Car advertised with FSH but no SH

gazfocus

I put a deposit down on a 1999 Reg Vauxhall Astra Estate last week as it was advertised with a Full Service History. When I contacted the garage where I'm buying it from to ask them to check when the cam belt was last changed, they told me the previous owner couldn't find the service history.

Should I still buy the car? This does sound like a genuine error but I was under the impression that cars sold for more with full service histories so can anyone recommend what kind of discount I should be looking to get? The agreed price with FSH was £1200.

Hintza

An 11 year old car. I would be very surprised if it came with a FSH. But the price sounds quite expensive for a car of that age.

The cambelt should probably have been done at least twice in it's life and the last time within the last year or so.

Pays your money and takes a chance.

Ivrytwr3

Do not buy - but if you do buy you need to re-negotiate the price!

december

Personally I wouldn't take the chance, but that's just me. If you don't know whether it has the cambelt done or not then you're already potentially facing a bill before you drive it off the forecourt. There are lots of cars out there in general and if anything doesn't quite feel right just walk away.

gazfocus

Thanks for the thoughts so far. One of the reasons I like the car is because its only done 88k miles which for its age is quite good. Also, I don't mind forking out for a cambelt if it's needed but as you say, it's whether I can negotiate the price down enough to make the 'risk' worth taking.

CHR15

Ask for a full service and cambelt change, then buy it at the agreed price.

Hintza

CHR15 wrote: »

Ask for a full service and cambelt change, then buy it at the agreed price.

Great in theory but you need to trust the garage to do the work properly (belt, tensioners, pulleys and probably water pump) and not take shortcuts.

TBH if I was buying an 11 year old car and had nothing to show any servicing then I would price assuming the worst ie a runner with MOT. Remember any gurantees will be very limited on a car of this age.

custardy

if you have no paperwork then treat it as having no service history
however have a look at it,it maybe in great nick and looked after
the last FSH low mileage car i got had the diff blow a few weeks later...........

gazfocus

I have just spoken to the garage and they have offered to replace the timing belt and do a service. They seem like a reasonable garage and are a smallish local garage so wouldn't expect them to fob me off. They also said they'd show me the old belt to prove they'd done it.

mikey72

If it's the 1.6, get the waterpump and thermostat done along with the full belt kit. If it's the 1.8, have the waterpump done as well. (worth paying for if the garage won't do it foc, but ask them)

Hintza

gazfocus wrote: »

I have just spoken to the garage and they have offered to replace the timing belt and do a service. They seem like a reasonable garage and are a smallish local garage so wouldn't expect them to fob me off. They also said they'd show me the old belt to prove they'd done it.

The belt is the least of your worries. It's all the associated bits I have covered in my previous post!!!