Buying a hot hatch - buy private or buy from dealer?

[adingley84]

So I'm looking at getting an Astra VXR.

Budget approx £7k which puts me in line for an 07 plate with 60k miles. I always buy cars with FSH and from traders/dealers.


Here's the question: Should i/would you buy private and 'buy from the person', or buy trade? and get a nice warranty/ peace of mind that I've got comeback if something goes pop within 500 miles!

Very concious that this model in particular may have been owned by a less than sympathetic owner that I won't be able to gauge from a dealer.

Please let me know your thoughts and experiences.

(Current car is a Forester 2.5XT but no longer require all the practicality!)

[adingley84]

paintman said:

It's a 'don't judge a book by the cover' as far as a private seller is concerned. Just because they come over as an enthusiast DOESN'T mean it hasn't been thoroughly thrashed on a track or to the south of France & back! Caveat Emptor applies & unless you could PROVE that the seller has knowingly misrepresented the vehicle's condition you have no comeback.
Equally, you don't know the previous driving history when buying used from a dealer & will likely pay more but you do have a warranty if, as you said, something goes bang as you drive up the road.
Your call.

Thanks for all the replies so far.

I think Paintman sums up my gut feeling but some great advice to check to see if the owner is selling on a forum and check out their style of post.. are they racing everything in sight for example.

Keep it coming!

[adingley84]

As a second string to this then...
Are AA / RAC inspections worthwhile?
I guess they'd cover oil leaks and potential visibe issues, but what about the state or the internals and running gear?
Could be an option for a private buy so any thoughts/experiences?

[adingley84]

O

Poopipe said:

If its been remapped and/or modded then budget for another remap

How comes?

Although apprecite a remapped one will have probably had a harder life from the driver..but more chance they'd actual warm up/cool down things properly too

[adingley84]

Matt UK said:

I like to meet / talk to the previous owner to get a feel for the car.

As such, a used car dealer offers me very little except occasionally they are local with the right car. Even the warranty they offer is often bought from the internet in the same way you could as a punter anyway.

Looking for a car now and all my searches are set for 'private'. Although there are a lot of private sellers who seem to think their car is worth more than dealer prices.. but that is another thread.

I've taken a look at AA inspections and they seem to as comprehensive as possible without taking the car apart for about £170, so a private buy with AA inspection is on the cards.

Although I couldn't find the info, I'm sure they come with their own for of guaratee that if I got a check, and the wheels fell off 500 yards down the road then AA would compensate. (Or not sure if I dreamt that!)

[adingley84]

snowdude2910 said:

Most dealer waranties aren't worth the paper it's written on generally you get "oh your steering angle sensor has gone? Come back when the steering rack goes and we'll replace it all but not just a sensor" or "yeah take it to a garage we'll pay them direct" then 99% of garages don't deal with waranty companies because they don't pay up. IMO buy standard and tune it yourself unless it's well known to a tuning company my mate has an allegedly 300bhp vxr and it turns up on my doorstep monthly with a new rattle or fault, never anything major but I'd much rather buy an edition 30 golf or audi s3 if you want tuned vxr pace without fixing annoying st monthly, that's just my opinion though if it's what you like it's what you like i guess.

Appreciate what you're saying regading buyimg standard, dont think I'd ever by a tuned one as they will have had a hard life already!

As to why a Vxr? I had to get old before my time getting the Forester when I was 24 for dog & upcoming family duties. I still love the sleeper appeal and that only PHers 'know what it can do', but i need to itch the 'look im a fast/shouty hot hatch' bug whilst I still look young enough to drive one!

I could get a mk5 gti for the same money but is just too subtle, and the S3 mk1 just looks a bit dated now although I've no doubt in their outright ability. As for Focus ST's, Megane 225's, Cupras etc...simply a case of 'wanting' the Vxr.

An Alfa 147 Gta would be lovely mind you. ..

[adingley84]

Stevoox said:

HJMS123 said:

I'd recommend a R26 for OP with his 7k budget, highly recommend driving one before buying a vxr.

Ahhh the budget, good point

But yeah, agree with you.

If your looking at hot hatches then certainly atleast try an RS before settling 100% on a VXR. Well...your choice ofcourse - I've not driven a VXR as i dont like them (see too many around. sound good but thats where it ends for me) but from what others have said to me in the past, they aren't the most exciting cars to drive

I remember now the r26 was a big improvement over the 225 so will give it a try.

Will have to blow me away dynamically though as I've always preffered I small pert ass than something that hangs out that far... (yes I'm talking vxr vs r26)

[adingley84]

KarlMac said:

I'd always recommend buying from owners clubs/forums. For a start you can be uber stalker-ery and look at there previous posts, which should give you some idea of the life the car has lived.

I'd avoid specialist dealers, such as RevItUpUK, Big Boys Toys and Cheshire Performance etc... They seem to hoover up the dross, give it a clean and charge a premium with no after sales car at all.

Those three are all showing up in the classifieds with tempting cars so v handy to have this kind of feedback. Much better than travelling 100s of miles for a ropey collection, even if they do look good

[adingley84]

RobM77 said:

It depends, but I'd normally prefer to buy that sort of car privately. Hot hatches tend to be bought by two types of owner: someone mechanically unsympathetic who thrashes the life out of it or someone fastidious who loves their car. Sure, there are in-betweens, but everytime I've looked at a hot hatch for sale it seems to fall into one of these two camps. I like to view a private car so I can meet the previous owner, and then get him to drive me for at least ten minutes so I can see how he drives.

My wife bought a Honda Civic Type-R last year and we viewed a few thrashed ones in dealerships with poor service history and then a prep sheet as long as your arm - despite the attention they still drove poorly. We eventually found one up in Wales that had been doted over with all the regular servicing done plus interim oil changes by the owner. We were able to meet the owner and his wife, along with a quick impromptu chat with the neighbour when we arrived who said that the owner was always out cleaning the car and doing those interim oil changes etc. The car drove like new on the test drive and the difference from the thrashed cars was obvious.

I'd also recommend that the OP looks at a Honda Civic Type R before buying a Vauxhall VXR. £7k got us a mint lowish mileage '07 a year ago, so without looking I'd guess that '08/'09 cars were in that budget now - one of the last chances to own a fresh high revving n/a car.

Edited by RobM77 on Thursday 18th December 09:54

Since having owned the Forester I'm set on another turbo'd car. In truth, I enjoy the kick in the back of acceleration than pushing limits too close on b-road blasts where the Type R really come alive.

I TOTALLY get your comments about 2 types of car nut though. I just have to look on youtube to see 'Vxr remus cold start reving' to know they love their car...but don't LOVE their car. Going private will give me that insight. 2nd best being scouring the forums for the seller to see what they've been up to!!

[adingley84]

KarlMac said:

adingley84 said:

Those three are all showing up in the classifieds with tempting cars so v handy to have this kind of feedback. Much better than travelling 100s of miles for a ropey collection, even if they do look good

I bought a Golf GTI from RevItUp, when I got it home found out the alternatir was borked and the alloys where bolted on finger tight. A friend bought a Focus ST with the dump valve blanked off with a wood screw in the pipe and the dirtiest k&n filter you've ever seen (despite been 'freshly service'). They also had a massive falling out with Regal about the quality if cars.

My 'immaculate' Subaru from Cheshire Performance had never been undersealed and had two 3" holes in the sills. Have look on Scoobynet for some other horror stories.

Enough said. I'll leave these companies for the less informed! (Which would have beven myself 2 days ago)

[adingley84]

RobM77 said:

I'd also recommend that the OP looks at a Honda Civic Type R before buying a Vauxhall VXR. £7k got us a mint lowish mileage '07 a year ago, so without looking I'd guess that '08/'09 cars were in that budget now - one of the last chances to own a fresh high revving n/a car.

Edited by RobM77 on Thursday 18th December 09:54

This comment's made me think twice over the last few days and got me looking at the hot hatch i used to want most...The Civic Type R Ep3!

4.5k should get me a nice '05 Premier Edition with Recaro's, momo steering wheel and tinted windows with FSH and 60-75k mlies.

Pretty much every hatch from now on will be turbo'd and looking at these has re-ignited my want for one again to get the N/a screaming!

Time to get myself a test drive to see if it stands up to my hopes!

(Should only be circa 1k cash input from proceeds of the Forester if all goes to plan)

Edited by adingley84 on Friday 26th December 11:50

[adingley84]

rallycross said:

adingley84 said:

This comment's made me think twice over the last few days and got me looking at the hot hatch i used to want most...The Civic Type R Ep3!

4.5k should get me a nice '05 Premier Edition with Recaro's, momo steering wheel and tinted windows with FSH and 60k

Edited by adingley84 on Friday 26th December 11:50

Prices on late model EP3 CTR with a/c and low miles (sub 80k) have strengthened your 4.5k won't go very far based on current values!

Ok perhaps I was getting a bit excited. £5k should do it though!

[adingley84]

chrisxr2 said:

Privately from N owners forum is my preferred purchase method, as you get a very detailed history above the normal as a rule by checking the owners posts.

I can definitely see there's a lot of value in doing this kind of check.

Just like people can do on PH for my Forester. Faultless over 100k miles with just droplinks done at 92k :-)