Looking at a car tomorrow need some tips please

lindseykim13

Knowing very little about cars and having been stitched up with my last second hand car (needed a new engine and cat converter) what can i look for when i go to view a citroen xsara mpv tomorrow?
The seller is a trader and has it up for 1595 it has some body work damage, scrapes and dents on one side. I'm not fussed about that but it also has the airbag light up (would that be anything major?) also a high biting point on the clutch? (what does that mean?)

Wanting to part ex my vauxhall astra club x reg 82,000miles the dealer is looking at £1000 pt ex is that a fair price? should i be pushing for more? The replaced engine had only done 8000miles when we got it installed so can't have done more than 40000 now.

I have had the vehicle status report but really don't want to end up with another dodgy car.
Any help please?

hewhoisnotintheknow

that seems too cheap!

I always check the manufacture dates of bumpers, lights, panels etc, so you can see if they have been replaced. Look for warning lights, overspray, make sure the engine is cold when you get there, listen to it start, watch the exhaust.

with the air bag light, 9/10 its the connection under the seat for the seat belt pre tensioners, unplug that plug and plug it back in, do this with the keys out of the ignition.

There is a xsara owners club, go on there

anewman

High biting point likely means the clutch is wearing out and will soon need replacing. Generally an expensive job costing about £200-400, but at least they've been honest about that (not like you wouldn't have found out with a test drive anyway).

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

I wouldn't touch that car from such a description. Any trader worth his salt would have that car in full working order.

It'll be a !!!!-box. Steer clear.

Ebe_Scrooge

Loads of advice here :

http://www.whatcar.co.uk/advice.aspx

They also do reviews here :

http://www.whatcar.co.uk/car-review.aspx

Find the car you're interested in, it'll tell you a bit about the car and if there are any particular faults you should look for. The Parkers guide also has similar advice, both general and model-specific.

lindseykim13

perhaps i should have mentioned its a y reg xsara.
so would the 500cash or so that i have to part with plus my car seem like a fair deal? I agree the xsara is cheep but he has said that the body work repair would be 250 and clutch when needed 300-400. That seems as though he's taken that cost off the asking price?

lindseykim13

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

I wouldn't touch that car from such a description. Any trader worth his salt would have that car in full working order.

It'll be a !!!!-box. Steer clear.

It is on ebay i'm guessing he coudn't be bothered to do it up and selling it this way. He has others also and he said he's got it as his house rather than the dealership like he does with all the ebay ones? Links here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120276397833&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=002
if anyone can give me anymore advice be apprecited. I don't mind little work as mine needs a bit anyway if it means i can get a bigger car for the kids cheapish.

cajef

lindseykim13 wrote: »

I'm not fussed about that but it also has the airbag light up (would that be anything major?)

As stated could just be a connector, on the other hand it could be a faulty SRS control unit which would be about £400 plus another £100 for fitting, I would want that looked at and fixed before parting with any cash, it could be a major safety issue.

anewman

They only have one feedback for the sale of one car in the previous 90 days.

lindseykim13

anewman wrote: »

They only have one feedback for the sale of one car in the previous 90 days.

Good point there are other cars in the feeddback but like you say not within 90days. I have a feeling he sells all the part exs this way as thats what the others for sale look like. I'm just trying to weigh up the cheapness of the car and if its worth the possible faults?

Worst case senario 400 for clutch, 500 for airbag i'm not bothered about the bodywork so not a nessasary repair. total 900. does that still seem worth it? or could there be more costs involved?

LandyAndy

You've been stitched up before and now you want to buy a car that has clearly been abused. If the bits you can see are this bad what are the hidden bits like.

Start running now.