The more I look the less I find...

[MissChief]

Link to the ad please and we'll be able to advise better.

[danlightbulb]

danlightbulb said:

Bill said:

This is a better colour and has a better engine: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[CO2000]

How about this or one like it?

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

[danlightbulb]

CO2000 said:

How about this or one like it?

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

Its nice yeah but ive been warned off the diesels. ST220 has great reviews everywhere, but im not sure on what the right price to pay for ine should be. That one for 5.5k seems overpriced according to the others on sale and a couple of valuation websites.

[confused_buyer]

Lots of mentions of the V70 but he wants 4x4 so why not a XC70?

Like a V70 but a bit higher, bit of the 4wd "look", cheaper and more reliable than a XC90 and 4wd.

£5k should buy a respectable 04-05 manual with about 100-120k which should do 40mpg+ and 200k no problem.

[danlightbulb]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Oh absolutely not of course. As a buyer though i need to know how to spot something overpriced. It looks in good nick and low mileage, but i put the mileage figure into a valuation tool and it came out £2k lower, so...


Thanks for the xc70 suggestion. I think the whole driver behind the 4x4 was a 7 seater. If i cant get a good modern 7 seater then id rather have a sporty 5 seater, and ive been persuaded against diesels now also.

[egor110]

danlightbulb said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Oh absolutely not of course. As a buyer though i need to know how to spot something overpriced. It looks in good nick and low mileage, but i put the mileage figure into a valuation tool and it came out £2k lower, so...


Thanks for the xc70 suggestion. I think the whole driver behind the 4x4 was a 7 seater. If i cant get a good modern 7 seater then id rather have a sporty 5 seater, and ive been persuaded against diesels now also.

The cars worth what somebody will pay for it, the buyers guide is just that a guide.

If the cars 1 owner and has stacks of service history ( not service stamps) and the garage has a good reputation and a decent warranty then it probably is worth it.

Its easy to buy a cheap car it's a lot harder to buy a good cheap car.

[danlightbulb]

In this specific model, the ST220, what is the max mileage you think would be reasonable? I know condition is important as well. I am restricted to 2005 cars or older because the 2006 onwards are £490 a year tax.

On 2003 to 2005 cars prices range from 5.5k to 2.5k and mileage from 60k to 130k.

[egor110]

danlightbulb said:

In this specific model, the ST220, what is the max mileage you think would be reasonable? I know condition is important as well. I am restricted to 2005 cars or older because the 2006 onwards are £490 a year tax.

On 2003 to 2005 cars prices range from 5.5k to 2.5k and mileage from 60k to 130k.

buy on not mileage condition, massive folder with bills for services, cambelts, clutch, suspension refresh that's what you want to see.

[danlightbulb]

Ive heard this suspension refresh thing a couple times on here. I have never known of anyone who has proactively replaced suspension components. When they fail or knock, or at mot time yes, but do many people really do it any other time as a matter of routine maintenance?

[egor110]

danlightbulb said:

Ive heard this suspension refresh thing a couple times on here. I have never known of anyone who has proactively replaced suspension components. When they fail or knock, or at mot time yes, but do many people really do it any other time as a matter of routine maintenance?

so you look in the hopefully massive folder of bills for a mot fail due to suspension and then the work required to fix it, it's only a car get out and buy something your overthinking this.

[danlightbulb]

Oh ok. Well it was the term suspension refresh which implies someone has refreshed the whole suspension system.

If someone part exes a car with a small dealer, does the small dealer tend to keep all that receipt type stuff with the car? The car im interested in is at a small dealer.

[danlightbulb]

Oh ok. Well it was the term suspension refresh which implies someone has refreshed the whole suspension system.

If someone part exes a car with a small dealer, does the small dealer tend to keep all that receipt type stuff with the car? The car im interested in is at a small dealer.

[rossi1001]

Seriously you have had every single piece of advice possible! Buying ANY used car of this age / price has some risk. Stop dithering / being so ridiculously risk averse and just go and buy an ST220 (based on condition and history as advised above) and hopefully you'll end up with a good car you enjoy. Of course you might get unlucky and buy a lemon but that's the risk you have to take with any used car of this age.

[egor110]

The best cheap bangers i've bought have been citroen c5's, purchased for around £500 to £1000 and they've all gone thru 1 mot and been really economical , super comfy on the motorway and plenty fast enough for a roads and motorways.

[technodup]

rossi1001 said:

Seriously you have had every single piece of advice possible! Buying ANY used car of this age / price has some risk. Stop dithering / being so ridiculously risk averse and just go and buy

^^^This. It's mental, gone through every possible option and he's back where he started, a Mondeo.

Hopefully he never buys a house.

[swisstoni]

This is a classic thread.

[noell35]

Newer than the Mondeo ST you posted above
More powerful
Slightly better mpg
sub 7 sec 0-60
A more prestige badge
Newer
Cheaper
£290 road tax



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

[danlightbulb]

noell35 said:

Newer than the Mondeo ST you posted above
More powerful
Slightly better mpg
sub 7 sec 0-60
A more prestige badge
Newer
Cheaper
£290 road tax



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

I like that thanks.

General query. How often do cars like the above or st220s come on the market? I ask because that saab is 235 miles away in scotland, and the nice st220 is 90 odd miles away with only higher mileage cars closer and not many of those.

[noell35]

You can usually find quite a few 9-5's for sale.