Very cheap car - but no service history?

[gman88667733]

Have seen a RAV4 that is fairly cheap and the only MK1 in my area.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
It looks okay, few marks and a dent, but it won't be used as a nice car.
The issue is, the seller says they don't know anything about the service history and they've only had it for a year. It says it had a new timing belt last March, which is a major plus I think.
If I can get the price down a bit, is it worth the risk? In the US these seem to go for 250k miles +.

[Spitfire2]

Its a £950 car.

Obviously there is going to be a chance of bills - but if its what you want you have to take a bit of a leap of faith. Get out for a drive in it and give it a good look over - not much more you can do.

[gman88667733]

So you reckon that assuming it drives alright with no weird noises, to take a punt?
Also, what is a reasonable offer on a £950 car? I don't want to seem rude if I do like it.

[anonymous-user]

Don’t think my mini or LR had any SH when I bought them, both in good co diction, no nasty noises and drove well (as a LR can), both sub £3k though.

On a £900 car, just pay the full asking if you like it not worth losing the car over £50 or so is it.

[Roger Irrelevant]

At this price point if it looks right, sounds right and drives right then buy it. If a Toyota's got to 118k in good nick then it's unlikely to fall apart tomorrow. I can't even remember what service history my current daily had, whatever it was I didn't pay much attention to it and I've done 40k miles so far without too much bother.

[gman88667733]

Cheers for that.
It seems like a new timing belt for these could cost £300+ in total, so that is a major plus that it has been done in the last 12 months

[anonymous-user]

Is that cheap? It looks expensive. Either way such a old car WILL require things to keep it running, I mean getting on for nearly 25 years, it's a classic.

Looking at not it's had rust work, so usually rust doesn't disappear once started and at a 1k most likely a bodge job.

I wouldn't focus on one model, what about hrv or crvs

Edited by Thesprucegoose on Friday 8th February 06:49

[gman88667733]

We fancy something bargain basement though.
Is a CRV petrol auto a better buy at £2.5k then? I can't find any decent ones near me currently, so we would have to hold off until we find one.
Even if the RAV4 only lasts us a year whilst we save a bit to get something nicer?

https://www.gumtree.com/p/honda/honda-crv/13286279... This is £1695, would this be a better buy?

Just checked the MOT history of that CRV and it is superb. This might be the one!

Edited by gman88667733 on Friday 8th February 07:38

Edited by gman88667733 on Friday 8th February 07:45

[gman88667733]

The RAV4 had a service a year ago and I have the invoice for that and the timing belt/water pump, coolant sensor and thermostat kit and fresh anti freeze.

I still think for £750 it would be worth a punt...

[steveo3002]

if theres proof it really had a cambelt then id say someone cared about it at that stage , would be rare to fit a cambelt to an engine thats been totaly neglected or on its last legs

[gman88667733]

Well I've got a copy of the invoice for all the parts and bits for it. The date matches up too

[steveo3002]

then id say its been cared for up until then , decent chunk of money i expect

if theres oil on the dipstick and the engine sounds normal then go for it , get it home and have an oil change

[gman88667733]

Does the fact it is a 1997 car really matter?

[steveo3002]

still running nicley , no smoke or rattles etc then good enough , not like its an investment you'l be keeping 25 years

[redandwhite]

Without service history plus an invoice for the c/belt assume nothings been done (Granted they can be fabricated but still better than nothing...)

Find out the rough cost for the cambelt (as you have) and factor it into your offer to the seller. [EDIT: you have a receipt which is good. I would still make him an offer though when face to face]

Good luck.

[bunchofkeys]

Just checked this on the MOT history checker, and saw this from last year.

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded wheel arch (2.4.A.3)
Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded wheel arch (2.4.A.3)

Failed the MOT in April 2018.
If the current owner had it then, ask them about this and how it was corrected.

[gman88667733]

Will do. Is this something that if repaired properly would be fine?

[gman88667733]

Change of plan.
We are going to see the CRV linked in a post above tomorrow morning as it has a great MOT history and no issue with it.
Anything obvious to check with them?