Cheap car buying advice
Discussion
Hey all, I thought I'd pick your collective brains!
I'm hoping to pick up a cheap motor (around a grand) this weekend. Given my requirements (5000/year, big enough for 3 kids, reliable, around £1k) the best options I can see are a Ford Mundaneo or a Toyota Avensis. If you've got any strong opinions please shout!
I'm after advice on picking up something which will be relatively cheap and loaded with miles. What should I be on the look out for? Should I go trade or private? Ebay/Autotrader/Pistonheads? Should I bother with HPI checks or AA type inspections?
Any advice would really be appreciated!!
Cheers
I'm hoping to pick up a cheap motor (around a grand) this weekend. Given my requirements (5000/year, big enough for 3 kids, reliable, around £1k) the best options I can see are a Ford Mundaneo or a Toyota Avensis. If you've got any strong opinions please shout!
I'm after advice on picking up something which will be relatively cheap and loaded with miles. What should I be on the look out for? Should I go trade or private? Ebay/Autotrader/Pistonheads? Should I bother with HPI checks or AA type inspections?
Any advice would really be appreciated!!
Cheers
Depends how confident you are at giving a car a basic "once over".
You'll find much more within your budget privately than from trade, but you'll have some form of Sale of Goods Act protection if you buy trade, which you won't privately.
I'd be looking for something with a very recent MOT, as peace of mind that there's nothing unsafe with it. And make sure you check for advisories.
Always HPI.
Whether you want to spend cash on an inspection Is up to you. On an old cheap car they'll inevitably find a whole list of stuff to flag up. If it were me buying at your price point, I wouldn't bother: I'd be giving it a basic check-over, a decent test drive and then trusting my own judgment. If you don't feel confident to do this yourself, do you have a mate who can go along with you for a few beers?
And you really want something With some decent, and recent, service history.
All obvious stuff - apologies if I'm telling you stuff you already know.
As for suggestions, a W124 Merc sounds like it might meet your needs, e.g.:
http://pistonheads.com/sales/3144899.htm
Classic insurance, plentiful parts availability, strong and reliable, and available for pennies... But check for rust.
ETA: I've just seen your other thread about insurance costs... The benefit of getting something older will be the possibility of classic cover, which doesn't require NCB etc etc. So it mightt be worth looking at w124 / 201 Mercs, e34 BMWs etc. Plenty around in your budget.
You'll find much more within your budget privately than from trade, but you'll have some form of Sale of Goods Act protection if you buy trade, which you won't privately.
I'd be looking for something with a very recent MOT, as peace of mind that there's nothing unsafe with it. And make sure you check for advisories.
Always HPI.
Whether you want to spend cash on an inspection Is up to you. On an old cheap car they'll inevitably find a whole list of stuff to flag up. If it were me buying at your price point, I wouldn't bother: I'd be giving it a basic check-over, a decent test drive and then trusting my own judgment. If you don't feel confident to do this yourself, do you have a mate who can go along with you for a few beers?
And you really want something With some decent, and recent, service history.
All obvious stuff - apologies if I'm telling you stuff you already know.
As for suggestions, a W124 Merc sounds like it might meet your needs, e.g.:
http://pistonheads.com/sales/3144899.htm
Classic insurance, plentiful parts availability, strong and reliable, and available for pennies... But check for rust.
ETA: I've just seen your other thread about insurance costs... The benefit of getting something older will be the possibility of classic cover, which doesn't require NCB etc etc. So it mightt be worth looking at w124 / 201 Mercs, e34 BMWs etc. Plenty around in your budget.
Edited by Gruber on Saturday 5th November 09:14
Edited by Gruber on Saturday 5th November 09:14
Thanks, it's not all that obvious - for example, I didn't know you could get HPI texts for about £3! Top tip.
I'll take a look at the motor recommendations now too.
Are any places better than others to buy these cars from? Should I be looking for a decent garage that takes lots of these cars in as trade? The reason I thought private might offer a bit more value was because I figured the dealers will want to make some cash, and it has to be worth their while so their prices might be inflated by a few hundred.
I'll take a look at the motor recommendations now too.
Are any places better than others to buy these cars from? Should I be looking for a decent garage that takes lots of these cars in as trade? The reason I thought private might offer a bit more value was because I figured the dealers will want to make some cash, and it has to be worth their while so their prices might be inflated by a few hundred.
Storm 911 said:
Are any places better than others to buy these cars from? Should I be looking for a decent garage that takes lots of these cars in as trade? The reason I thought private might offer a bit more value was because I figured the dealers will want to make some cash, and it has to be worth their while so their prices might be inflated by a few hundred.
There won't be many "decent" garages selling 1k cars - simply not enough margin in them. A £1k car taken in trade by a large dealer will usually just be bundled off to auction - much easier and less hassle for the dealer.As said avoid dealers, don't be fussy on spec/colour, try and find something that has been with the same owner for a while and has backed up history- they are out there. At this price major consumables really come in to play- set of tyres can be worth a large percentage of the cars value as can replacement brakes/ clutch, cam belt service etc (hell, half a tank of fuel can be worth 40 quid). Look for these bigger ticket items in the recent past to help avoid fincnial woe.
From experience an old Merc well bought is an amazingly capable machine, paid £900 for my last one and did 35000 miles in it inclduing euro trips etc. Cost peanuts in maintenance, oh and you get style as well.
Be careful out there but it can be great fun!
From experience an old Merc well bought is an amazingly capable machine, paid £900 for my last one and did 35000 miles in it inclduing euro trips etc. Cost peanuts in maintenance, oh and you get style as well.
Be careful out there but it can be great fun!
My recent steals have been
A passat, advertised for £1300 - paid £1000
An omega, advertised for £1200 - paid £700
An Audi A3, advertised for £1200 - paid £400
A Saab, advertised for £800 - paid £500
All have given me cost and trouble free motoring for several years apiece. Top tips are find something that seems in decent mechanical nick but be prepared for tyres & brakes etc needing to be done. And start the bidding low, I've had my best successes when the owner has wanted to sell more than I've wanted to buy - I've walked away more than once only to be stopped at the end of the driveway and called back to have my offer accepted. Probably helps that I'm very polite and apologetic when making low offers as well.
A passat, advertised for £1300 - paid £1000
An omega, advertised for £1200 - paid £700
An Audi A3, advertised for £1200 - paid £400
A Saab, advertised for £800 - paid £500
All have given me cost and trouble free motoring for several years apiece. Top tips are find something that seems in decent mechanical nick but be prepared for tyres & brakes etc needing to be done. And start the bidding low, I've had my best successes when the owner has wanted to sell more than I've wanted to buy - I've walked away more than once only to be stopped at the end of the driveway and called back to have my offer accepted. Probably helps that I'm very polite and apologetic when making low offers as well.
Well, I'm on a budget when it comes to the motor, but I'm only doing about 4000 miles per year, so I don't think mpg will make a huge difference to my wallet, fair point about the tyres though.
We live down a steep farm track, and the only car which could make it up and down the past two winters was my wifes RX300. A non 4x4 wouldn't be a deal breaker, I could leave it at the end of the lane, or invest in winter tyres (more expense).
It does seem like I can get some high-mileage Shoguns and Freelanders in that range, but I no nothing about either to be honest.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-MITSUBISHI-SHOGUN-G...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-MITSUBISHI-SHOGUN-P...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Y-Land-Rover-Freela...
We live down a steep farm track, and the only car which could make it up and down the past two winters was my wifes RX300. A non 4x4 wouldn't be a deal breaker, I could leave it at the end of the lane, or invest in winter tyres (more expense).
It does seem like I can get some high-mileage Shoguns and Freelanders in that range, but I no nothing about either to be honest.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-MITSUBISHI-SHOGUN-G...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-MITSUBISHI-SHOGUN-P...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Y-Land-Rover-Freela...
eBay is your friend!!! Be prepared to be messed about when bargain hunting but the nugget of gold is always there to find.
After selling my FQ300 I decided bargain cars was where I wanted to be and not justifying an almost 10k car just for commuting.
I bought myself an Audi A8 in mint condition for £2200, kept 4 months then sold for a tidy profit which £2600 was put into my Allroad (02 plate) then sold that 12 months later for £3000 and then bought my current daily hack for £4001.23 (ML 55 on 54 plate).
There really is such a thing as free motoring!!
After selling my FQ300 I decided bargain cars was where I wanted to be and not justifying an almost 10k car just for commuting.
I bought myself an Audi A8 in mint condition for £2200, kept 4 months then sold for a tidy profit which £2600 was put into my Allroad (02 plate) then sold that 12 months later for £3000 and then bought my current daily hack for £4001.23 (ML 55 on 54 plate).
There really is such a thing as free motoring!!
Storm 911 said:
Is there a 4x4 anyone would touch for that money - I'd stretch to £1.5k for the right motor
I've just picked up a 1998 Cherokee within your budget, with a years MOT and 3 months warranty. So do-able.If you go for a Cherokee, best to get the 4.0 petrol version and steer clear of the diesel.
Whatever you choose, my top tip is definitely getting full aa cover including breakdown warranty.
When it does break down, they take you home, take your car to a garage of your choice, and pay the first £500 of any repair necessary. The repairs don't need to be genuine manufacturer parts, so in the last 5 claims I have had on 3 different vehicles, none have cost new more than the standard £30 excess.
Its piece of mind thats well worth £23 a month.
When it does break down, they take you home, take your car to a garage of your choice, and pay the first £500 of any repair necessary. The repairs don't need to be genuine manufacturer parts, so in the last 5 claims I have had on 3 different vehicles, none have cost new more than the standard £30 excess.
Its piece of mind thats well worth £23 a month.
Ref my deals in my post above
The passat was 2 days before Christmas
The omega, he'd replaced his car and didn't have room to park both - his neighbours were giving his wife grief
The Audi needed a bit of paint (cheaper option was a secondhand bumper on eBay for £60)
The Saab was just a bit of a deal.
I try to get acfeel for the seller from their advert, a little bit more mature, but with a good reason to sell = open to low offers on a well maintained car in my experience.
The passat was 2 days before Christmas
The omega, he'd replaced his car and didn't have room to park both - his neighbours were giving his wife grief
The Audi needed a bit of paint (cheaper option was a secondhand bumper on eBay for £60)
The Saab was just a bit of a deal.
I try to get acfeel for the seller from their advert, a little bit more mature, but with a good reason to sell = open to low offers on a well maintained car in my experience.
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