Impulse buy advice please

Impulse buy advice please

Author
Discussion

hoppo4.2

Original Poster:

1,531 posts

185 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
Ok so I've been getting a bit board of my waft matic alpina round town. So while browsing the bay I may have accidentally bought an 05 Clio 182. Anything in perticular I should check out when picking it up. ?


LuS1fer

41,085 posts

244 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
You should check there are no spelling and grammar nazis about to dissect your post.

Rotary Madness

2,285 posts

185 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
From what ive heard about the driving position, you best hope your arms are longer than your legs wink

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
hoppo4.2 said:
Ok so I've been getting a bit board of my waft matic alpina round town. So while browsing the bay I may have accidentally bought an 05 Clio 182. Anything in perticular I should check out when picking it up. ?
Check the V5 is correct and the car matches the condition, I would also check tyres are legal along with oil and fluid levels before setting off. If this is an auction sale, you bid to BUY not bugger about.

nobodyknows

12,034 posts

168 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
Good choice! Try visiting www.cliosport.net - plenty of help & advice on there. Enjoy yhe car, I have a 172 Cup & love it.

Risotto

3,926 posts

211 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
Check for a godawful thudding noise under hard acceleration (caused by worn engine mounts - not as expensive to fix as it sounds).

Check the cambelt has been done if due. It's a fiddly job with little room to work and so is relatively expensive to change.

Check the airbag light (French wiring under the passenger seat can cause the light to come on).

Check the exhaust - the OEM ones tend to rot pretty quickly.

Check for a melted steering wheel - cosmetic but annoying.

Check for an irritating noise from the climate control sensor (by the map reading light).



jake15919

738 posts

164 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
Print off a copy of the add to check the description against what you have bought. Check documents and ID plates, and I'm assuming you have already done an HPI etc. After that all you can do is the usual safety checks and fluid levels before you head home.

You have bought the car, unseen, already so it's too late for a condition check outside what was described in the listing.

Good luck and enjoy.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
Risotto said:
Check for a godawful thudding noise under hard acceleration (caused by worn engine mounts - not as expensive to fix as it sounds).

Check the cambelt has been done if due. It's a fiddly job with little room to work and so is relatively expensive to change.

Check the airbag light (French wiring under the passenger seat can cause the light to come on).

Check the exhaust - the OEM ones tend to rot pretty quickly.

Check for a melted steering wheel - cosmetic but annoying.

Check for an irritating noise from the climate control sensor (by the map reading light).
Did I miss something? Are they going to view from a classified or have them implied they've bought it, ie auction???

If you want to do any of that, you do it before the auction ends.


If this is an auction sale, you bid to BUY not bugger about.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
Did I miss something? Are they going to view from a classified or have them implied they've bought it, ie auction???

If you want to do any of that, you do it before the auction ends.


If this is an auction sale, you bid to BUY not bugger about.
If the car is not as described then you walk. No obligation to buy.

stropley

357 posts

163 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
Risotto said:
Check for a godawful thudding noise under hard acceleration (caused by worn engine mounts - not as expensive to fix as it sounds).

Check the cambelt has been done if due. It's a fiddly job with little room to work and so is relatively expensive to change.

Check the airbag light (French wiring under the passenger seat can cause the light to come on).

Check the exhaust - the OEM ones tend to rot pretty quickly.

Check for a melted steering wheel - cosmetic but annoying.

Check for an irritating noise from the climate control sensor (by the map reading light).
^^^ What he said but also check the heater blower works on all the speeds. The water can get in & the rheostat goes.

I had electric window switches go on mine so drop & lift the windows several times.

In fact it is French - test all electrics several times!

Also check the rear disks are OK as you have to replace the wheel bearings with them so it can get expensive.

Apart from that enjoy it, they're fun cars.


geeteeaye

2,369 posts

158 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
Risotto said:
Check for a godawful thudding noise under hard acceleration (caused by worn engine mounts - not as expensive to fix as it sounds).

Check the cambelt has been done if due. It's a fiddly job with little room to work and so is relatively expensive to change.

Check the airbag light (French wiring under the passenger seat can cause the light to come on).

Check the exhaust - the OEM ones tend to rot pretty quickly.

Check for a melted steering wheel - cosmetic but annoying.

Check for an irritating noise from the climate control sensor (by the map reading light).
Did I miss something? Are they going to view from a classified or have them implied they've bought it, ie auction???

If you want to do any of that, you do it before the auction ends.


If this is an auction sale, you bid to BUY not bugger about.
Not really, if the advert states the car is in sound mechanical condition, then this is the basis it has been bought on - if this turns out not to be the case the buyer is perfectly entitled to withdraw from buying or haggle on price. If the seller has listed certain issues with the vehicle then fair enough the buyer has been forewarned but he is still entitled to verify this is the case.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
geeteeaye said:
Not really, if the advert states the car is in sound mechanical condition, then this is the basis it has been bought on - if this turns out not to be the case the buyer is perfectly entitled to withdraw from buying or haggle on price. If the seller has listed certain issues with the vehicle then fair enough the buyer has been forewarned but he is still entitled to verify this is the case.
Verify. Not start from scratch.

Have you been to a BCA auction? Do you think they give you the keys after the sale and say have a good look and poke around, then bring the money over if you are happy.


Seriously some of you take the piss.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
If the car is not as described then you walk. No obligation to buy.
Depends how its described. If it'll pass an MoT, then I suspect legally it is mechanically sound.

hoppo4.2

Original Poster:

1,531 posts

185 months

Thursday 12th May 2011
quotequote all
Thanks guys sorry about grammar and that working from the phone is kind of tricky. Was looking for specifics about the Clio really I no all the basic buying tips and auction site stuff. But thanks for the input.