Very low mileage used car - good or bad?

Hannah_10

My last motorbike was made in 1996 and registred in Spain but imported into the Uk in 2001, it was issued 1996 plates however. Its quite common for a vehicle to be issued a plate bearing the manufacture date not the registration date.

cyclonebri1

lemon26 wrote: »

Hi again, been busy tonight round the house! Sticker price is £10995 but haven't started negotiations yet. The dealer obviously knows that I'm interested as I've had to ask about the registration issues a few times now but it's all checked out with Citroen UK and the DVLA so I'm happy that it's just not been used much.

Cyclone> why do you say come back in a year? Is it something I shoudl avoid?

Thanks again! L

I just meant you may not have the full story, let us know either way, hope you don't have to change your name to Lemon27 :eek: ;)

lemon26

I really should change my neame to Lemon27 seems as I've just turned 27!

I'm torn between getting it as it could be like getting a virtually new car for about half the price of one but on the other hand it could have loads of problems from having done a lot of nothing over the last two and a half years. Guidance from Citroen is that engines no longer require running it, just not red-lining for the first 1000-1500 miles. That's from the manual for my currnet Citroen and from their head office.

I really don't knwo what to do!

cyclonebri1

lemon26 wrote: »

I really should change my neame to Lemon27 seems as I've just turned 27!

I'm torn between getting it as it could be like getting a virtually new car for about half the price of one but on the other hand it could have loads of problems from having done a lot of nothing over the last two and a half years. Guidance from Citroen is that engines no longer require running it, just not red-lining for the first 1000-1500 miles. That's from the manual for my currnet Citroen and from their head office.

I really don't knwo what to do!

Based on the balance of opinion here you are going to have to stick a finger in the air, should I, shouldn't I.

It may be perfectly fine or thier still may be some untold history.

Not wanting to sway you further away, but let me put a bit of meat on the bones about my reasons for not buying an unbelievably low mileage car.

We were caught out once, many years ago by buying a so called ex demo car. Can't remember now but something like 18months old with only a couple of K on the clock. It had been damaged at the dealers premises and hence had been repaired outside of the insurance system hence no record. Only some time later did we find out.

I used to look after a few mates cars. One guy bought a 3 year old Astra, beautifull condition, 6K on the clock. One owner, an old guy that drove his vife to the shops and collected his pension etc, ie, never left the villiage, never warmed up, always running on "choke".
This guy brought the car to me, it was using more oil than petrol. Very little engine compression and when stripped the rings were all broken or gummed into position and the engine was a complete mess, expensive rebuild needed.

Having said all that we also bought an exdemo 52plte Diesel Clio, 198 miles on the clock at 8 months old. Faultless for the 5 years my wife kept it and a massive saving on new.

Not that any of that will help you decide

pulliptears

from another perspective, I bought a 1999 Clio 3 years ago with 21k on the clock. It fit snugly into the "old Lady drove to the shop" category from new. Its done 28k now (I only do town miles myself!) and not given me any real problems, but this I suspect was more due to the fact that said 'old lady' spent a fortune with main dealer in services etc over the years.

Jakg

Also, in 2008/9 a lot of new emissions stuff came in.

I know the last "new" un-reg'ed Rover 75's / MG ZT's are allowed to be an 08 at latest as they wouldn't pass Euro 4 which was mandatory from 08/09 onwards (I think).

Similar sought of thing happened with a bunch of bermudan Rover 75's in 2002 - Rover made an order for several cars to be sent over there, but by the time they got there the dealer was in administration. They eventually got them sent back (with delivery miles on the clock) but by this point they were all several years old and still unregistered, and were eventually sold by the administrators. Despite the problems the cars were meant to of had, once they'd had a thorough service (i.e. all the hoses checked, new tyres, new fluid everywhere, brakes checked) they have all been very reliable.

boyse7en

Are you sure it has a date of registration of 2007, and not a date of manufacture of 2007?
If the car was made in 2007, but wasn't registered until 2009, then it would have a 2007 'plate on it as that was the year of manufacture. There is then a note put on the V5 to that effect.

lemon26

Hi all, I think I'm going to go for it, I'm just a bit nervous as I've never had a used car before - before I got my house I'd just save up for a few months then buy new. Just a bit of nerves on my part. Was asking around at work today and a few lads have bought ex-demo cars and they've not had any problems so I think this is a one-time opportunity and would kick myself if I didn't go for it.

Boy, I've checked with the DVLA and Citoren and i was manufactured in Oct 07 but used (or not used!) on trade plates until )ct 09 when it was finally registered, gaining the 57-plate due to manufacture date. That's exactly what the DVLA said to me.

Thank you all again for your time! L

DistortedVision

If you're going to go for it ask for a full service.

babyshoes

Sounds like you have done your homework with this one. If it has been kept inside, the rust shouldn't be something to worry you, just the state of the engine if it has been driven hard.

Hope it works out for you, do let us know!