Help - advice before noon today please

Exemplar

Spec, sorry I should have been more descriptive, specification, i.e. what it has!! I believe that the verve should have air-con (make sure it works.... One thing that really worries sales guys is for you to sit in the car when the engine has warmed up then setting the fan to FULL and the heater to max, then turning it to cold and pushing the air-con button), make sure that there are 2 remote keys, if there is only 1 then they need to source one to be ready and working on the day of collection (sales guys will say yes.... then it will never turn up!), tyres all need to be good name brands (Pirelli, Michelin etc), Steering wheel needs to be clean and not worn, stand back from the car and look at the colours on the car, do all of the panels match exactly... if not then it may have seen some paint (not a bad thing if it was just a scratch, but it could be worse), if a panel does look different then check the gaps between it and other panels are the same distance...

And etc etc etc

2gorgeousgirls

Sorry Alcot - told you I know nothing!

Has air-con, alloys, elec front windows, cd player, driver and passenger airbags. elec mirrors, remote central locking with alarm, front fog lights.

Will check all I can, obviously can't check the airbags and really hope I would never need them after my last experience. Will also check it has 2 keys.

Exemplar

CD player! OK, take a CD, make sure it works...properly...and that the speakers are all ok, if not and it's a Pug CD player it needs to be replaced with a PUG one (or one of greater value). Above all else get everything you have agreed in writing on the sales form. If not they will deny everything!! Also make sure that you give the MINIMUM deposit, say £100 so that if you decide against it you havent lost too much (not that I would suggest this).

Finally I would ask that if it is a dealership with sales people and a sales manager then you get the sales manager to approve what has been written on the sales form and get them to sign it (so that they cannot say that it was done without their approval!!)

AH!! And make sure that things like keys have an agreed date written down on the sales form, so that it is provided on the day of collection, or agree that you with-hold something like £150-200 if they cannot.... keeps them on their toes!

2gorgeousgirls

Thanks for all the advice.

Heading out the door now to go test drive it. Armed with a long list of the things I need to check thanks to you guys.

Will come back tonight and let you know how I got on.

Even if this car doesn't suit, I've picked up some valuable tips to help in my search.

Thanks again

s_b

too many miles on it for me
ive seen these with 50,000 and the back axle is shot
also check for chuff from the injectors
personally i would rather have the petrol version if it had to be one of these

2gorgeousgirls

Well have been for a test drive and am home without the car.

Took a test drive and the brake light stayed on the whole time (before anyone asks, I did check I had the handbrake off properly!).

Lovely looking car but ...

needed two new tyres
hubby reckoned air filter needed changing
worried about brake light on permanently
felt heavy to drive (I know diesel does feel heavier than petrol but felt very heavy compared to hubby's diesel)
decided mileage was too high and
dealer would not negotiate on price - big no no.

Cambelt had been changed. Was advised by a friend that the back axle could be a problem and I see S B said the same.

Am looking at more cars tomorrow but feel that I have learnt some valuable tips on this thread and feel more confident about going to buy a used car.

Thank you all so much for your help. Without it I probably would have bought it as bodywork was in excellent condition and it was such a pretty colour of red (tongue in cheek!)!

Exemplar

Cool... so what are you looking for, and where are you based?

s_b

2gorgeousgirls ,apparently cars at this price are overpriced over there,why not consider a short break in blighty with a bit of car shopping
i reckon dealer has every penny in that car and regrets buying it

Exemplar

SB is right on this, my folks just bought a new Kia Sportage (last of the old shape) in Co. Antrim and got jack all discount! you could buy one and take it back then re-register it... heck come and stay at mine!

Exemplar

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2007-renault-clio-12-extreme-new-shape-12-months-mot-just-serviced-economical-low-insurance/81107777