Used car without MOT (yet)

AliceBanned

Thanks Adrian. It was freezing in that Portakabin today.:rotfl:


The Mazda has a lot of corrosion - looking at MOT fail. Are you suggesting it because it has long MOT? Because I want something for a year or so?


Ford looks nice. I haven't looked at MOTs on it yet.


You found all of that very quickly!

AliceBanned

Re the Ford I doubt a private seller would want to put it through the MOT again. Is it common practice to ask for this? Obviously only if I liked it and said I was a serious buyer.

AdrianC

AliceBanned wrote: »

The Mazda has a lot of corrosion - looking at MOT fail. Are you suggesting it because it has long MOT? Because I want something for a year or so?

It's just passed a new ticket. There's a few advisories, mostly suspension wear. Nothing too major.

• Test date 22 December 2016
• Expiry date 4 January 2018
• Test Result Pass
• Odometer reading 72,140 miles

nearside Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)
offside Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)
offside front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
inner joints underside rusty
Bumper insecure ()

The grot on the front arches isn't anything major. Not pretty, and won't improve, sure - but you're looking at spending a grand on a car...

You found all of that very quickly!

The Lexus was straightforward - just look for IS200s (most IS of that age were 200s) £1000-1500, trade, then look for one that said "new MOT" for about the right money/age.

Then search on the postcode of that dealer, 10 mile radius, £1000-1500, private only, and scroll through to see what didn't look too horrible.

AliceBanned wrote: »

Re the Ford I doubt a private seller would want to put it through the MOT again. Is it common practice to ask for this?

Don't ask, don't get. It's got three and a half months MOT on it. If you walk, it'll sell easier with a new ticket. It's not long had work - and it's only done 2,500 miles (going by the pic of the dash, not the (wrong) mileage in the ad) since last April's test, which it didn't have any real issue with.

AliceBanned

Oh I didn't realise the mileage was wrong in the ad - will have a look. Ford Fusion isn't something I considered by it looks good.


I was also considering this; it is £999 on the forecourt (another portakabin job I'm afraid) but cheaper online:


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201609288209017/sort/priceasc/usedcars/dealer/10003634/page/1/dpp/m-m-cars-hemel-hempstead-dpp-10003634/advert-type/dealer-stock?logcode=dsp


I just checked the MOTs and it doesn't seem to have had major problems.

AdrianC

AliceBanned wrote: »

I was also considering this; it is £999 on the forecourt (another portakabin job I'm afraid) but cheaper online:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201609288209017/

I just checked the MOTs and it doesn't seem to have had major problems.

No wonder it's been reduced - it's been for sale since September. Look at the URL - 2016 09 28 - that's when the ad went up. So how come he can't shift it in three months...?

Two days MOT, and last time had a raft of rotten brake pipes advised. Less than 500 miles in the last year.

BeenThroughItAll

Moral here is that you will won't be getting much of an advantage buying from any dealer at that price point than you will buying privately. The level of consumer protection is pretty low in either case, but your grand buys you a grand's WORTH of private sale, as opposed to a £500 (if that) worth plus margin of dealer car.

AliceBanned

AdrianC wrote: »

No wonder it's been reduced - it's been for sale since September. Look at the URL - 2016 09 28 - that's when the ad went up. So how come he can't shift it in three months...?

Two days MOT, and last time had a raft of rotten brake pipes advised. Less than 500 miles in the last year.

Thanks Adrian.


I will give the Ford Fusion people a ring. I am off work this week so time to potter about having a look. I haven't bought from a private seller before though. I get the message that some of these dealers are a bit ropey! At the very least they are taking a few hundred more than the car is worth if sold privately.

AliceBanned

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Moral here is that you will won't be getting much of an advantage buying from any dealer at that price point than you will buying privately. The level of consumer protection is pretty low in either case, but your grand buys you a grand's WORTH of private sale, as opposed to a £500 (if that) worth plus margin of dealer car.

Hi BeenThroughItAll I was just writing my last post when this came through! So now I am focusing more on private sellers. And I am going to check the MOT details before looking at any car. Thanks everyone, great advice. My gut feeling was telling me to leave the Lexus..

AliceBanned

AdrianC wrote: »

No wonder it's been reduced - it's been for sale since September. Look at the URL - 2016 09 28 - that's when the ad went up. So how come he can't shift it in three months...?

Two days MOT, and last time had a raft of rotten brake pipes advised. Less than 500 miles in the last year.

It's really a buyers' market isn't it?

forgotmyname

Buying a car on a budget you want the car with the least bells and whistles, a lexus would not be on my radar unless i had a very full toolkit and lots of free time and not have to rely on it 24/7.

You maybe lucky but if your not it wont be cheap.

Nothing wrong with an advert saying full MOT and finding it doesnt have one or its about to expire. They will put a fresh one on it. Perfectly normal.
Lots of buyers want a fresh MOT. Lots of garages will if there is less than 6 months left. But they wont do it until the cars sold.

Old Corsa.. ewwww... Get a Fiesta instead.