Vauxhall Meriva 58 plate

1trainer1

I am interested in a Vauxhall Meriva I have seen at a local garage, the garage has been recommended by a friend and as I know next to nothing about cars I thought I would ask if I am getting a good deal.

The car is a Vauxhall Meriva 58 plate, mileage is 27,000, it is a 1.6 litre engine, they have done a full service on it and the asking price is £3800

is this reasonable? I am looking to see if I can get it down to £3500.

had a test drive yesterday and it felt nice and comfortable to drive.

It has had one lady owner since new, full service history

OddballJamie

Check the service history shows yearly services and not mileage services. Too many low mileage drivers wait for the inspection light to come on and got 3-4 years between services.

Also find out is the cambelt has been done, check with Vauxhall to find out the exact interval as they kept changing their minds a few years back. They vary 4, 6, 8, 10 years, if it's due then get the dealer to do it.

If the dealer says it hasn't done enough miles for the change, ignore them as it's years or mileage, whichever comes first.

Also have you tried other types of cars to compare? Nissan Note is decent for that sort of size.

Spicy_McHaggis

Yeah, six years for most of the Vauxhall for cam belts. They were 8 until a few years ago and were all cut to four due to problems.

If you get the belt done as a condition of buying it make sure they do the tensioners and water pump too, it's more likely they'll fail rather than the belt.

1trainer1

will speak to the dealer tomorrow after they have done the service to check about the Cam Belt and the Service History.

Will also be taking the car to a friends garage when we pick it up to make sure everything is fine.

Does the price sound reasonable?

Spicy_McHaggis

Quick look on autotrader shows it to be a little on the pricey side, few a year newer and cheaper.

Why not get your friend to look at it before you pick it up?

ali-t

I had one (61) plate and wasn't keen on it. I found it terrible in the snow and although I liked the finger/handbrake mechanics kept doing that teeth sucking thing and saying they are expensive when they break.

forgotmyname

Even £3500 is too much... £3500 for a 2010 plate cars on the autotrader site.

Always inspect the service history. FSH can be a bit misleading.

I looked at a car with a FSH. But some services were at 16,000 miles from the previous one when the manufacturers limit was 12,000.

Marktheshark

Check engine for ticking noises, they are renowned for wearing gudgeon pins on the pistons, both 8v and 16v and this leads to piston slap which many mistake for camshaft noise.
Oil has to be done on time every time.

Nebulous2

Also check for any noise from brakes or wheel bearings. If it squeaks when you drive it avoid it.

facade

1trainer1 wrote: »

It has had one lady owner since new, full service history

The first can be treated as a warning, there is one opposite me with "one lady owner" and I wouldn't buy it unless it was £200

The second need checking as above, match when it was last done to now, as it has had a "full service"


Get your friend to look it over first, you should always buy on condition. Be very thorough, you need a dry day, and must look from all angles at the panels to check for dents, scratches and slight bulges or colour missmatches indicating repairs.

Spicy_McHaggis

facade wrote: »

The first can be treated as a warning, there is one opposite me with "one lady owner" and I wouldn't buy it unless it was £200

The second need checking as above, match when it was last done to now, as it has had a "full service"


Get your friend to look it over first, you should always buy on condition. Be very thorough, you need a dry day, and must look from all angles at the panels to check for dents, scratches and slight bulges or colour missmatches indicating repairs.

I can think of one or two lady owners where it wouldn't be a problem and could almost say for certain are better drivers than you are.