Loads of rubbish out there

[Captainfred]

I have been looking for a vehicle under £4000. I have been looking at the Focus MK3 1.6 petrols, Golf TDI 1.6 and 2.0 and Volkswagen Polos. I have enquired about 8 vehicles and there always seem to be something. 6/8 of them the owner had just bought it and decided they didn’t like it (I automatically assume problematic), some of them have a crazy amount of advisories usually to do with body corrison and some of them look like they have been used as dodgems.

Where have all the used car bargains gone ? I appreciate that I am scrapping the bottom of the barrow but I excepted better luck than this.

The hunt continues I suppose.....

[Ryyy]

I would have thought youd get a decent car for 4k, what are the cars requirements?
Also I've heard coronavirus has had an impact on the used car market, dont really know why tho

[SlowV6]

It's due to a global microchip shortage (Asia). This is throttling new car supply, which in turn is throttling people changing their cars and therefore there is a lack of supply all the way down the market.

Demand currently exceeds supply and therefore prices have shot up.

I agree there is a lot of dross out there at silly prices.

[valiant]

Your £4K car used to be a £2k car a year or two ago.

Prices have gone crazy even in ‘shed’ territory.

Either wait for the market to return to normal, be patient and wait for that elusive bargain (and then pounce on it), raise your budget or lower your expectations.

[bennno]

valiant said:

Your £4K car used to be a £2k car a year or two ago.

Prices have gone crazy even in ‘shed’ territory.

Either wait for the market to return to normal, be patient and wait for that elusive bargain (and then pounce on it), raise your budget or lower your expectations.

Value is still out there, just need to look a bit harder for it. Private sales only, ideally keeping a close eye on autotrader as stuff comes on and sells quickly.

[ChrisH72]

Sounds like you’re not after anything too specific or unusual so there should in theory be plenty.

I’d search autotrader with a max budget of 4K and maybe within 10 miles and just see what comes up locally. That way you might spot something you hadn’t considered and will be close enough to go and look quickly. If it’s rubbish then you won’t have wasted much time travelling.

[samoht]

valiant said:

be patient and wait for that elusive bargain (and then pounce on it)

I think that when you start looking, you see a load of cars. However most of these have been on the market for a month or more, and there's a good reason they've been 'left on the shelf' by other buyers.

However if you keep watching the market, new cars will appear, and some of these will be worth buying.

So when you start looking you'll naturally find a load of dross, but if you keep an eye on the classifieds then good stuff will come through. Then you just have to be quick on the draw to get it - one time I was handing over the cash while the seller's phone was buzzing with messages from other interested parties.

[MrB.]

Have to agree with the OP. I sold my car last week (luckily I didn't have to replace it straight away) and I'm looking for something around the £3k mark that is a bit different (my default is usually a Saab Aero) but all that seems to be out there is over-priced stuff, or, at the other end of the country, which I draw the line at for a £3k car.

Mind you, doesn't help that everything different I suggest to MrsB gets vetoed....... (Although I suspect it's because she knows I can't keep a car long, and will just end up selling it again for another Saab.... )

[85Carrera]

Ryyy said:

Also I've heard coronavirus has had an impact on the used car market, dont really know why tho

People are less inclined to use public transport and/or have spare cash saved during lockdowns

[ChrisH72]

I also wonder if the fact that places like wbac are offering good money for used cars makes a difference. Perhaps those with decent cars to sell are using them instead of selling privately?

[Ryyy]

ChrisH72 said:

I also wonder if the fact that places like wbac are offering good money for used cars makes a difference. Perhaps those with decent cars to sell are using them instead of selling privately?

My missus handed her PCP back last week and got just under a grand back in positive equity that will be mostly to do with no depreciation as in 3 years it had 6k on the clock which was well under what shed started at the start of term.

[Challo]

There are plenty of good cars out there, the issue is there is a lot of dross and people are chancing their arm as prices.

Autotrader, Facebook, Gumtree, PH, Car&Classic, Ebay are all ways that people sell cars so you need to keep an eye on all of them.

[andyalan10]

Have you thought about broadening your search beyond three of the most popular second-hand cars out there?

You might find better value in Passat/Mondeo size cars because fewer people want them. If it has to be a mid-size hatchback there's a whole host of them out there, I'd personally be also looking at new shape Peugeot 308s and Volvo V40s which are just within budget, or Mazdas, Toyotas and so on for reliability and quality. An Auris may not be exciting, but there are lots of good spec, private owned cars out there at your budget.

[ZX10R NIN]

Captainfred said:

I have been looking for a vehicle under £4000. I have been looking at the Focus MK3 1.6 petrols, Golf TDI 1.6 and 2.0 and Volkswagen Polos. I have enquired about 8 vehicles and there always seem to be something. 6/8 of them the owner had just bought it and decided they didn’t like it (I automatically assume problematic), some of them have a crazy amount of advisories usually to do with body corrison and some of them look like they have been used as dodgems.

Where have all the used car bargains gone ? I appreciate that I am scrapping the bottom of the barrow but I excepted better luck than this.

The hunt continues I suppose.....

There are lots of good cars for 4k it all depends on what you're looking for from the car, being prepared to travel & having an open mind.

[bennno]

I've bought two 4k cars recently

one was a 65 plate mint Corsa 3dr with 40k miles, full vauxhall history, 1 owner. (For son

One was a 1999 1 owner boxster with 68k miles

Both were great value imho.

Just need to be flexible and open minded

[Zlat502]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108166...

On first glance low miles and looks good, however according to the MOT checker it's MOT has expired...

Looks mint tbf, dull dull dull but good for A to B.

[bennno]

Zlat502 said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108166...

On first glance low miles and looks good, however according to the MOT checker it's MOT has expired...

Looks mint tbf, dull dull dull but good for A to B.

Slightly northern location......;)

Will potentially last forever unless it rusts out, very unusual with that milage.

[Ruskie]

I have to agree, prices are crazy at the moment. Utter dross overpriced, but someone must be buying.

[exelero]

MrB. said:

Have to agree with the OP. I sold my car last week (luckily I didn't have to replace it straight away) and I'm looking for something around the £3k mark that is a bit different (my default is usually a Saab Aero) but all that seems to be out there is over-priced stuff, or, at the other end of the country, which I draw the line at for a £3k car.

Mind you, doesn't help that everything different I suggest to MrsB gets vetoed....... (Although I suspect it's because she knows I can't keep a car long, and will just end up selling it again for another Saab.... )

I got one for sale… not aero but mapped to 220, 125k on the clock, just spent a fortune on it to get it right as well. It’s up for 800 at the moment but someone is coming to have a look today

[MrB.]

exelero said:

MrB. said:

Have to agree with the OP. I sold my car last week (luckily I didn't have to replace it straight away) and I'm looking for something around the £3k mark that is a bit different (my default is usually a Saab Aero) but all that seems to be out there is over-priced stuff, or, at the other end of the country, which I draw the line at for a £3k car.

Mind you, doesn't help that everything different I suggest to MrsB gets vetoed....... (Although I suspect it's because she knows I can't keep a car long, and will just end up selling it again for another Saab.... )

I got one for sale… not aero but mapped to 220, 125k on the clock, just spent a fortune on it to get it right as well. It’s up for 800 at the moment but someone is coming to have a look today

Managed to secure something quite special (and yes, wearing a Saab badge!) which I’m picking up next week. Still a distance away from me, but if this turns out to be as good as it appears to be, it’s worth the travel.

Hope you got a deal concluded on yours? Sounds like someone is getting a bit of a bargain!