Advice for buying a used car

[Over The Hill]

Tip 1 Don't buy a Ka. They have lots of known faults and really are not up to much. In most other cars rust is a thing of the past.

There are lots of other choices in that sort of price range that are better options. Fiat make great small cars and everyone still thinks they go rusty but have not for many years. Punto or old 500 are often good.

Don't go for sporty versions. Thrashed.
Don't go for cars that are favourites with driving schools.

Try and get one from a private seller who has owned it for some years.

 

[tyred]

I know I'm going to be shot down by the anti-French brigade but I would look for a Peugeot 106/Citroen Saxo with the 1124cc TU series engine. Personally I'd look for a 5 door as it's less likely to have been owned by an idiot with a big bore exhaust and bodykit.

Very economical, the main mechanical parts last for ages (although check the synchromesh on 2nd and 3rd gears - bad drivers can do it in) the body is one of the most rust resistant you'll find anywhere at any price and they are great fun to drive.

Suspension bushings can be a weakness in Peugeots but are cheap and easy to fit at the front end. Only major expensive/hassle issue you may come across is knackered trailling arm bearing on the back. Check for strange clunks or creaks from the back end over bumps and make sure both back wheels are sitting upright and not leaning in at the top edge and tyres worn to the inside edge.

 

[fossyant]

 

[mattobrien]

The back story about the guy selling many cars has got a bad smell to it, as has already been said. He is either a trader and the car must be fit for purpose, with come back on your part, or he is a private individual and you get no come back.

Caveat emptor rules when buying from a private individual, that said they must no lie to you. Ask away and if they give you false information, which you can prove, then you might have the smallest of lefts to stand on if something goes wrong.

With the info you have provided on this car, I would walk away. There will be plenty more in the sea and with better back stories. You never know a fellow CCer might be looking to get shot of something suitable and you would (hopefully) be able to rust the seller.

Equally, I would never sell a car to a friend, I would never misrepresent a car, but stuff goes wrong with them from time to time and if it went wrong just after you sold it to a mate, you would feel terrible. I once gave a car to my brother, so if it did break he would have no come back...

 

[roadrash]

For me this rings a little alarm bell. He might just be doing it for a hobby or he might be trying to get rid of the cars the garage couldn't sell any other way.

Either way he is looking to get the car, make it presentable and sell it on for the best profit and because he isn't doing it in the guise of a trader you won't have any comeback if there is a problem later on.

I'd prefer to buy either from a forecourt where you have at least some protection if it is a dud or from a genuine private seller who can give you some history of the car.

^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[LimeBurn]

I know I'm going to be shot down by the anti-French brigade but I would look for a Peugeot 106/Citroen Saxo with the 1124cc TU series engine. Personally I'd look for a 5 door as it's less likely to have been owned by an idiot with a big bore exhaust and bodykit.

Very economical, the main mechanical parts last for ages (although check the synchromesh on 2nd and 3rd gears - bad drivers can do it in) the body is one of the most rust resistant you'll find anywhere at any price and they are great fun to drive.

Suspension bushings can be a weakness in Peugeots but are cheap and easy to fit at the front end. Only major expensive/hassle issue you may come across is knackered trailling arm bearing on the back. Check for strange clunks or creaks from the back end over bumps and make sure both back wheels are sitting upright and not leaning in at the top edge and tyres worn to the inside edge.

yes you will get shot down by the anti french brigade and for good reason.

After 20 years working on cars I wouldn't own a french car if they were free, if you want decent reliability it has to be Asian - toyota, nissan etc, the newer kia's are also very reliable too, but they do come with some awful repair bills when they do go wrong. German is my own preference, although paying a little more for them and reliability not quite up there with the Japs they do feel far better, especially the small cars. I bought my daughter a 2003 vw polo 1.4 last year and I would be happy to drive it as my main car as it feels like a proper car if you know what I mean, compared to Ka's, clios, 106, and corsas for example, but you do pay for the priviledge as a similar age polo will cost you more than a corsa of the same vintage.

 

[swee'pea99]

Rule 1 of Fight Club is Don't Talk About Fight Club. Rule 1 of buying old cars is Don't Buy French. Rule 2 is Don't Buy French. Rule 3, in case you were wondering: Don't Buy French.

 

[roadrash]

Rule 1 of Fight Club is Don't Talk About Fight Club. Rule 1 of buying old cars is Don't Buy French. Rule 2 is Don't Buy French. Rule 3, in case you were wondering: Don't Buy French.

hmmm, im starting to see a bit of a theme here......

 

[tyred]

I often wonder how my 18 year old Peugeot 205 with over 200,00 miles on the clock continues to give faultless service with only normal servicing required whereas all the people I know who insist German is better own posh German saloon cars which always seem to have something expensive wrong with them.

Germany used to build reliable cars but I don't believe it is the case any more.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I was going to come on and say that French cars aren't bad.... then I recalled my Dad's Peugeot on which the suspension collapsed when he did an emergency stop. His Espace Quadra on which the handbrake didn't work, the clutch pedal snapped in half and the four wheel drive tore up tarmac, and the Renault 5 where the back screen popped when I shut the drivers door one frosty evening.

Edit: The above isn't to be taken too seriously. I find French cars generally fine (apart from the handbrakes).

 

[roadrash]

same as owt else really , everyone has good and bad tales to tell.....as it happens , my daughters first car was a ka,bought after she asked my advice (and ignored it), pile of sh!te it was .

 

[tyred]

I would be perfectly happy to buy a Ka tbh but they do appear to rust in the best Ford tradition. If you could find a perfectly good, sound one, I'd pump it full of Waxoyl and keep it. They will be collectible in a few years time and the old Ford OHV engine might sound like a bag of nails (how many people carry out the correct tappet adjustment procedure every 6,000 miles in fairness) but they tend to last a very long time, Ford always made good gearboxes and the rest of the Ka's running gear is simple and easy to maintain.

 

[swee'pea99]

The main problem with French cars is they're absolute buggers to work on. You have to take out the engine and gearbox to replace the screen wash, sort of thing. Labour charges/hour mean they really aren't an option for the financially challenged.

 

[fossyant]

French cars are bad, Italian are a mare.

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

In addition to all the good advice above I would add that if you find a small problem and you ask the seller about it NEVER accept the "oh that's quite easy to fix" line. If its that easy then why haven't they fixed it - especially as they are trying to sell it? And remember there are tousands of cars out there to choose from - don't get sold the first one you see

I looked at a car fairly recently - all looked ok and it drove well etc. It was from a small independent dealer. I noticed the central locking wasn't working and the cd player/radio didn't turn on. I asked about them and was told the re the locking "it works, but the key probably just needs a new battery" and for the cd/radio "that will just be a fuse".
I said I 'd buy it if he put a new battery in the remote, changed the cd/radio fuse and they both worked. Instant change in attitude from the seller - i was putting him out, did I really want the car etc. I nearly left there and then. I walked 20m mis later later, after he'd changed the battery and several fuses and neither thing still worked he said "when you take it to your local garage they will fix these things easily."

Trust your instincts, don't get fobbed off, don't be afraid to ask lots of questions and be prepared to walk away...