Buying a car, advice on MOT history

naaads_xo

So I’m looking to buy a car from a trader, he’s selling a 2006 Volkswagen 1.2 Manual car with 100k miles for £595. However, he mentioned the coil needs replacing..when I asked him how much would it be to fix he said £17 which seems a bit unrealistic I think. These are the advisories that it has gotten:

8 September 2018
PASS
Mileage
94,029 miles
MOT test number
2562 4532 2957
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
27 September 2019
Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
Offside Front Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

5 September 2018
FAIL
Mileage
94,025 miles
MOT test number
6606 4790 4170
Test location
View test location
Do not drive until repaired (dangerous defects):
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii))
Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
Offside Front Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Date tested
31 August 2017
PASS
Mileage
76,081 miles
MOT test number
4988 1551 2166
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
27 September 2018
Date tested
31 August 2017
FAIL
Mileage
76,081 miles
MOT test number
6851 1159 4015
Test location
View test location
Reason(s) for failure
Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)
Nearside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a)
Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
What are failures?
Date tested
31 August 2016
PASS
Mileage
65,839 miles
MOT test number
6778 1166 3706
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
27 September 2017
Date tested
1 September 2015
PASS
Mileage
55,452 miles
MOT test number
9385 9094 4762
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
27 September 2016
Date tested
2 September 2014
PASS
Mileage
45,220 miles
MOT test number
5592 5524 4252
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
27 September 2015
Date tested
2 September 2014
FAIL
Mileage
45,220 miles
MOT test number
7970 4564 4244
Test location
View test location
Reason(s) for failure
Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)
Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)
Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
What are failures?
Date tested
28 September 2013
PASS
Mileage
35,604 miles
MOT test number
6777 9147 3216
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
27 September 2014
Date tested
24 September 2013
FAIL
Mileage
35,604 miles
MOT test number
3372 6746 3270
Test location
View test location
Reason(s) for failure
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
What are failures?
Date tested
25 September 2012
PASS
Mileage
24,927 miles
MOT test number
3581 5926 2203
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
24 September 2013
Date tested
25 September 2012
FAIL
Mileage
24,927 miles
MOT test number
1893 9956 2251
Test location
View test location
Reason(s) for failure
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive movement at a wishbone pin or bush (2.5.A.1c)
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive movement at a wishbone pin or bush (2.5.A.1c)

So what do you think? Worth to buy or not? Thanks! Btw new driver so sorry for the questions

maxmycardagain

what coil? ignition pack?

a suspension coil will cost £100+

its a cheaprunaround with some needs.... mainly gaiters from what I see, price up the advisories for peace of mind

naaads_xo

I’m not sure what coil he didn’t specify but when I asked he said to replace would be £17. How long can you drive a car without a coil would it be a major problem?

Ectophile

naaads_xo wrote: »

I’m not sure what coil he didn’t specify but when I asked he said to replace would be £17. How long can you drive a car without a coil would it be a major problem?

If the engine is the sort that has only one coil, then it won't even start if the coil fails.


If it's the sort that has two or four coils, then it may start and run after a fashion, but realistically, it wouldn't be driveable. And attempting to do so might damage the catalytic converter.

forgotmyname

Ignition coil = it wont run properly = dont drive it.

Suspensione coil = its a danger on the roads = dont drive it.

£17 for the part could be either and if he has the tools both jobs could be
done within an hour.

When a car is MOTd with tyres worn near the limits or worse below then you know the type of person that drove it. Spend nothing on the car until it actually fails, leave all the bills for the next owner.

Is it worth buying, who knows we have not seen it. No mention of the service history??

konark

It's a 3 pot and has 3 coils- one for each spark plug. If it's such an easy fix the dealer would have done it, they're about £20.



Only the last MOT is relevant, problems on earlier MOTs will all have been fixed.


I'd get that gaiter fixed before it destroys the driveshaft cv joint.


.

naaads_xo

Oh yes, forgot to mention it has part service history, not full. My main worry is how much the coil will cost, maybe I can buy the parts then supply it to the garage? But then again how will I know what part to buy. There’s a lot of different brands. How much is the fairer to fix approx?

naaads_xo

Also if the car won’t drive properly due to the coils don’t know which ones specifically, will it be a good idea to get one of those trucks to transport it to the garage?

System

maxmycardagain wrote: »

a suspension coil will cost £100+

Where the hell are you going? Most springs are sub £20-£25, its 30-60mins labour depending on which spring it is.

tonyh66

a trader for £595, its a scrapper, and even if the coil? doesn't cause problems it will fail the next MOT badly.

naaads_xo

I will go and see the car today, any bad signs to look for? Also there’s only part service history available.