Has anyone given up looking for a certain car

Has anyone given up looking for a certain car

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dieseluser07

Original Poster:

2,452 posts

115 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
Ive spent the best part of a year hunting for an older hot hatch due to cheapness to buy, i.e. clio 182, ep3.

Yet despite spending ages searching ive come across the following.

Bad mot history/advisories
No record of servicing
No history of cambelt (182)
Miles away and not willing to travel
Rust visible on pictures or on arrival
Good examples sell within a day

Ive well and truly give up and begrudge spending 3000 pound on a car that is 12 years old.

Ive completely changed my search now and think i would actually prefer something more modern, maybe not as quick due to the cost but still a bit raw, so now im looking at twingo 133s, clio 200's, swift sports and abarth 500's

Has anyone else completely changed thier search due to anything similar.


boyse7en

6,671 posts

164 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
dieseluser07 said:
Ive spent the best part of a year hunting for an older hot hatch due to cheapness to buy, i.e. clio 182, ep3.

Yet despite spending ages searching ive come across the following.

Bad mot history/advisories
No record of servicing
No history of cambelt (182)
Miles away and not willing to travel
Rust visible on pictures or on arrival
Good examples sell within a day

Ive well and truly give up and begrudge spending 3000 pound on a car that is 12 years old.

Ive completely changed my search now and think i would actually prefer something more modern, maybe not as quick due to the cost but still a bit raw, so now im looking at twingo 133s, clio 200's, swift sports and abarth 500's

Has anyone else completely changed thier search due to anything similar.
Trouble is you want the best-quality example of a popular model at a bargain price but you're not willing to put much effort (distance) into finding one.
If you're looking at 12 year old cars you are very rarely going to get full history and spotless condition. Most will be self-serviced at some point, people don't spend out for dealer servicing on a £3k car.

I did once have extreme difficulty trying to get an Alfa 166 V6 manual. Couldn't even find one to look at within 250 miles at any price so gave up and got a Saab convertible instead.


Fastdruid

8,623 posts

151 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
I was looking for a 2007+ 525i M Sport Touring with a manual box and full leather interior.

There were just none as everyone bought diesels frown of the remainder they were nearly all automatic.

Gave up in the end and bought a Mondeo instead. Which I should add is an awesome car and I don't regret.



Edited by Fastdruid on Friday 30th September 16:48

CS Garth

2,860 posts

104 months

Friday 30th September 2016
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E500 estate in pink with the whaleforeskin leather wheel and trim - rocking horse poop

X5TUU

11,908 posts

186 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
I looked on and off for a while for a little track car and was on the edge of giving up then came across a little VTR saxo (52 plate)for what turned out to be £190 on eBay and within 20miles of my home.

Granted I was less fussy on most elements as with that saving I can sort most things out

dieseluser07

Original Poster:

2,452 posts

115 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
boyse7en said:
Trouble is you want the best-quality example of a popular model at a bargain price but you're not willing to put much effort (distance) into finding one.
If you're looking at 12 year old cars you are very rarely going to get full history and spotless condition. Most will be self-serviced at some point, people don't spend out for dealer servicing on a £3k car.

I did once have extreme difficulty trying to get an Alfa 166 V6 manual. Couldn't even find one to look at within 250 miles at any price so gave up and got a Saab convertible instead.
I understand this but it seems stupid but id rather get a more modern car that is still fun but maybe not old school fast and well rated as the thought of an older car with sketchy service history just doesent appeal to me anymore, so a modern warm hatch is likely to be my next choice of car i believe as modern hot hatches are a bit too expensive

dieseluser07

Original Poster:

2,452 posts

115 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
X5TUU said:
I looked on and off for a while for a little track car and was on the edge of giving up then came across a little VTR saxo (52 plate)for what turned out to be £190 on eBay and within 20miles of my home.

Granted I was less fussy on most elements as with that saving I can sort most things out
Haha for £200 you cant complain too much