Buying a used car for £1000. Don't want to be ripped off.

jaydeeuk1

sam959 wrote: »

My Toyota was in the family for 10 years and never missed a beat! only went in the garage to be serviced and MOT'd but no problems!! I think i ad to replace the bulbs but that's it! It was only worth £1000 so it is possible to get a decent car without it costing anything! Guarantee you buy one tomorrow you will not get any problems!

Really? If you spend £100000 on a brand new car, I doubt anyone will guarantee you won't have any problems.

sam959

ok maybe not Guarantee! but i think there is a good chance if you pick up a good one!

mkirkby

Another point..try to get something with history. A full service history will be difficult but a big pile of papers detailing services, tyre changes etc etc all adds to the notion that the previous owner looked after it.

Also take a look at how long the last person had it. If they haven't had it long, ask yourself why they are selling again.

Mileage should not be too much of an issue if it has history and the last person had it for a while. Cars only reach high mileages if they are looked after.

mrcol1000

Thanks for everyones advice. Took my car to garage for rough estimate on repair price before I decide whether to change it. Said head gasket gone and £500+ at least even if it could be fixed and be better off scrapping it.

Still like Citroen Picasso. Saw one today for £1600. 2003. 60K miles. Full service history. But still worried about french cars bad rep.

Have heard like Sam says Japanese cars are reliable but not many in my area for sale which I guess says how much people get rid of them!

sam959

Yeah they are harder to find but if you get one you just dont get rid of them! I see more old Honda and Toyota around here than any other car! And old Nissan my friend still has a p reg nissan almera has never gone wrong had a refurb on gearbox but had done 150,000 miles now on a 1.4ltre. Plus he got it when he was early twenties so you know how boys drive!! But i know some cars regardless of what they are can cause problems but i believe you will have no problems with Jap hence why they dominate the reliability chart!! its always Lexus, Toyota and Honda. Even German cars are like number 10! Says a lot really!! You can get lexus cheap the IS model but repairs wont be cheap! Anyway keep a look out!!

fivetide

mkirkby wrote: »

Another point..try to get something with history. A full service history will be difficult but a big pile of papers detailing services, tyre changes etc etc all adds to the notion that the previous owner looked after it.

Also take a look at how long the last person had it. If they haven't had it long, ask yourself why they are selling again.

Mileage should not be too much of an issue if it has history and the last person had it for a while. Cars only reach high mileages if they are looked after.

This is why I like a luxobarge.

Tend to be high priced when new and owned by people who proper look after them as a result.

Rare to see many five year old Mondeos etc with FSH and one owner but not as rare to see an older barge with both.

Paid an average of a grand for the last two and had zero issues. Servicing is dead cheap as well despite what people might think. Basically, get one that has had most tin worm sorted and it'll plug on quite happily.

Yolina

mrcol1000 wrote: »

But still worried about french cars bad rep.

Up until a few weeks ago, I had a 52 plate 206 - never had any issues with it in all the years I had it, just the usual maintenance stuff. Though obviously it's not because my car was working perfectly well that all others do :rotfl:

forgotmyname

Plenty of 5 year old Mondeo's with 1 owner or ex lease. These are the only cars i look for.

Sometimes you find something a bit better, Serviced more often of a few optional extra's.

I look for cars that are serviced at less than the manufacturers limits. As i think thats too long between services.

Serviced at 8000 - 10,000 instead of 12,000 says to me they want it to last and be reliable.

mrcol1000

Okay another question. Do you go for a lower mileage car or a higher mileage? I don't want to get something that has done a lot of miles and worn out but then I have heard that low mileage cars have done short stressful journeys while higher mileage cars will have done a lot of longer but less stressful motorway journeys.

andygb

mrcol1000 wrote: »

Okay another question. Do you go for a lower mileage car or a higher mileage? I don't want to get something that has done a lot of miles and worn out but then I have heard that low mileage cars have done short stressful journeys while higher mileage cars will have done a lot of longer but less stressful motorway journeys.

My Mondeo was an ex pool car (from a large company) when I bought it, and had only averaged around 5K a year (which would normally worry me), but it has now done 130K, and the engine sounds as sweet as a nut, and it still has the original clutch and gearbox.
It is again purely down to luck of the draw. You may get a car from an older person who has not used it much, but paid for all the servicing and cared for the car, so that could be a good buy.
On the other hand you may look at a 100K car which has had the same treatment, and if you can get it at a good price then you may have a bargain.