunday (it was about 80 miles away). It sold a couple of days later. I travelled 120 miles round trip yesterday to see a dog that was supposedly a good runner. There is one in Peterborough I like the look of, but I won't be able to get there until next Sunday because I simply can't get time off work this week. Its not like travelling round a few local garages for a browse, every car needs a full day out.
I'm not willing to commit to buy anything until Ive seen it first. God knows how people can bid unseen. It does my head it as it fks it up for everyone else.
I see your point....There was one I saw advertised last week. I contacted the guy and said I was interested but I can't get there until Sunday (it was about 80 miles away). It sold a couple of days later. I travelled 120 miles round trip yesterday to see a dog that was supposedly a good runner. There is one in Peterborough I like the look of, but I won't be able to get there until next Sunday because I simply can't get time off work this week. Its not like travelling round a few local garages for a browse, every car needs a full day out.
I'm not willing to commit to buy anything until Ive seen it first. God knows how people can bid unseen. It does my head it as it f
ks it up for everyone else.Edited by danlightbulb on Sunday 22 November 21:14
The trouble is, unless something that meets all of your criteria comes up down the road on a weekend when you are able to view and or buy, you will struggle. Dealers are pretty dodgey at this price point, as you'd be paying 2k for a 800 quid banger whereas with a private sale you'll probably get a better deal.
I've bought unseen and yes it's a risk but if the advert is well written and it's cheap enough, you've nothing to lose apart from a few hours... if you buy on eBay and it's not as described you can walk away.
I know it's not ideal or what you want to do but a bargain perfect car newer and lower mileage than yours in budget isn't going to just fall in to your lap on your day off unless you're lucky...
I guess taking a few days off and getting it done isn't an option?
I sold our workhorse - a 2005 Jag X Type estate 2.2D Sport - with no trouble at all. I priced it realistically and had it well presented, almost a full years MOT and blemish free. First man to ring bought it - half a dozen calls overall. He enthused about the car from the phone call, to the viewing, to the test drive, to the purchase and handover.
And after looking for a replacement - i can see why. The amount of badly prepared, overpriced, scruffy dross out there is unbelievable.
Auctions - anything half like the thing made near retail money. Private sellers, stupidly optimistic and dealers these days seem to have no qualms about presenting cars with scuffs, engine management lights on, battered alloys and unvaleted - and these were cars £5K+ in price. One 2009 Insignia i looked at needed both bumpers painted, a couple of wheel arch dings sorted and was frankly dirty inside and out. It had two illegal tyres on the front but the trader was pleased to tell me he'd hunted round the local scrapyard and found a couple of legal ones that he was going to stick on. The most worrying point was the clutch which had about one inch of travel before its bite point and the dealer was trying to convince me "they're all like that mate". No, they're not.
I set myself a limit of cars within a 25 mile radius because frankly i'd no confidence that going to view anything further afield would yield anything of better quality.
A very demoralising pleasureless experience overall that almost drove me to despair.
And after looking for a replacement - i can see why. The amount of badly prepared, overpriced, scruffy dross out there is unbelievable.
Auctions - anything half like the thing made near retail money. Private sellers, stupidly optimistic and dealers these days seem to have no qualms about presenting cars with scuffs, engine management lights on, battered alloys and unvaleted - and these were cars £5K+ in price. One 2009 Insignia i looked at needed both bumpers painted, a couple of wheel arch dings sorted and was frankly dirty inside and out. It had two illegal tyres on the front but the trader was pleased to tell me he'd hunted round the local scrapyard and found a couple of legal ones that he was going to stick on. The most worrying point was the clutch which had about one inch of travel before its bite point and the dealer was trying to convince me "they're all like that mate". No, they're not.
I set myself a limit of cars within a 25 mile radius because frankly i'd no confidence that going to view anything further afield would yield anything of better quality.
A very demoralising pleasureless experience overall that almost drove me to despair.
Edited by daemon on Sunday 22 November 21:25
Ghost91 said:
if you buy on eBay and it's not as described you can walk away.
Although you risk a negative review by doing this. Plus if you've paid train tickets to get there (could be close to £100 depending on where in the country you are going - a one way ticket to Bognor was going to cost me £70) then you're already partially invested in it.Ghost91 said:
I guess taking a few days off and getting it done isn't an option?
It would be if I could be sure I'd have some choices and be confident one of them would be good. At the moment the cars are so few and far between it makes this impossible.V8RX7 said:
Welcome to 2015 - sellers haven't been able to leave Neg feedback for at least 3 years.
Indeed. The seller might be a bit cheesed off, but if it genuinely has been falsely described then I suppose it's tough.
Chances are if you pick right, the advert reads well and there are receipts, speak to the seller on the phone etc, then your train ticket won't be wasted. If it is wasted it's better than spending months waiting for the right car to come up down the road, at least you'll have a better chance of getting something nice quicker by trying?
Ghost91 said:
V8RX7 said:
Welcome to 2015 - sellers haven't been able to leave Neg feedback for at least 3 years.
Indeed. The seller might be a bit cheesed off, but if it genuinely has been falsely described then I suppose it's tough.
Chances are if you pick right, the advert reads well and there are receipts, speak to the seller on the phone etc, then your train ticket won't be wasted.
Oh ok, didn't know this. Not a big ebay user. There must be some sort of consequence though for winning/buying something and not paying for it? Some kind of black mark?
Plus if you've won it on a bid you can't (shouldn't?) then haggle when you get there.
Ghost91 said:
If it is wasted it's better than spending months waiting for the right car to come up down the road.
Once maybe, but if it happens several times that's alot of money and time down the drain.Maybe you guys can help me with how to handle this situation. I want to go and see the car in peterborough but can't go until sunday. How do I say to the seller when I speak to him if he will hold the car for me until then, without me commiting to buy it or removing my ability to haggle on the day? EDIT - I just this second had a message back off the guy. He's sold it. This is what keeps happening. Anything realistically priced goes immediately, and what is left is overpriced.
Edited by danlightbulb on Sunday 22 November 22:07
Edited by danlightbulb on Sunday 22 November 22:09
I've bought many cars off Ebay without seeing them.
But I always get the sellers no. and have a chat before bidding. I tell them to walk around the car and describe it as I am buying on their description and if it doesn't match, I won't pay.
Allow £300 to cover the stuff they've "forgotten" I've always bought the cars because I got them for a low enough price.
The last car was a V6 MR2 which he'd forgotten to mention several dents but as I bought it for half what I'd have paid, I didn't mention it.
I've also bought cars at night - I get them to drive it to a petrol station so I can see it. No one will hold a car without a deposit.
But I always get the sellers no. and have a chat before bidding. I tell them to walk around the car and describe it as I am buying on their description and if it doesn't match, I won't pay.
Allow £300 to cover the stuff they've "forgotten" I've always bought the cars because I got them for a low enough price.
The last car was a V6 MR2 which he'd forgotten to mention several dents but as I bought it for half what I'd have paid, I didn't mention it.
I've also bought cars at night - I get them to drive it to a petrol station so I can see it. No one will hold a car without a deposit.
Farmer Geddon said:
fking hellfire, not you again!!
How hard can it be?
Something's got to give somewhere, you can't have it all.
Nice to see you too.king hellfire, not you again!!How hard can it be?
Something's got to give somewhere, you can't have it all.
I'm doing everything that the forum previously advised that I should be doing, including targeting the Saab's the forum advised me to target. I have a budget that I can afford which was also the forums advice. No need to get shirty, I'm genuinely trying to find a car. My expectations are not unrealistic - there are cars out there that match what I want, but they either sell before I can get to see them or they are at the other end of the country.
V8RX7 said:
I've bought many cars off Ebay without seeing them.
But I always get the sellers no. and have a chat before bidding. I tell them to walk around the car and describe it as I am buying on their description and if it doesn't match, I won't pay.
Allow £300 to cover the stuff they've "forgotten" I've always bought the cars because I got them for a low enough price.
The last car was a V6 MR2 which he'd forgotten to mention several dents but as I bought it for half what I'd have paid, I didn't mention it.
I've also bought cars at night - I get them to drive it to a petrol station so I can see it. No one will hold a car without a deposit.
Great if you have the funds to cover such a risk. I don't. Like the petrol station idea, if the seller will do it, but still no good if I have to travel 150 miles after I finish work at 6pm.But I always get the sellers no. and have a chat before bidding. I tell them to walk around the car and describe it as I am buying on their description and if it doesn't match, I won't pay.
Allow £300 to cover the stuff they've "forgotten" I've always bought the cars because I got them for a low enough price.
The last car was a V6 MR2 which he'd forgotten to mention several dents but as I bought it for half what I'd have paid, I didn't mention it.
I've also bought cars at night - I get them to drive it to a petrol station so I can see it. No one will hold a car without a deposit.
Bonefish Blues said:
OP, go and check the 2002 Aero Estate has had the obligatory sump drop, check the neated and vented seats work, and buy it for £1500-£1600.
The exterior's not beige. The interior is, but the signs are good there.
I can't stand the interior mate. I'm not 65 and this isn't the 1970's any more. There is a nice one on AT at the moment in the Chilterns somewhere (1.5hr drive away for me). But its a dealer again and slightly over budget. Still can't see it until Sunday (appointment only at the dealer so depends on him).The exterior's not beige. The interior is, but the signs are good there.
danlightbulb said:
My expectations aren't unrealistic .....
I can't stand the interior mate. I'm not 65 and this isn't the 1970's any more.
Like I said, you can't have it all. You wonder how everyone else manages to find a bargain nice car. They're not as picky or as difficult/unwilling to help themselves.I can't stand the interior mate. I'm not 65 and this isn't the 1970's any more.
Farmer Geddon said:
Like I said, you can't have it all. You wonder how everyone else manages to find a bargain nice car. They're not as picky or as difficult/unwilling to help themselves.
I'm doing everything I can. My spec list is hardly picky. Black leather? That's hardly picky. Not my fault lots of people bought horrible beige when they bought the car in the first place. Maybe you can actually help me out by telling me what it is I'm doing that means I'm unwilling to help myself. Given I've been scouring all the websites every day and joining all the forums looking for cars? The only think I haven't been able to do is drive to see many because:a) the cars are not out there
b) I only have very limited time to do view any
c) if I do make arrangements the cars are selling before i get to them
d) I'm being sensible by not bidding on an unseen car like a fool.
If I had bought the car I saw yesterday without seeing it I'd have bought an absolute dog. According to the seller it was perfect.
Farmer Geddon said:
I've managed to buy two cars in the same budget since your last stupid posts on here, and I like most people work full time, it must be magic!
What have you bought?Edited by danlightbulb on Sunday 22 November 23:44
On a 2 grand car, yes the colour of the leather is being a little picky. If it's an otherwise ideal car, then it's a bit silly to worry about that. You can pick up an interior in a few months time for next to nothing and swap it if it's that big an issue, otherwise you could be back on here in another couple of months complaining again.
Honestly you're making it far too difficult for yourself. If worst came to worst, and you didn't like your new purchase, you could sell it. That's the beauty of used cars at this price, you're unlikely to lose anything if you've chosen well.
I've bought a Saab 9-5 Aero HOT, 2004, fsh, 100k, more or less mint apart from kerbed alloys, £1450, and an MG ZT Tourer CDTI (bmw Diesel engine, brilliant), leather, great condition. If I were to be picky I would have preferred the aluminium attle dash in the saab instead of the wood effect, but If I were that fussy I'd have missed out on a bloody good car, like a fool (btw I was one of these 'fools' who bought unseen!!!) and if I were being picky with the MG then I'd of wanted an earlier model before rover started scrimping on things like sound proofing. But it was £900. You'd probably think its for a 70 year old, I dont care, it wafts magnificently, is chipped to 170 odd bhp and the seats are magic.
I genuinely don't know how someone can make such a big deal out of a 2k car purchase to be honest.
Honestly you're making it far too difficult for yourself. If worst came to worst, and you didn't like your new purchase, you could sell it. That's the beauty of used cars at this price, you're unlikely to lose anything if you've chosen well.
I've bought a Saab 9-5 Aero HOT, 2004, fsh, 100k, more or less mint apart from kerbed alloys, £1450, and an MG ZT Tourer CDTI (bmw Diesel engine, brilliant), leather, great condition. If I were to be picky I would have preferred the aluminium attle dash in the saab instead of the wood effect, but If I were that fussy I'd have missed out on a bloody good car, like a fool (btw I was one of these 'fools' who bought unseen!!!) and if I were being picky with the MG then I'd of wanted an earlier model before rover started scrimping on things like sound proofing. But it was £900. You'd probably think its for a 70 year old, I dont care, it wafts magnificently, is chipped to 170 odd bhp and the seats are magic.
I genuinely don't know how someone can make such a big deal out of a 2k car purchase to be honest.
Because £2k is all I have. If its spent on a dog I'm fked. I have no reliable car. I can't get to work. I can't get to see my kids. Understand? £2k is a hell of alot of money to me and its all I have.
It's a big risk buying unseen. You've successfully done it - great for you. Just my luck I do it and get a crapheap. And if that happens then what?
Where did you get your Saab from? What you bought is exactly what I'm looking for. Why would silver dash and a different colour interior all of a sudden be so difficult to find? Why should those two tiny things make the car well over my budget instead of within it like you got?
ked. I have no reliable car. I can't get to work. I can't get to see my kids. Understand? £2k is a hell of alot of money to me and its all I have.It's a big risk buying unseen. You've successfully done it - great for you. Just my luck I do it and get a crapheap. And if that happens then what?
Where did you get your Saab from? What you bought is exactly what I'm looking for. Why would silver dash and a different colour interior all of a sudden be so difficult to find? Why should those two tiny things make the car well over my budget instead of within it like you got?
Edited by danlightbulb on Monday 23 November 00:08
danlightbulb said:
Because £2k is all I have. If its spent on a dog I'm fked. I have no reliable car. I can't get to work. I can't get to see my kids. Understand? £2k is a hell of alot of money to me and its all I have.
Where did you get your Saab from?
Then try not to buy a dog. I've been driving cars in this price bracket for years and it's been a very very long time since one left me stranded and unable to get to where I need to go. Modern motors are pretty decent things. If you want to buy a car you'll need to be a bit less scared otherwise you can't complain you can't find anything, all used cars have the potential to have something a bit wrong with them. ked. I have no reliable car. I can't get to work. I can't get to see my kids. Understand? £2k is a hell of alot of money to me and its all I have.Where did you get your Saab from?
It's a lot of money to me too, I'm only an IT bloke, not a millionaire. It's not hard, you'll know if it's not right and needs any work when driving it home, if so, get it sorted? I'd assume one has a little money aside for any niggles at this price.... If not then a good tip is to try and buy under budget to leave money aside for little problems that could make themselves known.
If money is that tight and reliability is so paramount I really recommend a petrol honda or toyota, accord or avensis. Or possibly a petrol version of the mondeo you already have with lower mileage and top spec perhaps. Everyone wants a flash car but if it's not sensible for you financially then don't be afraid of choosing something more conservative. My Honda Accord tourer was the 2.4, it went very well and only ever cost me routine servicing and a bulb.
If you do go for something flashier and worry it might leave you unable to get to where you need to go, keep your mondeo for a week or so while you evaluate and get to know your new purchase, that way you can gain some confidence in it.
I got the saab on eBay from a private seller, there was a nice one on eBay too from a dealer in Lincolnshire roughly the same price. He's on the saab forum with the name 'woodside'.
Looking for a replacement for my suprising cracker of a X Type V6 AWD Estate.
I was expecting to see a clean E46 M3 SMG ( so the wife can drive it too) with FSH for under £5k. I spotted one,very clean, 2 owners, 11 miles away but had part service history sadly. So I'm going to have to raise my budget if I want a fast daily to get me to Brentwood and back. It has always been my aspiration to have a M3 E46 since it came out but the problem with 2 doors doesn't matter much anymore.
I was expecting to see a clean E46 M3 SMG ( so the wife can drive it too) with FSH for under £5k. I spotted one,very clean, 2 owners, 11 miles away but had part service history sadly. So I'm going to have to raise my budget if I want a fast daily to get me to Brentwood and back. It has always been my aspiration to have a M3 E46 since it came out but the problem with 2 doors doesn't matter much anymore.
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