Car Buying Advice - Help Needed!!!

zonked

I have about 5k to buy a car and want to stretch it out as far as possible.

Can I ask for advice on two things.

1. Has anyone dealt with East Coast Salvage. The cars look realy good value and I was going to make the journey down during the week. I cant come across any recent reviews of the place so any annacdotes on how people have found it would be welcome.

2. Car auctions. I can find listings for auctions but realy want to know how much cars are selling for. Is there any data on the net giving figures for what cars actually sold for.

Big thank you in advance for any advice.

hethmar

Well, are you really prepared to work on the car? As both salvage and auctions are likely to need work.

mikey72

Not much information on the cars on the website.

slscarborough

OH visited East Coast Salvage about 6 months ago and was not impressed. The cars were tatty and some had been sitting around so long had to be jump started.

The car he went to see had to be jumped and they revved the crap out of it to get it started. It had the air bag missing and OH thought it looked like it had been in an accident.

hethmar

Well, they probably have been in an accident - the clue is in the name

zonked, unless you are a mechanic or have a mate who could do substantial work on a car, then I think either option would be a mistake. What sort of car do you want/need?

cat0511

we buy our family cars and husbands work vans at auction and have had some helpful advice on here, also if you are looking at 5K spend you will probably get something that would sell/retail around 7K if that helps. We've been really lucky last 3 vehicles have been fine on inspection after purchase we are looking at spending 5K in the next few weeks also. we are likely to get a 56-57 plate zafira or scenic/grand scenic with mileage under 40 (hopefully under 30) but you never know maybe go along to watch so you get an idea of prices
good luck!
Cat

jetski690

I live about 40 minutes away from East Coast Salvage and though they have a two page spread in Auto trader every week I've never heard anyone mention they've ever bought a car from there, by what I gather most are leased or hire purchase claw backs and they get them back anyway they can you may need door locks replacing and missing vehicle documents so it's really not worth the hassle. I agree totally with cat0511 with the car auctions go along first as said to get a feel it's not for the faint hearted, also keep looking for the private bargains as some of the best deals can be had privately.

harveybobbles

slscarborough wrote: »

OH thought it looked like it had been in an accident.

The clue is in the word "Salvage..."

zonked

Thanks for the advice guys, every word carefully noted. Am not that mechanically minded so will probably give east coast salvage a pass. I will definately do a few dry runs at the auction and see how what its like. Still not sure what car to get, has to meet two crucial criterea....
1. cheese off ex ptr - something a bit sporty, leather seats?
2. transport my 2 kids and their stuff around M25 - economic, reliable, cheap to run
As you can see, am caught between my head and my heart

jetski690

zonked wrote: »

has to meet two crucial criterea....
1. cheese off ex ptr - something a bit sporty, leather seats?
2. transport my 2 kids and their stuff around M25 - economic, reliable, cheap to run

If you find it can you please let us all know, Thanks

cale1

zonked wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys, every word carefully noted. Am not that mechanically minded so will probably give east coast salvage a pass. I will definately do a few dry runs at the auction and see how what its like. Still not sure what car to get, has to meet two crucial criterea....
1. cheese off ex ptr - something a bit sporty, leather seats?
2. transport my 2 kids and their stuff around M25 - economic, reliable, cheap to run
As you can see, am caught between my head and my heart

As much as I understand the cheese off the ex partner bit, you should just go for what is going to be economical and reliable for you and your kids, thats whats important now. The best revenge is living a full and happy life without them