Buying a second hand car

catoutthebag

Buy mach 1 ficus or mk2.5 onwards.

bakepot

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Rusty discs doesn't mean much. The ones on wife mr2 look like were taken from a lancia, but they're fine inside.

Yeah I didn't think there would be any issues with them but it just added to the general feeling the car was 'old'. I just don't fancy spending my money on something like that.

bakepot

peter12345678910 wrote: »

I would only buy Ford focus 2008 onwards. As they improved their emmisions to £30 annual tax and they have decent mpg, from 2007 to 2008 they seemed to have taken a leap forward.

Add an extra year and you may get cheaper insurance, though Ford focus is cheap to repair, but parts may be a little easier to find.

Yeah I would have much preferred a model from 2008 onwards but unfortunately they command a higher a price for the reasons you've stated. Unless they've done 80k plus miles but even then they're slightly out my budget!

straighttalker

catoutthebag wrote: »

Please do not pay asking price. Get minimum 10 points off listed price even if accurate.

If the price was reasonable and the car was as described, what valid reason would you have to get money knocked off the price?

burlington6

Don't pay for an RAC or AA inspection unless you have to. They are jobsworths who would condemn a new car if they thought it was used. ( to cover their back )

If you know a trusted local mechanic you would be better paying him to have a look

Ebe_Scrooge

bakepot wrote: »

The engine looked immaculate.

That's because it's just been steam-cleaned to hide the fact that it spews oil all over the place whenever it's driven at anything more than town speeds :rotfl:


Always be wary of an engine that looks too clean, it's one of the oldest tricks in the book.

catoutthebag

straighttalker wrote: »

If the price was reasonable and the car was as described, what valid reason would you have to get money knocked off the price?

I don't care. Just never pay the tagged price when you can always TRY to get payments. Your comment is blasphemy on this site :money:

catoutthebag

burlington6 wrote: »

Don't pay for an RAC or AA inspection unless you have to. They are jobsworths who would condemn a new car if they thought it was used. ( to cover their back )

If you know a trusted local mechanic you would be better paying him to have a look

I heard that they kick the tyre and say 'good to go':D