Buying a used car in 2019
Discussion
It's been a while since I bought a used car but now in the market for a Ford Fiesta Zetec S Red Edition.
Clearly a lot has changed since the old days and now the internet has made the market much more transparent buying & selling behaviours have moved on somewhat. My budget is about £8k and a lot of cars seem similarly priced, I'd be keen to understand:
- is haggling still expected or are the dealers in a stronger position now they can see competiton stock & price?
- How much could I be expected to get knocked off?
- does a Jan purchase put me in an advantageous position?
- Parkers say not to buy the first one you see, as these cars can get ragged (not as much as the ST's), but is there any way to see what the ECU read out says if someone has banged into the limiter?
Thanks in advance!
Clearly a lot has changed since the old days and now the internet has made the market much more transparent buying & selling behaviours have moved on somewhat. My budget is about £8k and a lot of cars seem similarly priced, I'd be keen to understand:
- is haggling still expected or are the dealers in a stronger position now they can see competiton stock & price?
- How much could I be expected to get knocked off?
- does a Jan purchase put me in an advantageous position?
- Parkers say not to buy the first one you see, as these cars can get ragged (not as much as the ST's), but is there any way to see what the ECU read out says if someone has banged into the limiter?
Thanks in advance!
I'd ask the owner to take you out in it before you drive it. If they start out steady and go steady until warm, then it's probably not been abused too much. The rev limiter will prevent damage to a warm engine.
Any used purchase is a gamble and you're always potentially buying someone else's problems.
Modern cars and oils are pretty amazing. You very rarely hear of serious engine problems caused by thrashing.
Any used purchase is a gamble and you're always potentially buying someone else's problems.
Modern cars and oils are pretty amazing. You very rarely hear of serious engine problems caused by thrashing.
I think haggling is more difficult than it used to be. I haggled and managed to get £250 off a £7k Audi. Before that I tried and failed to get anything knocked off a £4k Lexus. Both buying from reputable used dealers. Haggling privately is probably a bit easier.
If you're using autotrader to find cars, you can tell how long the advert's been listed by looking at the first 8 digits of the number at the end of the URL.
For example www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20190104363... was originally listed on 4th January 2019 (2019 01 04) and www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20181216329... was originally listed on 16th Dec 2018 (2018 12 16). If an advert's more than a couple of months old you'll stand a better chance of getting money knocking off, unless they've already reduced it themselves in that time.
If you're using autotrader to find cars, you can tell how long the advert's been listed by looking at the first 8 digits of the number at the end of the URL.
For example www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20190104363... was originally listed on 4th January 2019 (2019 01 04) and www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20181216329... was originally listed on 16th Dec 2018 (2018 12 16). If an advert's more than a couple of months old you'll stand a better chance of getting money knocking off, unless they've already reduced it themselves in that time.
Far more issues with the 1.0 vs the 1.6 St and there isnt much in it running cost wise MPG etc....
I would look for a ST if you can insure it, also i would go for something that isnt keyless so aviod the top of the range ones, the amount of Fiesta's that get stolen daily is quite large!
I would look for a ST if you can insure it, also i would go for something that isnt keyless so aviod the top of the range ones, the amount of Fiesta's that get stolen daily is quite large!
TheAlastair34 said:
Far more issues with the 1.0 vs the 1.6 St and there isnt much in it running cost wise MPG etc....
Can you elaborate on the issues? Everywhere seems to rate it strongly.Jimi.K. said:
If you're using autotrader to find cars, you can tell how long the advert's been listed by looking at the first 8 digits of the number at the end of the URL.
Fantastic advice, thank you.One final thing I am uncertain on is the MOT history on a car I am considering. Its a 64 plate but last Sept failed the MOT for the following reasons. They've now been fixed & it passed the MOT a day later but is there anything I should be looking for in the history of these cars?
Nearside Front Brake hose excessively twisted (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
Offside Headlamp light intensity severely reduced (4.1.4 (a))
Headlamp cleaning device for LED or HID headlamp inoperative has HID no cleaning device (4.1.6 (a) (ii))
I started a thread a while back asking if people still haggled and I was amazed at the number of people on here that just paid the advertised price and thought haggling was "a bit off" in some way.
I still haggle and think any dealer that is upset at you making an offer is in the wrong business.
The offer depends on the price and the salesman. On an £8k fiesta I'd probably be looking to get it for at most £7600 all being well.
Nope. No way of getting a "read out" from the ECU if you are a punter.
I still haggle and think any dealer that is upset at you making an offer is in the wrong business.
The offer depends on the price and the salesman. On an £8k fiesta I'd probably be looking to get it for at most £7600 all being well.
Nope. No way of getting a "read out" from the ECU if you are a punter.
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