Trying to buy a car - how do people have the nerve!

[blueg33]

I am trying to buy a 10 year old 1.4 VW Golf to teach Blueg33 junior to learn to drive in.

I spent 8 hours yesterday driving to see all the cars (4) that are nearish to me (that means with 1 hours drive). Each car was described in the vein of "mint", "well maintained", "excellent condition" along with "first to see will buy", "we only sell quality cars",

So what do I get?

Car 1 - Described as cambelt done, excellent condition, FSH - The facts, cambelt needs doing in 6k miles, rear washwipe doesn't work, engine very tappety, dash air vents only point up

Car 2 - Described as good condition, cambelt done. - The facts, cambelt done 4 years ago so needs doing, airbag lights on, paintwork scarted in a radius of 6 inches around door handle and down to the metal, same owner for 8 year, no service history, oil like tar, would't start easily, sunroof not working at all, wiper bladed missing, door seals covered in algae etc etc

Car 3 - Described as excellent example - The facts, very shoddy reapir to front wing with metallic paint missing the lacquer coat, pointless aftermarket induction kit removing the air box and putting a crappy foam airfilter in the engine bay right over the exhaust manifold, every times something electric was switched on the alarm went off, engine had a gnome with a hammer inside, aircon actually worked!, couldnt test drive it as it was in the sellers compound and he would have to move 30 cars to get it out (I had telephoned to make an appointment), seller couldn't believe i didn't want to do the paperwork right away!

Car 4 - Described as excellent, low mileage, The Facts - nice sweet engine, paintwork recently cleaned with sand paper, bumper wrong colour, both door dropped so that they rubbed the bodywork when being closed, mirror control snapped off, seat worn through, dashboard loose, glove compartment jammed closed and hole drilled in it.

Car 1 was the best by miles and that was pretty poor IMO

In each case I spoke with the seller beforehand, asked about the car etc

Complete waste of my day. Well pissed off.

Anyone honest got a decent 1.4 golf for sale?

[blueg33]

The Moose said:

Dealer or private? What part of the world are you in?

Both

[blueg33]

sunshine1990 said:

blueg33 said:

Anyone honest got a decent 1.4 golf for sale?

I hear volkswagen have some for Around £18,000.

You're buying a USED ten year old car and you're expecting no faults whatsoever

I am not that stupid, and I don't expect no faults whatsoever, at no point did I say that. FFS I had a 10 yaer Tuscan, I know about faults.

What I want is people not to lie, not to mislead me and not to waste my time

[blueg33]

POORCARDEALER said:

What price range are these cars?

£1200 - £2000

plus, price and condition seem to be in no way related.

Many years ago when I was a student, i bought cheap cars like Escorts Mk1's and 2's Toyota Corolla etc, all were over 10 years old, no one messed me about or misled me like these sellers are.

What sort of dealer has the car you have booked to see in a compound where 30 cars have to be moved by 1 guy, so you can take it for a test drive?

I am buying cheap ie under £2k because I see no benefit in buying something expensive for junior to learn in. I don't expect perfection, i expect good honest cars and good honest sellers. I don't care if cambelts need doing, I can sort that, but I dont expect to be told it doesn't need doing when it does, and I expect cars to be serviced or at least have an oil change occasionally

Edited by blueg33 on Sunday 7th October 19:08

[blueg33]

Nigel Worc's said:

I don't know if this will help the op, but when in a similar situation a couple of years ago, I had more luck looking at skoda fabia's.

They seem, in very general terms, to have a different type of owner.

Am now looking at ads for Fabia's - Junior is not going to thank me, can I refer him to you

[blueg33]

Nigel Worc's said:

You can indeed lol.

My daughter ended up with an about 10 year old, 1.4 comfort model, all the bells and whistles, aircon, seperate temp controlled glove box !, electric windows, remote central locking etc.

If yours is a lad, as I expect, by you refering to him a junior, he can always make it look like a VRS.

I was very pleased with the quality of the car, not exactly BMW/Merc quality, but very good all the same.

And, they actually drive very nicely.

They are also cheaper than the more popular/desirable Golf

Looks like the insurance is 1 group higher than the Golf at 5 rather than 4. But I have already found a reasonable looking one near here, so I will have a look. It could be a good call - thanks. If he goes for it and I find a good one, then I owe you a beer

[blueg33]

Nigel Worc's said:

Actually, I wish to make it worse, just in case you show him the thread, this'll make him think he's lucky to perhaps get a fabia.

The other car that I found to have lots of "older" owners, you know, the ones that tend to look after them and service them etc.

Was























Nissan Micras

Just No...No...No...No not with my money, not ever!

Mrs would divorce me (ok possibly a plus), but junior is 6ft 4" and the small hatchbacks are just too small

[blueg33]

PhillipM said:

Buy him a complete shed at 200 quid, a box of spanners, and a haynes manual.

He'll thank you, one day, eventually.

Hmmmm, MrsBlue wouldn't like that, but principally I need him to focus on A levels not making his car go, he has enough other distractions at the moment without car repair adding to them

[blueg33]

Kolbenkopp said:

Annoying that they are so far off the description...

But what does VW UK say about the cambelt on the 1.4 petrol? In .de, it is "visual inspection" from IIRC 60k miles but no mandatory age/mileage for when to replace it. Driving around for a few more years with one that has been changed 4 years ago would not bother me on a relatively cheap car.

Also not sure about the 1.4 as an engine choice. That thing in a car as heavy as a G4 would probably have taught me a lot about "keeping momentum" at all costs. Not sure if that is sooo safe . The old 1.6 SR (8 valve) lump isn't bad, perhaps go for that?

1.6 costs 10% more of an already substantial premium to insure whilst he is learning, and 20% more of an even bigger premium once he has passed

Actually, the 1.4 is not as painfully slow as I was expecting although my A6 felt scary fast after driving the golf

Edited by blueg33 on Monday 8th October 06:58

[blueg33]

ajb85 said:

OP, is a 53 plate Clio 1.2 Dynamique any good to you (or your son) at £1600?

Possibly, but i need to double check insurance, the French cars were inexplicably more expensive to insure, also it may be too small. (Think 6ft 4" driver, 2 guitar amps, bass amp, guitars and bass etc)

Thanks for the offer, I will come back to you once I have researched it a bit.

[blueg33]

chongwong said:

I know it doesn't really help much, but he probably would fit in a k12 Micra, as they have inexplicable amounts of headroom. I managed to squeeze my uncle in to the passenger seat with head room to spare, unfortunately he's a fat bd and it was difficult for me to change gears.

Also you can get 2006 models for around £2000.

I'm 20, male, and I love mine

ETA: he could be mistaken for Chewy's fat cousin he's 6,7 and very hairy

Edited by chongwong on Monday 8th October 09:43

Headroom tends to be ok in most cars, its how far back the seat goes that seems to be the issue

[blueg33]

nagsheadwarrior said:

O.P If you want a 1.4 Golf circa 10 years old I've just been having my morning browse on the website of one of the traders we deal with and he's just taken in a 2001 X example with only 34k on the clock.

Link below-

http://finance.autoexposure.co.uk/classicdd.cfm?Ac...

His name's Carl and he's a good bloke, based in the frozen north.

Great thanks, I have emailed him. Just need to get up north!

[blueg33]

Motorrad said:

I'd avoid the 1.4 in any variant. It has a reputation for very expensive cambelt/tensioner/water pump failures. You might have had a lucky escape.

Cambelt needs doing every 40k miles, should be ok if thats done.

[blueg33]

George7 said:

How about a Mk1 1.6 Focus? I've had one since I was 18 and it's been reliable & cheap to run, is surprisingly decent on long trips (have been on a few and my passengers have always been impressed) and when I was 18, it was cheaper to insure than the more popular 'young person' 1.25 Fiesta. Like most small petrols, it lacks torque, but also doesn't feel especially underpowered compared to other small petrols I've driven. It's relatively spacious inside and we managed to fit 4 adults + 4 full size suitcases + 4 pieces of hand luggage into it for an airport run. As for height I'm 6'2" and it doesn't feel too small. I'm looking at selling it soon, I will be sad to get rid of it, but I want more power

I have looked at a couple, need to check insurance. Could be a decent call

[blueg33]

nagsheadwarrior said:

O.P If you want a 1.4 Golf circa 10 years old I've just been having my morning browse on the website of one of the traders we deal with and he's just taken in a 2001 X example with only 34k on the clock.

Link below-

http://finance.autoexposure.co.uk/classicdd.cfm?Ac...

His name's Carl and he's a good bloke, based in the frozen north.

Sold

[blueg33]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

He better not do either of those things! (Next door neighbour's son did both)

Mind you,the bend just before you get to the Village from the A46 has claimed a few casualties in its time. I bet you have had some near miss head on incidents there!

A couple of weeks ago I met the bloody huge articulated tracked tractor taking up the entire road at that point. I could see a stranger to the road having a brown underpants moment.