The end of the bargains...
Discussion
First of all I apologise if this has been covered but I don't recall anything similar in my time on here.
Of course it's no secret that car dealerships are beginning to push out the scrappage scheme again after the last one several years ago was so successful. To be honest, for someone in such a position where it's beneficial it's a no brainer.
However, at the moment I am currently looking for a runaround for my partners mother for under £700; and seem to be hitting a brick wall. A lot of the stuff on gumtree/Facebook locally seems to be utter tat; horrific blurry photo ads of cars with no or next to no MOT, intergalactic mileages/no history or marked as spares/repair jobs. I know looking for a good cheap car is always going to be a hard task but I didn't think it would be this hard - doesn't seem that long ago when tidy looked after cars could be picked up for a song. Auto Trader has thrown up one or two contenders but over budget.
Is it solely scrappage schemes that's causing this, or something else? I know a lot of people are going down the leasing/PCP route (myself included) but it seems as though the main dealer part ex's traders loved once upon a time are becoming slowly more and more scarce. Obviously you can't expect the world at this money, but it seems that the quality of used cars is definitely slipping.
The bargain basement and SOTW threads prove that there are occasionally some diamonds in the rough, but are bargain reliable runaround cars gonna eventually be a thing of the past?
Of course it's no secret that car dealerships are beginning to push out the scrappage scheme again after the last one several years ago was so successful. To be honest, for someone in such a position where it's beneficial it's a no brainer.
However, at the moment I am currently looking for a runaround for my partners mother for under £700; and seem to be hitting a brick wall. A lot of the stuff on gumtree/Facebook locally seems to be utter tat; horrific blurry photo ads of cars with no or next to no MOT, intergalactic mileages/no history or marked as spares/repair jobs. I know looking for a good cheap car is always going to be a hard task but I didn't think it would be this hard - doesn't seem that long ago when tidy looked after cars could be picked up for a song. Auto Trader has thrown up one or two contenders but over budget.
Is it solely scrappage schemes that's causing this, or something else? I know a lot of people are going down the leasing/PCP route (myself included) but it seems as though the main dealer part ex's traders loved once upon a time are becoming slowly more and more scarce. Obviously you can't expect the world at this money, but it seems that the quality of used cars is definitely slipping.
The bargain basement and SOTW threads prove that there are occasionally some diamonds in the rough, but are bargain reliable runaround cars gonna eventually be a thing of the past?
easy_rider33 said:
Have you tried using the marketplace search on Facebook? Lots of stuff on there and as it’s easy to post with the same account it’s less hassle than putting it on Autotrader.
Not gonna lie I never gave marketplace a thought, I've just been looking in the local selling pages on there. Much appreciated. Comments such as "not looking hard enough" always raise a smile. Its like when somebody says they wish they had a better house or car or whatever and some smart arse skips along waving their man-bag around and tells them to "just work harder". Anyway...............
Every day I would say theres a new group of some sorts pop up where you can probably buy a car which would mean that to be looking hard enough you would be expected to sit at your computer never moving and seeking out every possible place to find a car. Piffle but you get my drift on the suggestion of "not looking hard enough".
On a more helpful note and aimed back at the OP then Shpock Gumtree Facebook Autotrader Ebay and local indie car auctions are all good places to look.
Happy "hard looking"! LOL.
Every day I would say theres a new group of some sorts pop up where you can probably buy a car which would mean that to be looking hard enough you would be expected to sit at your computer never moving and seeking out every possible place to find a car. Piffle but you get my drift on the suggestion of "not looking hard enough".
On a more helpful note and aimed back at the OP then Shpock Gumtree Facebook Autotrader Ebay and local indie car auctions are all good places to look.
Happy "hard looking"! LOL.
You obviously can't afford to be too picky about things like cosmetic condition and service history at that price point, but you shouldn't have much trouble finding a decent reliable car. There certainly seems to be plenty around here, as others have said a combination of gum tree, ebay, facebook trading groups, etc. plus it's worth keeping an eye on those little boards you sometimes get in shops.
kieranblenk said:
First of all I apologise if this has been covered but I don't recall anything similar in my time on here.
Of course it's no secret that car dealerships are beginning to push out the scrappage scheme again after the last one several years ago was so successful. To be honest, for someone in such a position where it's beneficial it's a no brainer.
However, at the moment I am currently looking for a runaround for my partners mother for under £700; and seem to be hitting a brick wall. A lot of the stuff on gumtree/Facebook locally seems to be utter tat; horrific blurry photo ads of cars with no or next to no MOT, intergalactic mileages/no history or marked as spares/repair jobs. I know looking for a good cheap car is always going to be a hard task but I didn't think it would be this hard - doesn't seem that long ago when tidy looked after cars could be picked up for a song. Auto Trader has thrown up one or two contenders but over budget.
Is it solely scrappage schemes that's causing this, or something else? I know a lot of people are going down the leasing/PCP route (myself included) but it seems as though the main dealer part ex's traders loved once upon a time are becoming slowly more and more scarce. Obviously you can't expect the world at this money, but it seems that the quality of used cars is definitely slipping.
The bargain basement and SOTW threads prove that there are occasionally some diamonds in the rough, but are bargain reliable runaround cars gonna eventually be a thing of the past?
OP as lots have already said there is alot of options at this price point, but it can be a minefield at times. At this price point you get a real mix of tat or great motors but you cant be picky. As long as the MOT history looks clean, some recent history then just snap it up, but remember that its not going to be A1 condition, will have bumps, scuffs etc. Of course it's no secret that car dealerships are beginning to push out the scrappage scheme again after the last one several years ago was so successful. To be honest, for someone in such a position where it's beneficial it's a no brainer.
However, at the moment I am currently looking for a runaround for my partners mother for under £700; and seem to be hitting a brick wall. A lot of the stuff on gumtree/Facebook locally seems to be utter tat; horrific blurry photo ads of cars with no or next to no MOT, intergalactic mileages/no history or marked as spares/repair jobs. I know looking for a good cheap car is always going to be a hard task but I didn't think it would be this hard - doesn't seem that long ago when tidy looked after cars could be picked up for a song. Auto Trader has thrown up one or two contenders but over budget.
Is it solely scrappage schemes that's causing this, or something else? I know a lot of people are going down the leasing/PCP route (myself included) but it seems as though the main dealer part ex's traders loved once upon a time are becoming slowly more and more scarce. Obviously you can't expect the world at this money, but it seems that the quality of used cars is definitely slipping.
The bargain basement and SOTW threads prove that there are occasionally some diamonds in the rough, but are bargain reliable runaround cars gonna eventually be a thing of the past?
What cars are you looking at?
Maybe try and looking at dull cooking models versions, that people deem as unfashionable? Try brands like Toyota, Seat, Skoda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki etc as you would suspect most people default to the big names Ford, Vauxhall when looking for cars. Bound to pick up some low mileage used examples, pensioner specials.
Edited by Challo on Thursday 21st September 08:35
On a £700 budget potential purchases will probably be 15yrs + in age, on an average mileage that would be 180k miles. Most cars 'history' seems to vanish after 6-8 yrs - best guide is drive it and look at general condition. At that price point you will have a task in finding something decent though I realise there may be something out there somewhere.
OP you've gotta be quick for the good stuff at that price point. I've just sold my dog / tip run car 2002 Fester Ghia with fsh 118k miles a few car park dinks & which is nothing special IMHO & I was getting multiple messages within an hour of putting the ad up on ebay. A pleasant surprise & one of the easiest sales I've had.
Depends on what you want. If you don't care what it is, for example, there's a Daihatsu Move auto on Ebay right now. £250, 22k on the clock, MOT until next summer.
Earlier this year I got a 2.0 Ford Focus Ghia estate for £70. Ok, it was a little rough. Had a few week's MOT, and would need some sill welding and a wheel bearing to pass another one. But £70. I've bought worse for ten times that.
If you need "a car", there's always SOMETHING out there dirt cheap. Yes, lot of utter tat, too, but such is life.
Maybe try a salvage auction. Takes piss-all damage to write off a £1K car.
Earlier this year I got a 2.0 Ford Focus Ghia estate for £70. Ok, it was a little rough. Had a few week's MOT, and would need some sill welding and a wheel bearing to pass another one. But £70. I've bought worse for ten times that.
If you need "a car", there's always SOMETHING out there dirt cheap. Yes, lot of utter tat, too, but such is life.
Maybe try a salvage auction. Takes piss-all damage to write off a £1K car.
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