Buying a car..one question?

passatrider

I went out and test dove a car at a local garage which was originally priced at £999 but had been reduced to £699, as he seems to have had it for quite a while. I used this as a bargaining tool and managed to get it down to £600 with a 12 month mot, but no tax.

I noticed when I took it out that the windscreen washers did not work but was assured that they were just frozen, but he he would check this out for me just to be sure. I noticed too that the aerial was up at the time and was sure that this was odd as it is an electric one, so must be faulty. However I forgot to mention this at the time.

What I want to know is am I within my rights to ask to get this repaired before I pay the rest of the money, as I do not want to be spending money on it due to the cost of insurance and road tax?
I've checked the invoice and it's not down as a trade sale 'sold as seen' so this might be in my favour..the car is a Mazda 323 fastback 1997 1.8i.

Happy New Year too!:beer:

infernalaffairs

There's no harm in asking about the aerial, he can only say no then you can decide if you still want the car. I would guess if it needs an expensive part the garage won't be willing to fix it as it doesn't make the car not roadworthy and they can't be making much if any profit. In the the event of this you could reach a compromise by paying for parts and he could fit it free of charge.

kevin0410

It won't pass an MOT if the washers don't work

passatrider

kevin0410 wrote: »

It won't pass an MOT if the washers don't work

The car already has the new mot anyhow, so my guess is that it is just frozen or something.

I have been in touch with the garage and he is aware of the aerial problem but has said as this is not a mechanical issue then he is not obliged to fit a new motor. I did push him a bit further and he has agreed to lubricate it so it can be operated manually. I suppose it's not what I wanted but then I did knock him down £100 which I guess can be used to have another one fitted if I prefer.

Brooker_Dave

passatrider wrote: »

I went out and test dove a car at a local garage which was originally priced at £999 but had been reduced to £699, as he seems to have had it for quite a while. I used this as a bargaining tool and managed to get it down to £600 with a 12 month mot, but no tax.

I noticed when I took it out that the windscreen washers did not work but was assured that they were just frozen, but he he would check this out for me just to be sure. I noticed too that the aerial was up at the time and was sure that this was odd as it is an electric one, so must be faulty. However I forgot to mention this at the time.

What I want to know is am I within my rights to ask to get this repaired before I pay the rest of the money, as I do not want to be spending money on it due to the cost of insurance and road tax?
I've checked the invoice and it's not down as a trade sale 'sold as seen' so this might be in my favour..the car is a Mazda 323 fastback 1997 1.8i.

Happy New Year too!:beer:

It's only a £500 car, there's a limit of what going to be done other than a fresh MOT....

hewhoisnotintheknow

i think you wont get far with the aerial, no harm in asking though, could just be a fuse

i would insist on seeing the washers working though as little things like that are often a pain to sort out

if the aerial slides in and out manually i would assume the motor or drive or similar is dead

my dad had a vw with an electric aerial, it never worked but thankfully the radio worked with it in anyway

hewhoisnotintheknow

also get him to tax it for you (give him the money)

saves you loads of hastle

creased-leach

I drive a 323f, and the electric aerials are not usually a cheap repair. Hubbys an ex mechanic- even with him doing the work it just wasn't a viable repair, so we stuck a manual one in.

Buying a car sold as seen means you've checked it out and have bought it regardless of any faults.

There's a great Mazda owners forum which is full of helpful advice.

Welcome to Mazzie world.

passatrider

I picked the car up from the garage today and although the aerial problem has been sorted, I now have a terrible whining noise coming from the power steering which also screeches when applying the throttle. The car only cost £600 I know but Iam not happy with this at all. Can I take it back to be repaired or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Unstoppable_2

Sounds like the power steering/alternator belt is loose and/or its low on power steering fluid. Two minutes with a spanner tightening it up will sort that.

credit_crunch_victim

sure it is not just a squeaky belt