Terrified of buying new car

andrewf75

Go for something reliable like a VW, (or Skoda, Seat) or Japanese make and there is nothing to be terrified about. Obviously you can be unlucky with an older car but such is life. I'd look privately for something with low mileage that has full service history. Even if you're no expert, you can tell a lot by just looking out for the obvious like rust and you can tell a lot by the person selling as well.

bigjl

AdrianC wrote: »

That's exactly my point, when I say corners have to be cut. No reputable trader can reasonably prepare a 10yo car AND cover costs AND make a profit AND give anything meaningful in the way of comeback for a couple of hundred quid.

Corners have not been cut.

That is just the kind of margin expected.

It is not like Wheeler Dealers where they make several thousand a deal.

I used to easily make a profit as a home trader.

And that was making sure every vehicle was serviced and repairs carried out.

How many cars have you bought and sold for profit?

And iver how many years.

AdrianC

bigjl wrote: »

Corners have not been cut.

That is just the kind of margin expected.

I used to easily make a profit as a home trader.

So you cut corners, compared to "more respectable" traders through reducing your costs, immensely, by not having any premises. I'm sure you stood by your SOGA responsibilities in full, and paid all due taxes etc - and I'm equally sure that you are well aware that far from all of your colleagues are so upstanding.

OddballJamie

StripeyMiata wrote: »

It's a very rare car, (well the car is common, not this model which is a niche one) only 11 for sale in the UK on Autotrader at the moment, and his is the last listed by price, and the ones before are just as good as my one. So that's why I think he's stuck with it.

Never heard of a rare FIAT Panda, unpopular spec would be more accurate.

AdrianC

OddballJamie wrote: »

Never heard of a rare FIAT Panda

Find me a decent original-shape 4x4, please...

Ebe_Scrooge

downshifter wrote: »

If anyone can recommend a car that would at least be a start! Bumpy country roads/cart tracks - just something that can cope with that is fine. Don't care at all about radios or other luxuries!

Thank you.

An older Subaru Forester may be worth looking at ? Can cope with the rough conditions, Japanese reliability, and not "flashy" like some "off-roaders" can be, so you're not paying a premium for the badge. Just a humble work-horse than does what it says on the tin.

OddballJamie

AdrianC wrote: »

Find me a decent original-shape 4x4, please...

An 80s one?

OddballJamie

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

An older Subaru Forester may be worth looking at ? Can cope with the rough conditions, Japanese reliability, and not "flashy" like some "off-roaders" can be, so you're not paying a premium for the badge. Just a humble work-horse than does what it says on the tin.

That was the first car that sprung to mind when I read the OP, then I thought about the fuel economy.

I had a look on Autotrader earlier, there's hardly any bargains about, last year I looked and found loads of good ones around £1000. Looks like they are being snapped up.

DKLS

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

An older Subaru Forester may be worth looking at ? Can cope with the rough conditions, Japanese reliability, and not "flashy" like some "off-roaders" can be, so you're not paying a premium for the badge. Just a humble work-horse than does what it says on the tin.

Great cars but the best mpg I got out of mine was 28/9mpg. One of the cars I wish I hadn't sold, I quite fancy a STI for the tip run.

bigjl

AdrianC wrote: »

So you cut corners, compared to "more respectable" traders through reducing your costs, immensely, by not having any premises. I'm sure you stood by your SOGA responsibilities in full, and paid all due taxes etc - and I'm equally sure that you are well aware that far from all of your colleagues are so upstanding.

Being efficient with your expences is not cutting corners itbis increasing profitability.

Never had a single car come back actually.

I don't really care what other traders do as I am not responsible for them am I?

Being a Home Trader is nothing to do with honesty or respectability.

The fact that you feel a Home Trader is dishonest says an awful lot about you thatn it does about me.

You are clearly a very angry and jealous person.

Other traders were not my "colleagues" they were my "competition".

That is a very basic concept to grasp.

But looking at your posts it is fairly obvious why you don't get that.

So again.

How many cars have you bought and sold for the purpose of making a profit?

I suspect it is zero.

So why do you infer that traders routinely buy cars for £1000 and sell for £2000 and pocket £1000 tax free without spending a penny.