Expectations of a £4-5k car
Discussion
I've been after a Saab 95 aero estate for a good few months now to replace my aging vw golf shed. Never seems to be anything locally for sale, despite seeing loads on the road, I guess owners just want to hang on to them.
Anyway, originally hoping to spend around £2k as numerous posts on here seems to suggest that should get a good one, but absolutely nothing I can find in that budget so the usual budget creep has come in.
Thought I'd hit the jack pot last week, a 2006 model with under 60k miles advertised at £4750. Spoke to the seller a couple of times, who mentioned a couple of issues and I said I'd view but taking the mentioned issues into account would only offer £4250. Made the 70 mile journey to view, having purchased a hpi and day insurance and with the cash in my pocket to buy and was massively disappoint. Loads of scratches, cracked front bumper, dent in the roof, door window frame had been bent with a screwdriver, seat side where the buttons are was hanging off and just generally looked shabby. None of these were mentioned on the phone and the owners response was, 'well it is 8 years old', as if it's to be expected. So onto my question...
Are my expectations to high? I'm not expecting immaculate, although my own 8 year old car pretty much is. What would the ph masses expect for this budget?
Anyway, originally hoping to spend around £2k as numerous posts on here seems to suggest that should get a good one, but absolutely nothing I can find in that budget so the usual budget creep has come in.
Thought I'd hit the jack pot last week, a 2006 model with under 60k miles advertised at £4750. Spoke to the seller a couple of times, who mentioned a couple of issues and I said I'd view but taking the mentioned issues into account would only offer £4250. Made the 70 mile journey to view, having purchased a hpi and day insurance and with the cash in my pocket to buy and was massively disappoint. Loads of scratches, cracked front bumper, dent in the roof, door window frame had been bent with a screwdriver, seat side where the buttons are was hanging off and just generally looked shabby. None of these were mentioned on the phone and the owners response was, 'well it is 8 years old', as if it's to be expected. So onto my question...
Are my expectations to high? I'm not expecting immaculate, although my own 8 year old car pretty much is. What would the ph masses expect for this budget?
Far from it.
I wanted a relatively tidy first car (not covered in scratches and bad boy exhausts y0!) and I spent a while hunting around until I found a tidy example, when I arrived it was good condition but had a few little marks which I asked to be sorted, they were and then I drove away happy.
If it's a specialist car you're after, be prepared to wait for a good one. Failing that, check the 'bay and AT every 2 days to see if one comes along. if you like the look, ask them to send you extra photos, and if it's close, just drop in to see it.
ETA: for an 8 year old you would expect a few little scratches but not damage to the extent you've pointed out.
I wanted a relatively tidy first car (not covered in scratches and bad boy exhausts y0!) and I spent a while hunting around until I found a tidy example, when I arrived it was good condition but had a few little marks which I asked to be sorted, they were and then I drove away happy.
If it's a specialist car you're after, be prepared to wait for a good one. Failing that, check the 'bay and AT every 2 days to see if one comes along. if you like the look, ask them to send you extra photos, and if it's close, just drop in to see it.
ETA: for an 8 year old you would expect a few little scratches but not damage to the extent you've pointed out.
if you're looking for a Saab 9-5 Aero estate then £4,750 should get you a very nice example. I spent £900 on mine about 15 months ago for a 99 V with about 115,000 on the clock. Other than the usual consumables it hasn't really cost me much at all and is an 'honest' example for its year. It's not perfect and has some blemishes on the body work here and there but otherwise it's relatively tidy. There are quite a few for sale that could be described in a similar manner to mine so it's worth persevering with your search. Your original budget of £2,000 should find you a good car, have a look on some of the specialist sites such as UK Saabs to see if there are any for sale there.
I've just bought an 18 year old car with no dents, scratches or marks anywhere - inside and out. So no, not out of the question to expect a car marketed as great condition/clean/mint/insert your own here to be exactly that.
On the flip side, my Impreza had a few marks on the front that you might expect from a car designed to tear through back roads at a silly pace. I made that clear in the advert and even included pictures, yet I still had chancers low balling me because they expected an 11 year old STI to be "mint". In the end someone bought it for the full asking price (minus 6 months tax) after a 30 minute viewing.
On the flip side, my Impreza had a few marks on the front that you might expect from a car designed to tear through back roads at a silly pace. I made that clear in the advert and even included pictures, yet I still had chancers low balling me because they expected an 11 year old STI to be "mint". In the end someone bought it for the full asking price (minus 6 months tax) after a 30 minute viewing.
I'd expect a reasonable motor at that price.
My 2005 2.0TS Alfa 147 cost just over 2K, <40K miles, few odd scratches and little parking dents that you'd only notice if looking for them, interior very clean and all bits and bobs fully functional. It did have crappy tyres on it though.
Bought lots of cars at sub 5K all of which were solid. Mostly BMWs. Had a really nice E32 730i 10 years ago bought for 3ish (I think) - really close to mint. totally reliable, all toys worked, leather interior with no scratches (at least none than a little kit couldn't make invisible) etc.
Keep looking, and ask more questions!!
My 2005 2.0TS Alfa 147 cost just over 2K, <40K miles, few odd scratches and little parking dents that you'd only notice if looking for them, interior very clean and all bits and bobs fully functional. It did have crappy tyres on it though.
Bought lots of cars at sub 5K all of which were solid. Mostly BMWs. Had a really nice E32 730i 10 years ago bought for 3ish (I think) - really close to mint. totally reliable, all toys worked, leather interior with no scratches (at least none than a little kit couldn't make invisible) etc.
Keep looking, and ask more questions!!
There's a correlation between what the car is versus your expectation of it for the money.
Some cars I'd expect to get a *really* nice example of for £4-5K, others at that price I'd be fully expecting it to respond to the name Fido and bark a lot.
Personally, I think 4-5k should net you a very nice 95.
Edit: the experience you've described reflects the owner, not a representation of what to expect for the money, imo.
Some cars I'd expect to get a *really* nice example of for £4-5K, others at that price I'd be fully expecting it to respond to the name Fido and bark a lot.
Personally, I think 4-5k should net you a very nice 95.
Edit: the experience you've described reflects the owner, not a representation of what to expect for the money, imo.
Edited by TheJimi on Monday 12th May 16:30
TheJimi said:
There's a correlation between what the car is versus your expectation of it for the money.
Some cars I'd expect to get a *really* nice example of for £4-5K, others at that price I'd be fully expecting it to respond to the name Fido and bark a lot.
Personally, I think 4-5k should net you a very nice 95.
Quite so. A £5k Fiat Panda should be in excellent condition, a £5k Range Rover is going to be a big pile of pain and financial ruination. I would expect a £4750 Saab to be very nice though as they do not hold good money nowadays.Some cars I'd expect to get a *really* nice example of for £4-5K, others at that price I'd be fully expecting it to respond to the name Fido and bark a lot.
Personally, I think 4-5k should net you a very nice 95.
TheJimi said:
There's a correlation between what the car is versus your expectation of it for the money.
Some cars I'd expect to get a *really* nice example of for £4-5K, others at that price I'd be fully expecting it to respond to the name Fido and bark a lot.
Personally, I think 4-5k should net you a very nice 95.
I brought the £500 9-5 estate SOTW a few months ago, has 220,000 miles on. Looks and drives like a car of 70,000 miles! If I was spending that sort of money I would want a mega example!Some cars I'd expect to get a *really* nice example of for £4-5K, others at that price I'd be fully expecting it to respond to the name Fido and bark a lot.
Personally, I think 4-5k should net you a very nice 95.
No. My Fiesta ST is a 2007 and was immaculate when I bought it and the price was very negotiable.
that said, my wife's 09 Mondeo has been used and abused by the kids but if she ever sold it, she would have to take a hit on the price she asks for it or PX it.
Personally, if the car looks like it has been abused then it probably has. I wouldn't touch it.
If you can't find a decent one then look at other models - better to have a minty "seciond choice" car than an old shed.
that said, my wife's 09 Mondeo has been used and abused by the kids but if she ever sold it, she would have to take a hit on the price she asks for it or PX it.
Personally, if the car looks like it has been abused then it probably has. I wouldn't touch it.
If you can't find a decent one then look at other models - better to have a minty "seciond choice" car than an old shed.
no you should be totally fine at this budget for what you are looking for.
I don't know many people who don't suffer budget creep it happens, however you are definitely within the realms of sensible money for what you are after.
Unfortunately you will probably just have to do a bit of hunting for a bit. IMO the kind of example you are looking for is going to be a little harder to find because age wise either it has already been chopped in and turned round at the cheaper end, or they are enthusiast owned and they will want to hold on to it or ask a bit more............
the tale you told is not uncommon of any used car purchase, personally I'd be embarrassed to have someone drive 70 miles and not describe the car accurately!
I don't know many people who don't suffer budget creep it happens, however you are definitely within the realms of sensible money for what you are after.
Unfortunately you will probably just have to do a bit of hunting for a bit. IMO the kind of example you are looking for is going to be a little harder to find because age wise either it has already been chopped in and turned round at the cheaper end, or they are enthusiast owned and they will want to hold on to it or ask a bit more............
the tale you told is not uncommon of any used car purchase, personally I'd be embarrassed to have someone drive 70 miles and not describe the car accurately!
No, seller is taking the proverbial. In recent years I've paid £1000 for a mondeo, £1300 for an A6 and £4200 for a 3 series - ranging from similar age and mileage as your example, to much older and leggier. All in good condition inside and out except for declared dent on the A6 (hence low price!)
definitely right to walk away, its a mass market car so plenty more fish in the sea. if it was something specialist and rare then fair enough. The value is only going to go one way now. This one also seems very pricey. The seller is obviously as big a tool as the one thats been jammed in door frame!..I recently sold my 41k mile 1 owner 9-3 Aero Hirsch Convertible for £4800! (and that was better than when it left the factory in most aspects and condition faultless!)
wait for one from a proper Saab owner. Maybe put a wanted ad up on Saab owners club forum?
wait for one from a proper Saab owner. Maybe put a wanted ad up on Saab owners club forum?
Edited by billzeebub on Monday 12th May 18:24
Thanks for the replies, glad my expectations aren't too high. The last couple of cars I've bought have both been newer and from main dealers so I thought perhaps I was expecting too much.
It wasn't described as perfect, or immaculate, but none of the issues I spotted were mention. The advert has been updated to mention a dent in roof and crack in front splitter, if that had been there originally I wouldn't of even phoned about the card let alone go and see it and pay out for insurance. Still no mention of screwdriver damage though. Even the paintwork was dull and rough, might just of been tree sap, but you'd of thought if you knew somebody was coming to view you'd give it a good clean before hand.
Never mind, we live and learn, next time won't pay out anything until I've seen the car. Not a member on uksaabs but have been checking the classifieds regularly. There's a specialist near me that's had a couple over the last couple of months, a 04 plate with 86k miles for £3.3k and a 53 with 68k miles for £3.6k, both sold within a couple of days before I got the chance to get there!
It wasn't described as perfect, or immaculate, but none of the issues I spotted were mention. The advert has been updated to mention a dent in roof and crack in front splitter, if that had been there originally I wouldn't of even phoned about the card let alone go and see it and pay out for insurance. Still no mention of screwdriver damage though. Even the paintwork was dull and rough, might just of been tree sap, but you'd of thought if you knew somebody was coming to view you'd give it a good clean before hand.
Never mind, we live and learn, next time won't pay out anything until I've seen the car. Not a member on uksaabs but have been checking the classifieds regularly. There's a specialist near me that's had a couple over the last couple of months, a 04 plate with 86k miles for £3.3k and a 53 with 68k miles for £3.6k, both sold within a couple of days before I got the chance to get there!
In my continued search for a Saab, I spotted an advert at a Saab specialist that sounded very familiar, when they added some photos the next day it turned out to be the very same one I'd been to see. Looks like they've done a few of the jobs it needed and given it a clean. I guess the seller couldn't get rid of it and sold it to the garage. They've got it up for £6.5k which sounds excessive to me, even without the issues.
Just bought myself a car, but what a pain. Short listed my search to either a Mini Cooper, saab 9-3 cab or clk cab at £3k ish. Did the usual internet search and narrowed my search to 6 cars. All but one at dealers.
Did the rounds and couldn't believe the crap on the forecourts. 1 mini I looked at had missing trim, mirrors, scratches, interior looked like a herd of sheep had lived in it and 2 flat tyres despite being described as bring in excellent condition with FSH. Turned on the ignition to find the service was 22,000 miles overdue but the dealer said not to worry, he'll stick it through a mot that afternoon and it's bound to pass and he'll do a oil change before it goes. I walked at that point
A clk described as excellent was scraped on every corner and every arch was rusty along with heavy corrosion on every wheel.
Another couple were slightly better and the last on my list was a saab 9-3. Not expecting much I was pleasantly surprised to see a car that had been cleaned and nicely presented, all the paperwork was in irder and it drove as expected. It took me 10mins to agree the deal after that.
Ok, it's only £3k, a lot to some, peanuts to others but I expect at least some effort of preparation when they know I'm coming to see the car.
Good stuff is out there, but you have to trawl through a lot of crap to find it
Did the rounds and couldn't believe the crap on the forecourts. 1 mini I looked at had missing trim, mirrors, scratches, interior looked like a herd of sheep had lived in it and 2 flat tyres despite being described as bring in excellent condition with FSH. Turned on the ignition to find the service was 22,000 miles overdue but the dealer said not to worry, he'll stick it through a mot that afternoon and it's bound to pass and he'll do a oil change before it goes. I walked at that point
A clk described as excellent was scraped on every corner and every arch was rusty along with heavy corrosion on every wheel.
Another couple were slightly better and the last on my list was a saab 9-3. Not expecting much I was pleasantly surprised to see a car that had been cleaned and nicely presented, all the paperwork was in irder and it drove as expected. It took me 10mins to agree the deal after that.
Ok, it's only £3k, a lot to some, peanuts to others but I expect at least some effort of preparation when they know I'm coming to see the car.
Good stuff is out there, but you have to trawl through a lot of crap to find it
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