Found a used car

atrixblue.-MFR-.

I think you should take a step back and have a think about exactly what your supposed to do when buying a used 1k sub bangernomical car.


Dont EVER be tempted to by a trader owned vehicle PRIVATELY.


Walk away from any garage that offers you a line of sight warranty once its out of their line of sight they never want to deal with you again never mind repair something or give you your money back if it spills its oil over the road a mile away.


discuss at length with the car seller its history (not just service but accident history), any receipts provided with the car form previous owner for you to look at.


short adverts online like good condition 4 tires runs starts and drives with MOT move on.


any lengthy adverts look for catch out ommissions on the sellers behalf, such as in the listings of features they hide CAT C or D mixed in with it as many people skim over features.


take the advert with you on your phone print it out on a tablet etc, check it against the car and check the features work!.


if you know nothing about cars, take a friends with decent knowledge with you one who can spot body chassis damage repairs, and mechanical knowledge.


don't just test drive it up the road and back, tell the dealer your going to be 20 mins and he should go with you but let you drive. up hills down hills test everything turning circle for any clunks getting the engine hot, brakes, look for engine management lights coming on gearbox noises bouncy ride as if your going over a hump but the front end bounces allot after suggests work shocks etc. engine smoke.


always look at your deposit invoice in the office if it says TRADE SALE then refuse to hand cash over walk away he trying to limit your statutory rights, he knows something you don't about the car your about to buy.


research the car not all fiesta's are work horses they have their problems and so do KA's the model years your looking at probably are coming to having new rear axel bushes which can be an expensive job to have done, zetec models needing timing belts, tappets rattling like bolts in a washing machine in the 1.3 endura, and suspension and wishbone bushes would need close attention and inspection before buying ontop of looking out for subframe, slam panel, battery tray, scuttle panel, sill, arch, fuel cap surround floor pan, rusting out needing welding.


a fiesta isn't worth much and back last summer my local freecycle page had a 1994 1.1 fiesta finesse free to good home on it with loads of pictures and receipts and recent work (had no welding or needed any) with new MOT on it, all it needed was new battery or alternator I was too late for it could have sold it £400 easy.

gik

polomints wrote: »

They are selling them for quite a bit more.

I am struggling to find any of these elusive cheap Fiestas near me.

That's because most have been scrapped, for good reason!

polomints

I'd rather have a Fiesta because I'm used to looking after one, and I intend to look after the underside of my next one better.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

I can think of cars that are just as reliable if not more reliable i.e strong engines and body and chassis and just as cheap to tax insure and maintain.


Mitsubishi colt upto 2003 models, reliable little runners. avoid auto for short distance driving.


Toyota startlet 1.3 (not glanzaV models)


VW Golf mk4 1.4 or 1.6 (ok window regs can be a problem but a replacement fitting kit £25.00 and hours labor in a garage cure the problem) can get a 2002-2003 model for around £1100 with one advertised in a garage for the asking price of £1300-£1450.
cheaper for 98 models to 2003. avoid ones fitted with sunroof tend to leak. may get a 1.9 TDI PD130 for £1100 solid reliable robust engines (make sure timing belt and water pump have been done recently) keep your eye on the wishbone bushes and drop links as a matter for hunting, air bag light common to come on but contact cleaner on the passenger and drivers airbag connections usually sorts it out for 6-12 months.


Another to put in the reliable book is a skoda fabia classic 1.4 MPI its a VW build car with a skoda badge, robust little things these cars, not to many peoples taste mainly due to lack of equipment (but you get more than a fiesta of same age) like eleky windows aircon CD player etc, can get one of these sub 1K with approx. 80k miles or over for less than 1K.


seat arosa/VWlupo 1.0 S can get a 2002-2004 for £1.2K there a nice seat arosa 2004 on ebay right now looks good with good description I can see going for around £1200 no reserve http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-SEAT-AROSA-1-0cc-S-MOT-TAX-FULL-SERVICE-HISTORY-73k-MILES-VW-LUPO-/151223363112?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item23359d6628


fiat punto 1.1 8v hoards of them out there.


Rover 25 1.1 16v underestimated and over raved about engine problems, 1.1 hardly ever suffers headgasget issues due to its low CC output and 75 BHP rating, needs more attention than other cars on the market but don't let that deture you all you nee to do is look for leaking rad and rad hoses, thermostat should be done yearly, and keep the water topped up on a weekly basis due to a small water resiviour, their false over raved reputation makes these cars a bargain, don't buy one with immobilizer issues which is commonly down to the key fob, make sure two keys two fobs both work. even better would be the rover 25/streetwise IL (SE out there too for same money with leather interior) turbo diesel, no DPF, L series rover engine returns great MPG reliable and solid seen a 2004 facelift for £1300 asking price at a traders on adtrader not so long ago, in night fire red with service history from supplying garage upto 60k, receipts upto 75k miles that its on currently two fobs and keys and they hold their price come time to sell on for something new.


Kia picanto 1.1 small nimble little thing, many to choose from varying in age ive seen 2004 plates for £1400.

skivenov

When you get to this sort of budget, condition matters more than age.

Generally speaking, rust is endemic in Fords over 10 years old. If it's had a weld, it's got rust, yeah, he's done the bit you can see this year, but next years is already creeping in.

I'd only consider it if it was very clean, ie granny car that's lived a dry life, so the rot hasn't had the change to start.

I'll throw into the list above the facelifted (year 2000 - 2003) VW Polo. The pre-2000 suffers with rot and poor build quality, but they really sorted this out on the facelifted cars, and they're getting very cheap. Add onto that the fact they still look like a modern car, rather than a 10 year old.

Netwizard

polomints wrote: »

I'd rather have a Fiesta because I'm used to looking after one, and I intend to look after the underside of my next one better.

If you buy the right car in the first place, it won't need much looking after at all above and beyond a service every year and a top up of fluids every now and then