Is this OK?

[anonymous-user]

Hi,
Need some honest opinions here.
Interested in this, but from the pictures, it appears the bonnet, front wing and driver's door are slightly different shades of red.
This has spooked me a bit, and now I'm questioning whether it's worth going to look at (hour trip in each direction). Am I being too harsh for an old car, or would you avoid?
Thanks
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311244...

[anonymous-user]

MOT history looks OK

[sixor8]

On red cars, the bumpers often appear to be a different shade in photos. Something to do with reflective light or similar? Very common on MX5s. I have a non-metallic red Fiat Panda and the bumpers look a different shade to the body in photos but they haven't been repainted!

All that said, the front wings seem to be a different shade to me, perhaps a front end re-spray? :scratchhin:

[Audis5b9]

Have you rung the dealer and asked about the colour mismatch?

[scot_aln]

It is 18 years old so some paintwork wouldn't be too much of a surprise. Presuming it's not a mammoth drive to go see then there are usually helpful little labels on the lights that are dated. Hadn't realised these were so expensive but isn't everything these days. I looked at one of these exactly 10 years ago and I'm sure it wasn't that much more back then.

[OutInTheShed]

It won't be cheap to run, it has a significant risk of throwing some bills at you.
It has had a lot of owners.

It looks like a lot of car for the money, I would chat to the vendor and go and look at it, even if just to prove the 'never buy the first one...' theory.

Some cars always look like the paint is wrong after ten years. Red more than others perhaps?

[_Hoppers]

The paintwork is dreadful! Find another

[ChocolateFrog]

That's about 5 different shades. It's not a rare car, move on.

[Hustle_]

That's a mess. Look at the panel gaps, front wings to bonnet, bumpers to wings.

Paint is so poorly matched it could be two different codes. Rear bumper, front wings and bonnet need doing again.

All suggests a chequered past.

ETA: Photo 18/19

[swanny71]

Had one of these from 50k to 170k miles over 8 years. It never broke down or left me stranded, most reliable and favourite of all the cars I’ve owned. Still regret selling it.

If this one’s been looked after and well maintained then I wouldn’t worry too much about big bills. The colour mismatch is a concern unless you can be sure it’s just a cosmetic paintwork thing.

[NFT]

Look into the engine, it may be the one with a timing chain issue, friend had one and it developed a noise, broke down driving to garage, had to be recovered, believe it smashed its valves & pistons together, and got scrapped with tears as he loved it to bits.

[OutInTheShed]

NFT said:

Look into the engine, it may be the one with a timing chain issue, friend had one and it developed a noise, broke down driving to garage, had to be recovered, believe it smashed its valves & pistons together, and got scrapped with tears as he loved it to bits.

What was the mileage on that one?

I'd be curious to see this in the flesh.
Maybe the front panel has been resprayed after stone chips or worse?
Then the aftermarket paint fades differently from the older factory stuff.
How much to redo that?

It's a potential money pit, but I've seen worse.
It's an old car, you have to understand it's a risk, it will probably throw you a bill or two and won't last forever.
If you buy cars like this, then you win some you lose some. It might do several years of very pleasant motoring with few bills, it might go bang at any point.

If your budget is £6k a year, you can either buy this and hope, or lease something and know you're going to pay another £6k next year.

But, look at lots, buy the best one you can a) find and b) afford!
Then again, the best advice is to not rely on our advice, make up your own mind and own the decision.

[OutInTheShed]

Am I right in thinking that 5 years ago, a dealer would have spent £250 getting the front panel to match?
These days, cars under £10k seem to be on the forecourt in some sort of 'as found' museum relic condition?

[ZX10R NIN]

If it's close go and have a look in the flesh, if not look elsewhere.

[MarkJS]

I’d also be concerned about how long that car might have been hanging around with the dealer. The sunshine & leaves on the trees look very spring/summer to me.

[MDMA .]

“A wonderful example”, painted by Stevie Wonders dog. Find another.

[Lincsls1]

sixor8 said:

On red cars, the bumpers often appear to be a different shade in photos. Something to do with reflective light or similar? Very common on MX5s. I have a non-metallic red Fiat Panda and the bumpers look a different shade to the body in photos but they haven't been repainted!

I think that this is probably the right answer. I would bet in the flesh its fine, but unfortunately the only way to know is to view it!
The colour difference between the various photos isn't even consistent, which further suggests its just a reflective light issue.

[Jamescrs]

Nearside front door also looks mismatched to me in comparison to the rear door and front wing on the same side.

I wouldn't be putting any effort into travelling to view it personally i'd look for another

[ChocolateFrog]

Lincsls1 said:

sixor8 said:

On red cars, the bumpers often appear to be a different shade in photos. Something to do with reflective light or similar? Very common on MX5s. I have a non-metallic red Fiat Panda and the bumpers look a different shade to the body in photos but they haven't been repainted!

I think that this is probably the right answer. I would bet in the flesh its fine, but unfortunately the only way to know is to view it!
The colour difference between the various photos isn't even consistent, which further suggests its just a reflective light issue.

There's 2 types of Hope, one of them is Bob.

[Novexx]

The paint is so bad I wouldn't waste the petrol to go & look at it even if it was just round the corner.