Cheap snotter required but market seems dead ?
Discussion
I am looking for a cheap snotter for one of the kids - something like an old ford fiesta ~£800 mark. The problem I am hitting is that there seem to be none within 30 miles for private sale and I dont want to drive long distances to see cars. I've trawled auto trader and every time I come across something suitable its with a dealer.
I've been to see a few now and without exception they were rubbish. I'm not expecting much at this price point and accept there will be some rust, shabby interiors and high mileage. But these 'A1 condition' dealer cars have all had serious rust holes , head gasket failures ('no mate its fine coolant always has oil in it') or sound like they are about to give up and expire.
All I want is something cheap with rust that I can deal with (so no MOT failing big holes) and an engine that runs without sounding like its about to fly apart.
I must be looking in the wrong place, anyone had recent experience of buying at this price point ? where did you look to find the car as auto trader clearly isnt the place.
Any help appreciated !
I've been to see a few now and without exception they were rubbish. I'm not expecting much at this price point and accept there will be some rust, shabby interiors and high mileage. But these 'A1 condition' dealer cars have all had serious rust holes , head gasket failures ('no mate its fine coolant always has oil in it') or sound like they are about to give up and expire.
All I want is something cheap with rust that I can deal with (so no MOT failing big holes) and an engine that runs without sounding like its about to fly apart.
I must be looking in the wrong place, anyone had recent experience of buying at this price point ? where did you look to find the car as auto trader clearly isnt the place.
Any help appreciated !
Big Rod said:
Guaranteed, you'll look for weeks, travel 100 miles to buy one then a better and cheaper one'll appear for sale in your street the following week!
Happens to me every time!
Yes, it's a case of waiting for them to come up.Happens to me every time!
Mind you, some pro-active asking might help, I was waiting for a neighbours mint Micra K11 to come up for my mum, but he sold it straight to a garage (who shot it straight out again to a customer and it never appeared on their forecourt).
Pity you're on the wrong side of London - it's perhaps larger than you were looking for, but I've got a '98 Mondeo Si that could be yours for £300 - we've just downsized to a Fiesta and want to shift it, but all I got when I advertised it on PH was a load of easter-europeans offering me large sums of money for it...
eBay, Retrorides, PH, car and classic, and if you're brave gumtree.
At the bottom of the market the actual car plays second fiddle to history and condition IME. You'll find a better unloved by the public and trade car than you will a default choice Fiesta/Corsa or a car with a Scene like a Civic or Polo.
At the bottom of the market the actual car plays second fiddle to history and condition IME. You'll find a better unloved by the public and trade car than you will a default choice Fiesta/Corsa or a car with a Scene like a Civic or Polo.
Derek Withers said:
I just picked up a Merc 190E with only 82000 miles on it. It sailed through an MOT, infact the tester wanted to buy its in such good nick. All for £450 once I weighed my old snotter in. I found it parked up by the side of the road with a for sale sign locally.
You can get stuff like this. I know of an (admittedly tired) E46 316i for sale that could be caught for a few pennies over the £800 specified, but young'uns and people looking to run stuff cheaply just can't consider them.I've been considering a cheapy to reduce wear and tear on the SL, but nothing that cost justifies itself has appeared.
I blame the supposed value of scrap as too many people seem to think that a car with no tax nor MOT is now worth £500 so one with T&T must have to be more expensive.
As far as i'm concerned a scrap value car is still £50-100 tops and i find it crazy that people think that 80/90s cars that don't even weigh a tonne are worth £200+ scrap value.
As far as i'm concerned a scrap value car is still £50-100 tops and i find it crazy that people think that 80/90s cars that don't even weigh a tonne are worth £200+ scrap value.
Big Rod said:
Guaranteed, you'll look for weeks, travel 100 miles to buy one then a better and cheaper one'll appear for sale in your street the following week!
Happens to me every time!
And me! I spent MONTHS looking for an Astravan in lightning silver (rare bluey silver) with a specific spec and there were NONE in the entire UK. In the end I gave up and bought one in sovereign silver. Browsed the ad sites a few days later just because I was bored and one had just come up for sale 10 miles from me in the colour AND spec I wanted. Couldn't believe it. Happens to me every time!
Forget Fiestas http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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