Advice needed about cars, insurance, the lot!

steve-L

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301084833857/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/1000/fuel-type/diesel/price-from/500/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/radius/1501/page/1/postcode/bb79da?logcode=p

Group 4 ... I think this is non-D turbo....
If you ran this for 2 years, scrap it for £200 you will hopefully have 20% NCB + be 26!
Its not pretty but you are saving quite a bit until your insurance lets you buy what you want?

edit....

Ask your mechanic friend of they are OK working on non turbo diesels....
End of the day you can't lose more than 500 on the car (and even selling for scrap you'll get a couple of hundred!)

Chickabiddybex

And I've found this for... £200
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301054805026/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/4000/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/quicksearch/true/page/1/postcode/wf134ld/radius/20?logcode=p
R reg Fiesta.

Is this gonna break down as soon as I get it and cost more to fix than the car is worth?
For the record insurance is only £630

Edited to add: my "mechanic friend" that you've invented is not a mechanic he can do things like... That bolt needs tightening, that wiper blade needs replacing, that dent needs bashing out, etc. He's not going to lay under it for an hour every weekend.

Joe_Horner

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

And I've found this for... £200
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301054805026/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/4000/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/quicksearch/true/page/1/postcode/wf134ld/radius/20?logcode=p
R reg Fiesta.

Is this gonna break down as soon as I get it and cost more to fix than the car is worth?
For the record insurance is only £630

That could be a perfect buy but it will need looking at carefully for condition before deciding.

It's in the "unwanted" age range, where it doesn't really get anyone nostalgic (the ultimate basis of "classic" status) but isn't new enough for people who consider "representational" as an important feature. Basically, for now, it's "an old car" - nothing more or less - which doesn't mean unreliable, doesn't mean ready to fall apart, and doesn't mean you'l need to tow an oil-rig with you to reach the next fuel station.

What it does mean is that you (or someone on your behalf) needs to know what they're looking at in order to judge its overall condition. It could be bargain of a lifetime, or it could be dead in a week. If it is likely to die, someone with experience should be able to spot that before purchase.

Bear in mind that, in the worst case, you'll get back a fair chunk of that purchase price as scrap weight

Chickabiddybex

Yeah my mums boyfriend would definitely be able to help when it comes to deciding if its good or just dead weight. And so cheap it's "low risk".

Would something like that cope going down the motorway for a couple of hours?

Joe_Horner

No real reason why not. It won't be as quiet as something newer and sitting at 80+ might not be such a good idea, but at legal speeds it should cope fine and you always have the CD player to drown out the wind / engine noise

steve-L

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

And I've found this for... £200
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301054805026/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/4000/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/quicksearch/true/page/1/postcode/wf134ld/radius/20?logcode=p
R reg Fiesta.

Is this gonna break down as soon as I get it and cost more to fix than the car is worth?
For the record insurance is only £630

Edited to add: my "mechanic friend" that you've invented is not a mechanic he can do things like... That bolt needs tightening, that wiper blade needs replacing, that dent needs bashing out, etc. He's not going to lay under it for an hour every weekend.

Hence reason to ask if he's OK with diesels!
For someone like me (probably like your mate).... I used to do a lot of my own work .. and had other mats knew a lot more and would help out if I got into a situation.....

However, I was OK doing lots of stuff on a petrol (esp. old naturally aspirated i.e. non injection) but first time I tried looking at a diesel I was just lost! (Nothing is where you think it should be)

Anyway, ignoring the engine.....
There is a lot you can do on older cars that only takes an hour.... (assuming you can get the nuts off) .... and for some things if you have some ramps.... I changed part of the rear suspension on my mum's car over christmas..... (and I'm no workshop mechanic) funny thing it was actually about as easy as changing a headlight bulb in my BMW 330!!!! (Assuming you have a full tool set)

Thing was if I'd messed up on mum's car my brother would have been able to sort just about anything.... or he has a mechanic who could.... so it was a no risk thing!

Its also amazing just how cheap many parts are.... with a combination of ebay for used and ordering direct for others....

On the Fiesta .. its quite high milage for a petrol 1.3 and the MOT runs out in April.... personally, I'd pay more for a longer MOT...
The PUG 1.9D however.. engine should be fine..... for a LOT of miles...

On either you need to know when the clutch was last changed.... as that is a labour job you can't do at home (clutches are actually quite cheap... its the labour cost kills you) and also check of the timing belt has been changed...

Problem is you can never tell! BUT You could pay 5000 and face the same bills.... at least a £500 or so car you know the MAX you will pay!

steve-L

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

Yeah my mums boyfriend would definitely be able to help when it comes to deciding if its good or just dead weight. And so cheap it's "low risk".

Would something like that cope going down the motorway for a couple of hours?

My money is on the 1.9D for motorway miles.....

(Same insurance) ....

Chickabiddybex

I've seen this one http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201220471486041/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/1000/model/206/make/peugeot/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/1/postcode/wf134ld/radius/1500?logcode=p and I'd really like a 206 actually because I've driven one before. I know what I'm getting myself into a bit more! Is it a good idea or can I get much better/cheaper to run cars for the same price?

Joe_Horner

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

I've seen this one http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201220471486041/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/1000/model/206/make/peugeot/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/1/postcode/wf134ld/radius/1500?logcode=p and I'd really like a 206 actually because I've driven one before. I know what I'm getting myself into a bit more! Is it a good idea or can I get much better/cheaper to run cars for the same price?

That one could be a very bad idea.

The fact that a dealer is selling it with no MOT at that price rather than putting it in for test (only £54 at full price - which he won't be paying) and then asking an extra £3 - 400 for the car) strongly suggests that it won't be getting an MOT without a fair bit of work.

There's also a known problem with the rear axle bearings on them which gets expensive to sort.

steve-L

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

I've seen this one http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201220471486041/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/1000/model/206/make/peugeot/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/1/postcode/wf134ld/radius/1500?logcode=p and I'd really like a 206 actually because I've driven one before. I know what I'm getting myself into a bit more! Is it a good idea or can I get much better/cheaper to run cars for the same price?

139,000 on a 1,4 petrol
NO MOT!

General guidance.... I'm sure I'll get slated for generalising!

1.9D is good for 500,000 miles (or until the car falls apart around it) if its been maintained
1.4 petrol ... depends a lot on the car.... Rover K series 35,000 miles .... (notorious for cyl head gasket) but in general if its pulling a bigger car it will wear out quicker....
100k is (in general) borrowed time.....

Turbo diesels ... the Turbo dies 1st.....My Honda has 180,000 on the Turbo... it died at 170,000 and needed cleaning (Can DEFINITELY NOT BE DONE AT HOME) cost me about £300 ......

Hopefully will get another 100,000 out of the turbo and that will probably be the end of the car!


Old Vauxhauls with the 1.7 diesel (Isuzu made)..... but again Turbo....

In general French cars went downhill reliability wise in the last decade (increasing electronics) hence 2000 is model specific... the 306 was released before the 206 if I remember... hence the 206 is a bit more electrical dependent (and this is the usual problem for French cars) (Well leaky windows and things but that's not the end of the world)