Advice for buying a used car

[swee'pea99]

We all like old French cars. We just can't afford to own one.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

We all like old French cars. We just can't afford to own one.

If you can find one that hasn't rusted away or the electrics stopped working.

Alan...

 

[marknotgeorge]

And if you do buy it, take the V5 with the car - no 'I'll post it on to you' stuff!

This isn't right - the V5 needs to be sent to Swansea by the seller. There's a portion you detach to give to the buyer that he can use to tax it, etc. Otherwise, you get the problem where a dodgy buyer could 'forget' to register the transfer, and the seller is then still responsible for tax, parking fines, the seller driving off at the petrol station...

You need to make sure you see the V5, that all the numbers match, and that the new keeper section's filled in correctly.

I'm not saying that Matthew's a dodgy geezer or anything, of course.

 

[Spinney]

This isn't right - the V5 needs to be sent to Swansea by the seller. There's a portion you detach to give to the buyer that he can use to tax it, etc. Otherwise, you get the problem where a dodgy buyer could 'forget' to register the transfer, and the seller is then still responsible for tax, parking fines, the seller driving off at the petrol station...

You need to make sure you see the V5, that all the numbers match, and that the new keeper section's filled in correctly.

I'm not saying that Matthew's a dodgy geezer or anything, of course.

I just meant to take the bit that he is supposed to take!

 

[Over The Hill]

French cars are bad, Italian are a mare.

Daft sweeping statement.

I have run both quite a lot and I have found Peugeot cars to be amazingly good cars. I am talking running two second hand Peugeots for 15 years (with changes that is a range of say six cars) and not having a breakdown or either not starting in the whole time and nothing major go wrong at all. Last year I towed a caravan all through France in a 13 years old Peugeot car. No problems and 100% reliable.
Generally people dislike Italian cars on the basis that about 35 years ago an Alfasud went rusty a bit quicker than every other car. It is because that misguided view prevails that you should buy one! Enough people share your outdated view to mean they cost a lot less than many other cars. They are very good and reliable and like all cars aside from Kas they do not rust.

Look at this for £700 with new MOT 2002 Alfa

 

[marknotgeorge]

I just meant to take the bit that he is supposed to take!

Fairy Nuff...

 

[fossyant]

Daft sweeping statement.

I have run both quite a lot and I have found Peugeot cars to be amazingly good cars. I am talking running two second hand Peugeots for 15 years (with changes that is a range of say six cars) and not having a breakdown or either not starting in the whole time and nothing major go wrong at all. Last year I towed a caravan all through France in a 13 years old Peugeot car. No problems and 100% reliable.
Generally people dislike Italian cars on the basis that about 35 years ago an Alfasud went rusty a bit quicker than every other car. It is because that misguided view prevails that you should buy one! Enough people share your outdated view to mean they cost a lot less than many other cars. They are very good and reliable and like all cars aside from Kas they do not rust.

Look at this for £700 with new MOT 2002 Alfa

I've had a new one of them, top of the range Selespeed. Yes they are very nice cars, but mine was in and out of the dealer on a regular basis. They also have a habit of snapping timing belts before they are due to be replaced. Fortunately it was a company car, and I replaced it with my own Nissan, which doesn't have the same looks, but it's damn reliable.

Might have Bosch electrical components, buy the Italians can't put them together.

 

[Piemaster]

[quote="fossyant, post: 2756977, member: 557"
Might have Bosch electrical components, buy the Italians can't put them together.[/quote]

Did you do know Alfa sold the first mass market direct injection diesels? They then sold the system to Bosch who continued its development (I suspect Alfa had no money to develop it further).

I'll confess, I've got 2 of them now a 156 and a Spider. But can't describe the faults with them. There hasn't been any bar wear and tear.

 

[Matthew_T]

Turns out the guy sold the Ka today for much more than I was going to pay (good on him for getting a price he wanted). I am looking at a Mk 1 Corsa but dont have any details on it just yet.

 

[fossyant]

Not a MK1 corsa,,,,,

 

[Matthew_T]

Not a MK1 corsa,,,,,

Oh here we go....

Whats wrong with this car then? Still has 12 month MOT and has done 10,000 miles in the past 4 years (apparently says on MOT certificates).

 

[smokeysmoo]

Not a MK1 corsa,,,,,

Out of the frying pan...............

 

[fossyant]

They are bloody pants. Look at a Micra K11 instead.

 

[fossyant]

You want something that isn't going to cripple you in costs. You have a part time job as you study. Mk1 corsas are rubbish. The insurance is going to be high. I can't see your need for a car at the minute, you are committing yourself to a big hole in your pocket.

What's your budget, then we can probably help more.

 

[Matthew_T]

£600 for the car. Insurance needs to be under £1200 preferably (but I can check that if I have the numberplate). It also needs to have about 11/12 months MOT. Not bothered about tax as it isnt much.