Need opinions on a used car buy :)

[dude7691]

Hi guys,

So my friend is selling a Skoda Citigo 63 Plate with 14k miles on it for £4,250. I did have a look on Autotrader to compare prices but the closest I could find was around £5,000 and most considerably more at that age and mileage. The car has been well maintained to my knowledge at least whilst he's had it. He said the person he bought it off was an elderly lady which probably explains the low mileage (living in Liverpool as well), and prior to that it was pre registered to the dealer. It has passed all it's MOT's without any issues and he has offered me a 0% finance deal on it I'll put 2k down then pay the rest off over the course of the year. As I say my main concern is the low mileage, having averaged under 3k miles a year (and 6k were put on it this year). Until 2018 it only had 7k miles on it (an average of just 1400 per year), although the first year was spent at the dealer so no wear and tear in that period. There is possibly potential for me to negotiate a discount based on the basis of it having such low mileage per year. What do you guys think?

Thank you in advance

[liner33]

Never buy a car from a friend and never sell a car to a friend especially if that friend wants to pay monthly

[dude7691]

I mean the only reason I'd want to pay part of it monthly is just because of my financial situation. Can easily make the repayments but I can't afford a circa 4k lump sum all at once but he's a good mate of mine for years and knows my financial situation.

[T6 vanman]

Initially with you saying the best comparable examples are £800 more … I'd say you were already getting "mates rates"
But reviewing the bay of E for CitiGo's and 2013 …. I'd say it's overpriced

34000 miles for £3.4k
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Citigo-1-0-MPI-60...
38000 miles for £4k 'Sport'
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-63-SKODA-CITIGO-1-...
16000 miles for £4k
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Citigo-1-0-MPI-60...

Show your friend these and see if there's any movement, Whats the service history like??? Oil changed every year? Cam belt done?

[dude7691]

Wow I literally forgot about eBay. Thank you for reminding me haha. That's actually a remarkable difference and I didn't realise how significant the difference was in prices. Also the low mileage is definitely concerning me somewhat, the convenience of all this being that I could literally go 6 miles East and have a new car and obviously knowing the person helps. If I could get it for 3.5k that would definitely be a deal for me but 4.25k now you've mentioned it does seem like its overpriced. As far as I know it's been serviced every year but I'd want to see evidence of that before buying, and I will bring up the fact there are much lower priced cars out there that have probably had a better service life. 2.5k miles a year for any car isn't ideal.

[T6 vanman]

I'd not be worried by the low mileage as long as it's had it's services …. the thought "well its only done 3k this year so its oil can remain for 2 … or 3 years would by a red flag,

I cycle daily and have usage of more than one vehicle, therefore the van only gets limited usage, often only 1 20 or 30 mile journey in the week,


I'd show him the e-bay options and judge if there is movement in the price

[niggtv]

Low miles would usually be a premium, not a negotiating point. Based on those links it's probably around the right price, but not mates rates - but you're getting the benefit of an interest free loan. Having said all that, borrowing money (which is effectively what you're doing) from a friend for a car you cant currently afford does have some risks.