Buying Cars with Dents

[Mr_Yogi]

My better half is looking for a small run around and has seen a nice little 206 not far from where we live, looks well looked after and maintained. However there is a dent in the rear where the owner said it was reversed into a bollard years ago. The impact is just above the bumper and has pushed the tailgate in about ½ an inch at it's deepest point. This doesn't worry me too much but it looks like the inside of the boot ledge, behind the tailgate might also be a bit skewed too from looking at the photos.

Has anyone got any advice on this? Things to look out for etc.? I though of checking the boot for water or rust.

Here are the photos:
<<I've removed the pics as I no longer have any interest in the car>>

Cheers

Edited by Mr_Yogi on Friday 3rd September 13:23

[SystemParanoia]

it actually makes the car look better!

[G_T]

Replacement tailgate and spoiler, in silver £50. Or you could just hold out for a red one.

Here you go:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PEUG-206-LX-TAILGATE-AND-SPO...

As mentioned leaks would be my only concern.

[Mr_Yogi]

G_T said:

Replacement tailgate and spoiler, in silver £50. Or you could just hold out for a red one.

Here you go:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PEUG-206-LX-TAILGATE-AND-SPO...

As mentioned leaks would be my only concern.

Cheers

[Mr_Yogi]

Anyone else have any advice?

[V6Alfisti]

It wouldn't unduly concern me (apart from the aesthetics), but I would definitely be checking under the boot mat just to make sure he floorpan isn't crumpled.

Also not sure about the impact to that rear bar, as I am not sure how much support it provides, however it would appear to have a weakness there as a result.

[G_T]

On last point from me is that you're buying what is presumably a budget non-perfomance means of transport.

So as mentioned assuming it isn't bent to hell underneath or has signs of disproportionate wear to tyres, or pulls to one side etc. I wouldn't worry about it. Once you get to a certain age the majority of cars have been smashed in anyway, the difference is most people don't get to know about it when they buy the car.

Don't forget the HPI if you're parting with a reasonable amount of cash though. Cat D's and C's can be a nightmare to shift on the resale.

[aka_kerrly]

if im honest given the problems that 206s have a dent would be one of my lessor concerns.

check all the electrics work, the air con (if fitted), the door seals, handbrake mechanism, brakes in general. Brakes feel spongy and lifeless and the handbrake should require a few clicks to operate but a good test is to slowly release it with the car on a slight slope and make sure its not binding. My GFs 206 suffered from the brake pads seperating from the brake mechanism and basically the pad gets tangled up inside the drum and locks the brake. on both occasions she was lucky she was only driving slowly when it happened.

BUT on the plus side since the paint hasnt been broken there is every chance a dent repairer could pull that dent out for £50.

[MadRob6]

Providing it's straight under the carpet the only bit that would worry me is if the seal meets up with the hatch (or a replacement hatch) when shut.

[Mr Will]

I like buying cars with (minor) dents, just make sure it's a common color and haggle them down lots.

Then find one in the same colour that is being broken for spares, 10 minutes with a spanner later and Robert is your mothers brother.

[TriumphVitesse]

Cars with dents, like my Rover 45 diesel are worry free & park where you like motoring.

Dents don't worry Me for my everyday hack, its nigh impossible to keep an everyday car pristine & mark free no matter how hard you try. Use the dents as a bartering tool.

[jbi]

I wouldn't worry about it... if anyone rear-ends you in that little hatchback, your toast anyway

[Mr_Yogi]

Just thought I'd update this thread, dent wasn't too bad at all and it looked like we could have a good car for an alright price. When I initially spoke to the woman on the phone she said she'd owned the car for the last 5 years and it didn't come with a service history, but she'd kept it up since then and seemed quite proud of the fact. However when we got there the car was noisey and cluncky Nothing too bad but I started to think maybe my expectations for a 10 year old hatchback were too high. After a drive I took a look at the history, it was a pile of MOT's and invoices for said MOT's and required work, not a service invoice in sight. She looked quite stunned when I asked if she'd had the oil changed, and even moreso at the sugestion that it might be in need of a cambelt change

I can only assume she has at least topped it up over the last 50K miles, then again maybe not. It also had a chipped windscreen and some play in the suspension as well as a blowing and clunking exhaust. I was starting to get a bit depressed as the 306 I'd taken a look at the day before was even worse

Anyway, popped into a local garage on the way home and we've now put a deposite down on a 1.4 fabia, which drives very well indeed

Edited by Mr_Yogi on Friday 3rd September 13:24