Buying first second-hand car!

AnaMarquex

Dear all,

I'm a postgraduate student (ie. on low income) and finally decided to buy my first second-hand car. I've checked autotrader.co.uk and s1cars.com (I'm currently living in Scotland), also Which? on reliable makes and Parkers for used prices.
I have found 2 Ford Fiestas I like, with low mileage (circa 50K) and around 9 years.

My real questions are:
- What to look out for? (MOT, service history, condition of tyres,...)
- Good tips for haggling.

I will use the car mainly for commuting and general errands.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance.
Ana

InsideInsurance

Remember that everything you have listed are ultimately indicators and aren't guarantees. You can get a low mileage, single owner vehicle that has full service history and passed its MOT yesterday but dies on the way home from buying it.

To add to your list you can check own many previous owners, generally people want low numbers, and how much it has left on the tax disc, when the last service was done. Also check for any high cost service items, like the cambelt being replaced, which should have been done or may be coming up shortly

An MOT is a safety test not a reliability test and a car on its last legs could pass the MOT with no problems at all. Be realistic that a 9 year old car is unlikely to have a full Ford service history.

If the sale is with a dealer check details such as warranties

The key to haggling is to be willing to walk away and to do what you say your going to do.

scheming_gypsy

Look to see what work has been done and what may need doing.

for example: if a Ford Fiesta needs it's cambelt changing at 60,000 miles and you buy one with 61,000 on the clock and it's original cam belt; you've got more money to pay out soon

blacksta

Didnt know that ford fiesta had a belt - thought it was a chain - My 13 year old ford ka - runs on a chain -

scheming_gypsy

blacksta wrote: »

Didnt know that ford fiesta had a belt - thought it was a chain - My 13 year old ford ka - runs on a chain -

you know what i meant though.

blacksta

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

you know what i meant though.

A Chain is suppose to last the life time of the carl - As it is very expensive to replace. I am going by the logic " if my 13 year ka is a chain i will automatically assume all fords after that are chains " i might be wrong

scheming_gypsy

Actually some Fiesta's are belt driven rather than chains.,

InsideInsurance

Are you following me scheming_gypsy?

cyclonebri1

AnaMarquex wrote: »

Dear all,

I'm a postgraduate student (ie. on low income) and finally decided to buy my first second-hand car. I've checked autotrader.co.uk and s1cars.com (I'm currently living in Scotland), also Which? on reliable makes and Parkers for used prices.
I have found 2 Ford Fiestas I like, with low mileage (circa 50K) and around 9 years.

My real questions are:
- What to look out for? (MOT, service history, condition of tyres,...)
- Good tips for haggling.

I will use the car mainly for commuting and general errands.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance.
Ana

Reverse your thinking, .

Look for 5 years old with 90k on the dial, the engine lasts, the body will fail 1st, seriously

rodenal

blacksta wrote: »

A Chain is suppose to last the life time of the carl - As it is very expensive to replace. I am going by the logic " if my 13 year ka is a chain i will automatically assume all fords after that are chains " i might be wrong

That is a crazy assumption, and unwise advise to be following g

funkycoldribena

blacksta wrote: »

A Chain is suppose to last the life time of the carl - As it is very expensive to replace. I am going by the logic " if my 13 year ka is a chain i will automatically assume all fords after that are chains " i might be wrong

You would be wrong.