Getting someone else (contracting) someone else to buy a car on my behalf

Rubidium87

The car buying process seems fraught with problems - what ever aspect you look into, there seems to be subtle issues that can catch out the most guarded of people. I was just looking at HPI checking and discovering there are so many companies providing the service, many of very limited value. About 20+ years ago I did use a guy (I think he was on TopGear) - I contacted him and gave him the spec of a car I was interested in and he rang me from auctions and about private sales until he eventually managed to get what we wanted at the right price - he delivered it MOT'd and serviced and it was all-in-all a good price and felt trouble free - I'm looking for someone who can do the same or a similar job - someone who can check out a car and make sure we pay a fair price for fair car, ideally someone who can get a plugin diagnostic (where a diagnostic scanner is used for the OBD for reading live and historic fault codes) - can anyone suggest someone or some company to approach?

motorguy

Rubidium87 wrote: »

The car buying process seems fraught with problems - what ever aspect you look into, there seems to be subtle issues that can catch out the most guarded of people. I was just looking at HPI checking and discovering there are so many companies providing the service, many of very limited value. About 20+ years ago I did use a guy (I think he was on TopGear) - I contacted him and gave him the spec of a car I was interested in and he rang me from auctions and about private sales until he eventually managed to get what we wanted at the right price - he delivered it MOT'd and serviced and it was all-in-all a good price and felt trouble free - I'm looking for someone who can do the same or a similar job - someone who can check out a car and make sure we pay a fair price for fair car, ideally someone who can get a plugin diagnostic (where a diagnostic scanner is used for the OBD for reading live and historic fault codes) - can anyone suggest someone or some company to approach?

With margins very thin and expectations high, i dont think there are too many who can carve a living out of that sort of service any more (at least for relatively run of the mill stuff)

What car are you looking for, what year, budget and where are you in the country?

Rubidium87

Thanks for reply. Stoke-on-Trent.
~£5K budget which means that there are very few in the large car supermarkets.
Daughters first car, needed now she has finished uni and has a job to start end of July.
She's using money from her ISA.
At the moment we're looking Skoda Fabia SE (she wants air con) around 2012. Her bf has a newer Fabia and she likes it.

loskie

That's what a car dealer will do! Sometimes you are lucky and sometimes not.

Rubidium87

flippingcars
Is one service I found so far.

motorguy

Rubidium87 wrote: »

Thanks for reply. Stoke-on-Trent.
~£5K budget which means that there are very few in the large car supermarkets.
Daughters first car, needed now she has finished uni and has a job to start end of July.
She's using money from her ISA.
At the moment we're looking Skoda Fabia SE (she wants air con) around 2012. Her bf has a newer Fabia and she likes it.

Theres a fairly decent search mechanism now on autotrader so you can search by specific year range, make, model, trim level, engine type, max mileage,etc.

You can also search by distance from your postcode.

I'd be looking for an established dealer with a proper bricks and mortar showroom, a years comprehensive warranty (check whos providing it, the terms and maybe google it to see what people think).

For HPI checks use either HPI themselves or someone like RAC. Dont do an HPI check until you've settled on a particular car and are ready to buy.

Do your homework up front, ring the dealer in advance, ask about documented / stamped service history, previous owners and the condition of the car.

Also at 5 years old it MAY be due a timing belt if one is fitted (belts are usually replaced on set age or set mileage whichever comes first)

davemorton

If buying from a dealer, why waste money on a HPI?