Car Buying Advice

princesspoppypop

Ive upped my budget for a car now and am looking to spend £1000-2000.

I like the Ford Focus and VW Polo...

I have seen a Focus for sale for £2000- 76k, Alloy wheels, cd player, 9mnths test 5 mnths tax 1.8 LX... the car is in immaculate condition inside and out.

Is this a good price?

As Im starting my own business - as a makeup artist I need a car that looks good and I`m afraid Skoda`s are defo out for me. Apparently I suffer from "badge snobbery" but so be it! :rotfl:

If anyone can offer any advice I would be really grateful....

Thanks

Poppypops :j

jeannieblue

Know what you mean - how about 'nicking' a VW badge and putting it on the Skoda - same car really!

Re the Focus - what year is it? Look on Autotrader - more Focus' than hot dinners - new model out this month which will push others down in price. Ford parts generally reasonably priced which is good.

Recommend focus with climate control and quick clear windscreen - a bonus for this time of year and only available to Fords as they have the patent!:D

princesspoppypop

Thanks... I really dont like the shape of the Skoda`s too square and not me at all...
The Focus is a 2000 W reg.
My OH checked Autotrader and they are all about the same price.
We went to see a couple of "cheaper" cars on Saturday and they were terrible... decided to up the budget due to this... I really have a problem trusting trade sellers too...

jeannieblue

Sensible to be wary - try and get some sort of warranty - and then, if you have a garage you can trust, get them to look over the vehicle when you've bought it.

Try and look at history of vehicle, mileage - is cam belt due/has it been done. Evidence of regular servicing etc.

There's also a search that can be done too to see if its been in an accident. Also check there isn't any finance outstanding on it too! Or it could be taken away after you've bought it!

cc25

I think £2000 is a fair price, provided "immaculate condition" means that:-

• there is a full service history plus bills
• The cambelt does not need replacing soon (the service history should indicate when it was last replaced). If the owner doesn't know when the cambelt was replace, allow £150 for replacement
• The tyres are in good condition, and will not need replacement soon (4 good tyres will cost around £250!)
• The car is "HPI clear" - i.e. has not been stolen, or written off by a insurance company
• There are no major faults with the car

If you are not too knowledgeable on buying cars, you should try and get help from a friend who is, or have an RAC/AA vehicle inspection.

hartcjhart

if unsure get an AA or RAC inspection done before purhase

princesspoppypop

My OH is quite knowledgeable on cars and was annoying trade sellers at the weekend who were blatantly looking to sell us a pile of old rubbish.

Im quite good at knowing what to look for too. (I used to live next door to a mechanic) Although I tend to stay quiet while OH is talking to the rip off trade sellers.

We test drove one car and the brake pads were totally gone.... the guy said he would only fix it if we committed to buy... no way!

Another car we saw and asked to test drive... well what a total joke, the dealer drove it out of his lot and then pulled into a side road to let my OH have a drive, the dealer then said drive on through the lights and back into the lot... it was a test drive of 1 minute in total and the dealer was going on about the petrol light being on and he didnt want to put petrol in it.... his car was total rubbish and we left there laughing at the terrible service, test drive and bullsh*t he was talking...

The Focus Ive seen is parked quite close to where I live and we actually saw the people who own it get out and they looked like a nice middle aged couple.

hartcjhart

[The Focus Ive seen is parked quite close to where I live and we actually saw the people who own it get out and they looked like a nice middle aged couple]:eek:

often these people are used as fronts for us dodgy dealers:rotfl: :rotfl:

hartcjhart

[The Focus Ive seen is parked quite close to where I live and we actually saw the people who own it get out and they looked like a nice middle aged couple]:eek: :eek:

these sort of people are often used as fronts for us dodgy dealers:rotfl: :rotfl:

harveybobbles

Having them living so close to you.......

Pull up next to them and say "Oh I'm thinking of getting one of these soon, are they any good..."

If they reply with "Yeah ours has been brilliant, best ever" then you know to hurry home and phone them up!

If they say "god ours has been a big pile of utter !!!!!! from day one..." then you know to avoid theirs!