Buying a Honda CRV advice

[Bee982]

Hi, my first time posting here.
I'm looking to buy a used Honda CRV, I've done my best to do my research, and I am under the impression that the 2005-2006 2nd gen model to be the most reliable in what I can afford (I have about £1500.00 to spend) I am looking at the Executive model manual diesel 2.2.
I'm actually rather scared to buy a new car as I have been very unlucky over the last few years an had more cars than I'd like to admit.

So I've found a 55 plate with 158 thou on the clock it's due it's mot in Nov but the fella has said if I come have a look and like I can put a deposit down and he will re mot it as he is 100% that it'll pass.
I've asked for proof of work done on the last mot and last service.
Is there anything else I should be doing or looking out for I can't afford to lose money on another car.
Thank you for your time and any advice is much appreciated.

Edited by Bee982 on Wednesday 7th October 16:26

[loskie]

I had a mk3 with this engine it was blooming good but clutches seem to be a common fail. Mine started slipping at 90k was £1000 for a clutch and DMF. I'm assuming at these miles it will have been done.

They are bloody good cars TBH

I stupidly got rid of my 2007 one this year for a Q5 lease which is nice but made no financial sense whatsoever. I think my brain was off that day!

[Bee982]

Thank you for the reply.
I've just got rid of a Vectra because of the dual mass flywheel problem.
I can only hope that doesn't happen to me again. I will ask questions too see if this has been done at all.

Thank you for pointing it out to me.

[ZX10R NIN]

At this price point you have to buy on condition & receipts, another thing to check the suspension as at 160k there will be bushes etc that'll be well worm. Also check the rear chassis around the axle area for rot.

[Bee982]

ZX10R NIN said:

At this price point you have to buy on condition & receipts, another thing to check the suspension as at 160k there will be bushes etc that'll be well worm. Also check the rear chassis around the axle area for rot.

Thank you I appreciate your advice.
These are the thing's that came up on the last mot and I'm waiting to see the receipts.

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))
Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

[ZX10R NIN]

Do you need an SUV? As you can find lower mileage cars for your budget.

[Bee982]

ZX10R NIN said:

Do you need an SUV? As you can find lower mileage cars for your budget.

Kind of yes, I live at the top of a bumpy farm track and I have to travel over a forest track to get to work.
When the weather gets bad our village isn't easily accessible.

[ZX10R NIN]

Not sure where you are in the UK but there are some other reliable options with more sensible mileage:

Nissan X Trail

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009193...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008202...

Freelander they're much more reliable than they're given credit for

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009143...

Grand Cherokee you'll have to stretch & haggle

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010054...

[covmutley]

I quite recently bought an 04 petrol car for 1600.

Pleased with it so far. Had a door lock fail which cost about £200 to repair, and is a fairly common Honda problem i understand. But as I said, the car cost £1600 so , never mind!

Its spacious but quite narrow externally so ideal for country lanes. Good for tip duties. Mine has heated leather, electric sunroof etc. Its really an alright car!

The petrol is a cam chain, not sure about the diesel? Do you do many miles, as I would think the petrol has less chance of throwing up big bills?

Edited by covmutley on Wednesday 7th October 23:10

[loskie]

diesel chain cam too.
Easy to DIY oil, air and pollen filters and oil change on car too.

First car I've done it on.

The rear diff needs a flush at about 80000m then 50000m intervals if I remember right. Again an easy DIY job which is quite satisfying.

[Bee982]

Thank you for all the responses much appreciated.
Decided not to buy the above mentioned as they are unable to provide receipts for work done at last mot, no idea when it last had a service and the seller has only had it about 6 week's.

[loskie]

the 6 weeks would worry me.

But your gut feeling about condition is probably better than service history at that age

[Bee982]

ZX10R NIN said:

Not sure where you are in the UK but there are some other reliable options with more sensible mileage:

Nissan X Trail

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009193...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008202...

Freelander they're much more reliable than they're given credit for

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009143...

Grand Cherokee you'll have to stretch & haggle

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010054...

I had previously considered the xtrail, but was talked out of by my brother, apparently they suffer with rust problems.
Admittedly I've not looked at the Freelander it Cherokee they hadn't appealed to me.

My brother in law has just suggested Kia Sportage?

If you had to pick one which would it be ?

Thank you

[Bee982]

loskie said:

the 6 weeks would worry me.

But your gut feeling about condition is probably better than service history at that age

This is what we said too. Thank you

[ZX10R NIN]

Bee982 said:

I had previously considered the xtrail, but was talked out of by my brother, apparently they suffer with rust problems.
Admittedly I've not looked at the Freelander it Cherokee they hadn't appealed to me.

My brother in law has just suggested Kia Sportage?

If you had to pick one which would it be ?

Thank you

All of these cars at this price point can suffer with rust the CRV is no better the Xtrail but if you can find one with 60k less you'll be a further away from potential issues.

As I said earlier buy on condition.

I'd probably go Freelander Grand Cherokee (these have the Mercedes drivetrain with bulletproof 2.7d) & finally the XTrail.

[Bee982]

ZX10R NIN said:

Bee982 said:

I had previously considered the xtrail, but was talked out of by my brother, apparently they suffer with rust problems.
Admittedly I've not looked at the Freelander it Cherokee they hadn't appealed to me.

My brother in law has just suggested Kia Sportage?

If you had to pick one which would it be ?

Thank you

All of these cars at this price point can suffer with rust the CRV is no better the Xtrail but if you can find one with 60k less you'll be a further away from potential issues.

As I said earlier buy on condition.

I'd probably go Freelander Grand Cherokee (these have the Mercedes drivetrain with bulletproof 2.7d) & finally the XTrail.

Thank you.

[Bee982]

Does the grand Cherokee only come as an automatic? I'm one of the few people that can't drive an automatic lol I manage to stall them 🤷🏻‍♀️

[ZX10R NIN]

how do you manage that? yes auto only so that may not be for you lol

[Bee982]

I have no idea but was very embarrassing

[Bee982]

ZX10R NIN said:

how do you manage that? yes auto only so that may not be for you lol

Not sure how well you looked at this ad for that you shared to me, did you think it was genuinely possibly a good one?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009193...