Need more advice re: trading in. Used car isn't great.

aliasojo

The car we were provisionally trading in against has turned out to have more damage than first thought. The garage is happy enough for us to walk away, there's no issue with being tied to the deal or anything but we just dont know what to do.

The car is an 05 plate with 33k on the clock. Ghia X spec. Full leather interior, clean and tidy inside. £6.5K (less what we're trading in.)

However it appears to have no service history at all, not even the original manual (although the dealership can easily replace that). It also has a lot of chips and damaged areas of paintwork all over the car. Some are down to the bare metal, others are not as bad but still noticeable......I even thought there might have been a tiny bit of orange in one or two of them which obviously suggests rust. The garage they brought it in from (another branch of the same dealership) only mentioned 2. :rolleyes: The garage we are dealing with will repair the chips they feel it's appropriate to do but because it's a SMART repair, it means only that area will be touched therefore it wont be an invisible repair. They will also MOT it and do a 79 point service. They seem very unconcerned and say it makes no difference to them if we take it or walk, they dont mind either way as they know it will shift. There's no room for further movement in the deal.

Thoughts?

We've been looking for months, there isn't a great deal of choice where we live and not every garage has been even interested in what we're trading in. I feel a bit like 'beggars cant be choosers' iyswim but I dont know if we're being foolish considering a car with no history of ever having been serviced at all. Especially given the state of the paintwork. Or is that not such a worry since it only has 33k on the clock?

An outside pov would be useful, bearing in mind the points above about our area and our wrecked car trade-in. (And also that neither OH or I know the first thing about cars.)

Chippy_Minton_2

There are plenty more fish in the sea. If you have doubts walk away.

Bambi234

aliasojo wrote: »

The car we were provisionally trading in against has turned out to have more damage than first thought. The garage is happy enough for us to walk away, there's no issue with being tied to the deal or anything but we just dont know what to do..

There a couple of things here.

1. Now that you now this can it be used as a bargining tool to get the price even lower or the trade-in on yours higher. In this financial climate they should be wanting sales. (happy for you to walk away?)
2. Do you have a friend who does know thier way around things mechanical and can help you out.
3. trust your gut instinct if it doesn't feel right walk away its your money.

garthdp

Walk away
If they want to sell it t you, they will come chasing after you.If they think they can sell it elswhere than let them.

harveybobbles

Bambi234 wrote: »

There a couple of things here.

1. Now that you now this can it be used as a bargining tool to get the price even lower or the trade-in on yours higher. In this financial climate they should be wanting sales. (happy for you to walk away?)

Can't believe people are still using this line! LOL!!!!

Back to the OP though - the car you're buying is low mileage for the age. So it has more chance of being knocked about quite a bit rather than the same car which has three times the mileage. I wouldnt accept SMART repairs as they are !!!!!! and look awful after a while...

steveo3002

walk away , plenty of nice cars for sale

dont settle for second best

Bronnie

I am looking round for a newish small car for my daughter at the moment. She currently has R reg Ford Ka and is being offered £500 px. We could prob sell privately where we are for a little more .
I am hanging on though in the remote chance that come the Budget (April 22 I think) there is any announcement re the vehicle scrappage deal that is in place in other EU countries to support the car industry...around £2,000 is common. Whether the small print would allow the consumer to truly work the scheme to their advantage is uncertain, however I am keeping options open at the moment. Possibly negotiating a price with a dealer prior to the Budget, then see what happens.
Sorry, this doesn't really help you with the car you want to buy, but may be relevant to your p/x, if you were to consider a new/newish car

MX5huggy

I don't think I have missed it, I have worked out it is a ford you are after but which model?

aliasojo

It's a Mondeo.

Thanks for all the replies everyone. The garage really isn't up for any further negotiating btw.

vaio

As others have said, walk away

aliasojo

OH has just phoned from his work. The blokes he works with say the same. Looks like we're on the hunt again.