courtesy car, need new car - low budget

Goudy

sim2335 said:

Check total car check cat n car, 

And the seller didn't tell you that either.

I have a strong feeling just giving him that £100 and walking away might look like good value in the very near future.

Herzlos

sim2335 said:

Check total car check cat n car, result fail however this April 2024 mot passed may 2024

already paid hundred deposit he’s gona drive today for me to test drive 

Sorry, do you mean you've done an HPI check and it's come back as a cat n write-off?

I've also never heard of a private seller asking for a deposit, you normally just turn up, look at the car, pay and then drive it home. How did you pay?


This sounds more and more dodgy as it advances, but you seem absolutely determined to go for it anyway.

angrycrow

So the car was written off by insurer in April and has gone to salvage auction, been bought and repaired and put through an MOT in at most 6 weeks. The insurance to completion of salvage auction is about three weeks. 

Massive red flags all around. 

At best a rushed repair at worst a completely different stolen car on a false id. 

Seller telling a pack of lies before you even get to the car. 

Bet it is priced massively below market even for cat N.

Don't walk away, run as fast as you can. 

sim2335

I cancel other car he returned me £80 deposit and kept £20 (for org using the delivering and wasting his time)

Deposit was because I was gona get car drivers.

I’m looking for something with light clutch like Vauxhall corsa, but people saying avoid Vauxhall you will get use to hard clutch and it’s much better.

I’m not the best driver only driven Vauxhall what if I don’t get use to it, then can’t do anything.

Herzlos

You'll get used to any car and clutch, so I wouldn't worry about those.

Clutches are a lot lighter than they used to be too, so as long as you're not buying a really old diesel you should be fine, just take your time with it.

The Corsa was one of the top selling cars for a long time, so parts are readily available and cheap. I don't see why you should avoid them. At your budget you're really buying on condition rather than anything else.

Barkin

Herzlos said:

Clutches are a lot lighter than they used to be too, so as long as you're not buying a really old diesel you should be fine, just take your time with it.

What's the issue with old diesels? Mine's 20 years old and light as a feather.

While there will be slight differences in feel, I'd suggest that any hydraulic clutch that's noticeaby heavy/stiff has something wrong with it. 

Herzlos

Barkin said:

Herzlos said:

Clutches are a lot lighter than they used to be too, so as long as you're not buying a really old diesel you should be fine, just take your time with it.

What's the issue with old diesels? Mine's 20 years old and light as a feather.

While there will be slight differences in feel, I'd suggest that any hydraulic clutch that's noticeaby heavy/stiff has something wrong with it. 

I'd just noticed the clutch get notably lighter every time I've upgraded and I've virtually always had diesels.

Goudy

It's an almost certainty that one clutch will feel slightly different to the next cars clutch and the next after that as each will wear slightly differently and the biting point will alter slightly car to car, depending on wear.
That goes for the Corsa as well.

As mentioned, clutches are generally hydraulically operated, so stiff clutch pedals tend to point to an issue on the horizon. Either a wear problem, a hydraulic issue or a gearbox problem.

As a general rule of thumb if you feel you can't get on with it after a good test drive, there's probably a good reason.
For instance if it bites right at the top of the pedal travel or at the bottom, right on the floor, it's worn out.

Same goes if it slips, ie you accelerate and the revs rise but not the car's speed.

If it's noisy and rattles when you take your foot off the pedal, the thrust bearing is worn out.

If the pedal pulses under your foot while holding the clutch down and/or it makes a ringing sound, it's likely the dual mass flywheel is knackered (if it has one).

sim2335

102070 mill age got a Vauxhall corsa 

Year 2013

Paid 300 deposit two owners, everything seems fine from garage there gona service and mot it before giving me it

Now my mum and dad saying the mileage too high, and I will need to keep paying repairs.

I don’t think so, if I cancel hassle find new one and lose deposit 

Total cost including deposit 3500

Herzlos

That's a slightly higher mileage at about 10k/year but if it's been looked after it'll be fine, and 2 owners over 10 years is pretty good. At your budget it's more about condition than stuff like age or mileage.

If you're worried, then take it to a garage local to you and ask them to give it a once over.