Buying a car with faults

[ConwyC]

I spoilt myself a month ago, bought a AMG C220 with 30,000 miles. Driving along the A55 Monday the dash lit up, the car glided to a halt, well glided the engine was protesting and now it s off the road until mid January.

I could really do with a car for Christmas, and it's either hiring, putting my MR2 on the road or buying something to run around with, I need to get to my parents Christmas Day in Wales and friends for Boxing Day in Cumbria.

Little garage up the road have a couple of really nice alfas for sale, a 2011 2l diesel with 51k on the clock for £5,000 or a shiny red 2012 that has done 74k, also 2l for £4,500, both have been around for a couple of months. I enquired about the red one, on closer inspection there is peel on the bonnet, rear door has been sprayed or changed as it is slightly different colour if the light is right. However the turbo isn't kicking in, guy who owns the place says it is probably a vacuum leak but hasn't the time to fix it, there are no warning lights on. There is also a bearing noise too coming from one of the wheels. There is no service history either so guess I need a new timing belt. Garage owner has offered me the car for £3000, says it is a cost price.

The repair garage I normally use says they can probably get the turbo done by Christmas Eve but refused to specify a price.

So what do you guys with knowledge think, buy or not?

[ZX10R NIN]

Just put the MR2 on the road as long as there's nothing wrong with it just use it.

[popegregory]

You have one bust car and you’re considering buying another bust car?

[ConwyC]

popegregory said:

You have one bust car and you’re considering buying another bust car?

I know it sounds nuts but I can use it as a local run around later,

The MR2 us great summer car but no so great in winter

[ZX10R NIN]

Is hiring a car for a week an option?

Or if you want an Alfa look for a nice 147 preferably in Collezione spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107114...

[Canon_Fodder]

ConwyC said:

... Garage owner has offered me the car for £3000, says it is a cost price.

[fflump]

Hire a car or drive your mr2 sensibly.
Both are preferable to buying a knackered Alfa!

[Lolly9416]

I don't see the point of throwing your money away. Hire a nice car. Besides having to fork out more money for a car that sounds really dodgy you need to insure it and tax it too. And then it will probably break down on the way home from Wales with your in-laws in the car and you'll all be standing on the verge arguing and cold

I'm surprised Mercedes didn't comp you a car if it's less than a year old.

[eleveneleven]

There's loads of clean cars out there for what you're willing to put down on the Alfa. it's not worth the headache

better yet why don't you just rent a car for a month? you'll save yourself a fortune and wont be running the risk of being stranded over Christmas. Wont have to worry about selling it on either...

If you really must buy a car probably best to look for something solid but boring like old petrol Accord (EX gets heated leather and some other toys).

Service the gearbox if its an auto and they should (touch wood) live up to their high standard of reliability.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106274...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111270...

[bearman68]

Buy the Alfa.
Bang a cam belt on it, check out the turbo (maybe a boost pipe come off), stick a wheel bearing on it and drive the bloody thing.
What can go wrong - it's life and it's a risk, and this seems a good one. Who wants to hire an Astra, when you can own an Alfa.

[samoht]

Drive the MR2. Hands down the cheapest, simplest and most fun option, especially in Wales

On the thread topic, the issue is that you don't know exactly what's wrong and how much it would be to fix. You might replace the turbo and find there's then a fuelling issue on boost, change the cambelt and find it needs a water pump, etc.. Plus whatever else is broken that isn't obvious. It's probably a good option for someone who (a) really knows those particular cars well and (b) can work on them themselves.

And if you want to spend £4-5k on a new car, get one that's not broken. I'd be tempted to look for a Mk5 Golf GTI, say.

[ConwyC]

bearman68 said:

Buy the Alfa.
Bang a cam belt on it, check out the turbo (maybe a boost pipe come off), stick a wheel bearing on it and drive the bloody thing.
What can go wrong - it's life and it's a risk, and this seems a good one. Who wants to hire an Astra, when you can own an Alfa.

This is what my heart is telling my head, if the car was £500 cheaper I would go for it, however I can get a decent 2011 Alfa for around £4000 and so I guess I need to look harder.

samoht said:

Drive the MR2. Hands down the cheapest, simplest and most fun option, especially in Wales

I looked at some sites at hiring, for a week it is over £400, for a month a £1000, so that idea is out

I guess later today I will tax the MR2 which I love, but in winter it is damp inside and all the windows steam up easily, vision is poor especially when it is raining at night, seem to get blinded by headlights a lot more than when driving other cars.

[alabbasi]

Any time you buy a car, you need to expect that it will need a bunch of work done to it. The cars you described seem to have already been bodged so I'd water that it's better the devil you know vs the devil you don't.

[fflump]

bearman68 said:

Buy the Alfa.
Bang a cam belt on it, check out the turbo (maybe a boost pipe come off), stick a wheel bearing on it and drive the bloody thing.
What can go wrong - it's life and it's a risk, and this seems a good one. Who wants to hire an Astra, when you can own an Alfa.

Having owned many Alfas over the years if you buy one with no service history with known faults there is a good chance of plenty of unknown faults round the corner too. Also be wary of anyone, let alone a garage that 'doesn't have time' to fix a car before sale. It roughly translates to 'this car is a nightmare and I want rid and if I get out of it without losing money I'll be happy'.

[heisthegaffer]

A bit dull, I should know I'm on my 3rd Civic, 2 of which the same age but what about a Civic.

Assuming you're still in Chester, there are a few:-

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=year-...

I did nearly 50k (from 72k to 110k) in my previous one and other than servicing, the A/C compressor failed. My current one is on 75k and has been in the family since ex demo.

Massively practical too with the seats folded up, or down if you need this.

I'd go for a 1.8 petrol rather than 1.4 or a diesel.

[boombang]

ConwyC said:

guy who owns the place says it is probably a vacuum leak but hasn't the time to fix it, there are no warning lights on.

Seller willing to pass up on £1500 rather than look at or pay whoever he uses for spanner work to look at a vacuum leak? Right...

[Rozzers]

Look at you tube channel ‘chops garage’

I suspect this is the car you are looking at, he has videos of what he has tried already on the turbo on that Giulietta, to me it is something daft, but something also hard to find

[ConwyC]

Rozzers said:

Look at you tube channel ‘chops garage’

I suspect this is the car you are looking at, he has videos of what he has tried already on the turbo on that Giulietta, to me it is something daft, but something also hard to find

Thanks, it is not Chops Garage but think it is a twin, the other Alfa is a 159 saloon (love the 159, but need a hatch or small estate)

fflump said:

Having owned many Alfas over the years if you buy one with no service history with known faults there is a good chance of plenty of unknown faults round the corner too. Also be wary of anyone, let alone a garage that 'doesn't have time' to fix a car before sale. It roughly translates to 'this car is a nightmare and I want rid and if I get out of it without losing money I'll be happy'.

I bought my MR2 from a guy who did not have time to fix it, cost me £300 fix the warning light coming on the dash, my brother did the electrics on the brakes and fog lights, (took couple of hours) and so far it cost £500 to do minor body work repair, still need to do the wheels, but only paid £800 for the car.