Mitsubishi Colt 1.3 GLX - good deal?

Almost_Redundant

Glass Trade - £900, Retail £2150 (Dec 05 prices)

So not a bad deal being offered if you can confirm its history / condition. Would agree with comments regarding cam belt change. Insurance group 5 too, so not bad there either.

greyster

what is glass trade? Just private buy?

vansboy

There are lots of 'good' cars around, at this sort of budget & plenty of rubbish too.

Yours sounds a reasonable vehicle, ordinarily, I'd avoid driving school cars, but in this instance, it sounds as though it'll probably be a better bet than a 6 owner 'average' motor.

The cambelt concern has been addressed already, but find out how many clutches/gearboxes it's had.

If none of either, you MIGHT be the one that ends up buying them - OR, you'll be able to roughly work out how many miles were covered, before they needed doing - is it coming up to that similar mileage, again shortly??

If you can get the OK to these, points,if the seller has a fresh MOT & the next routine service done for you & part with £1000 ish, you shouldn't go far wrong.

VB

trigger_mike

The old colt is'nt a bad car, parts are o.k if you get from local motor factor, avoid main dealer prices, they WILL rip you of, my quess i'd pay about £800-£900 for this, watch the insurance as well,
i would thought it be dearer then an fiesta or corsa to insure. i'd change the cam belt as well, allow £100-£150 for this job, and make sure you do the cambelt pullys as well, no point changing a belt then a belt pully breaks, it will break the cam and write the engine off.
good luck in what ever you decide to do.

greyster

I just phoned him up to get more info before I see the car this week. He said he bought the car when it was 2 years old, from a dealer who purchased it from an old lady. She had done done a few k in mileage.

from my instructor:

Clarification & addition to some of the points you enquired about over the phone earlier today.

Road tax to be renewed on 31 May 2006 (approx 5 months)
MOT due on 23 Oct 2006 (not Sep as I said on the phone) (approx 10 months)
Dater of first registration 23/10/97 (1st owner)
I acquired vehicle on 7/12/99 (2nd owner)

Since my acquisition of the vehicle there has been no mechanical or electrical faults or breakdowns etc. I have serviced the vehicle far more regularly than is recommended i.e. changed oil & filter, changed spark plugs, distributor cap & air filter and the brake pads have been changed once. The car has a brand new spare tyre/wheel and appropriate tools for changing.

Anything else I can help with please do not hesitate to contact me.

I'm pretty sure he will accept 1k.

Edit - Should I buy this car, i found that EasyMoney (Easy group / Zurich) will insure for £550-570 comprehensive. Based on me being a new driver with passplus and zero years NCB.

vansboy

This DOES sound as 'genuine' deal as you'll get, at this price range.

Plus, I assume, it's also the car you learned to drive in, so a bit more familiar with it, than starting to get used to another make?

I'm surprised it's never had a clutch - he must have very good control, over his student drivers!!

Would he get it serviced up to date for you, in his £1000 price, do you think - at least you'll have done your best to avoid a surprise bill, a few miles down the road!!

VB

greyster

its not the car I learnt to drive in. He's buyed in to the AA driving school franchise since I been with him which means he gets a brand new Ford Focus every 6 months

The colt is basically his last wholey owned driving school car. I will talk to him about servicing before buy and see what happens. I guess the jury is out until I had a go in it, I am a tall guy (6.4) so there may be a space issue

The ford focus wasnt too bad for my height, the wheel rubbed only slightly against my legs while I was driving with the seat fully down and the wheel relatively elevated :P

tomstickland

Seems a reasonable car for the money - I can't see anything wrong with it really.

superscotsman

The japanese use the total quality management system which is why they don't go wrong so often.
Sounds like a fair deal to me. If you like the car, go for it.

trigger_mike

greyster wrote:

Should I buy this car, i found that EasyMoney (Easy group / Zurich) will insure for £550-570 comprehensive. Based on me being a new driver with passplus and zero years NCB.

Thats a good price, my partners 18 year old brother has just got insured on his first car, a L-reg Fiesta 1.3 LX and it has cost £1400 fully Comp.