Urban75 Home About Offline BrixtonBuzz Contact

How to buy a second hand car?

If you do nothing else, find out if your car has a timing belt and if it does demand a receipt for when it (and probably the water pump also) was last replaced. A failure of an old timing belt can result in the destruction beyond economic repair of the engine so it is worth ensuring this piece of basic maintenance has been done.
 
Thanks - a quick google for the car I'm after (E350 diesel around 2011-> 2013) seems to indicate that it has a timing chain and not a belt, which doesn't need replacing.

Does that make sense, or am I kidding myself?
 
nick said:
Thanks - a quick google for the car I'm after (E350 diesel around 2011-> 2013) seems to indicate that it has a timing chain and not a belt, which doesn't need replacing.

Does that make sense, or am I kidding myself?
Click to expand...
Chains don't need replacing like belts do no.
They can still go wrong but are less likely to. :)
 
Much cheaper and easier to replace tensioners for chains than a cam belt though
 
thanks - I'm trying car gurus. I has a few of the ones that I see on autotrader, but not all of them. what is good however, is that it shows how old the ad is and any price changes. - so I can see than one of them has been up for 120 days and has had 1 price drop.
Both sites are annoying in that the seven seat bit is an optional extra so you have to search it in the free text rather than just click the "number of seats" box - menaing that I get a lot of false hits on "7G" etc
 
Thanks all. Now sorted.
I'm sure they saw me coming from about last year - despite all the useful Urban advice
 
Yeah its very smooth - though I'm used to it as it's the same as I had before (this happened to my last one: DSC06268 (1).JPG )

Surprisingly maneuverable around town - with more loadspace than a 4 by 4. Plenty fast for autobahns.

Also, as looks a bit like a minicab, you are less hated in London (Uber drivers being slightly less frowned upon than Chelsea Tractor drivers).

This one has black rims and darkened glass - so will help me blend in in my 'Endz' - perhaps I should accessorise with some blue LEDs on the windscreen washers?
 
Yeah, if I drove mainly in London I'd be better off with a Smart or a Pious, but the only time I drive in London mainly involves ferrying hordes of my, and other peoples' kids from A to B. Otherwise most driving involves sticking a roof box and/or bike on the roof, overloading with tents, coolboxes, beer etc and hacking off for a weekend away
 
nick said:
Yeah, if I drove mainly in London I'd be better off with a Smart or a Pious, but the only time I drive in London mainly involves ferrying hordes of my, and other peoples' kids from A to B. Otherwise most driving involves sticking a roof box and/or bike on the roof, overloading with tents, coolboxes, beer etc and hacking off for a weekend away
Click to expand...
Sounds to me like a Volvo estate is your answer. Not great for parking in tight spaces, but lots of room and generally reliable.

Despite their massive external size I'm always surprised how relatively small space many 4x4s offer. Quite shit in fact.
 
We're deviating from the OP - but no matter.

Yes 4*4s are generally rubbish internal size wise - sat in a neighbour's Q7 as he was extolling its virtues - he said it was surprisingly manouverable around town: a lot more so that the MErc ML he had before. It was nice inside, but had limited load space (although the 6&7 seats are forward looking).

Volvo estate: I used to have a petrol V70. Hated it. It was good enough, but really ....... boring.... to drive, also less load space than an Eclass and an appalling turning circle. IT lasted me about 6 years until 120,000 miles until the electrics started to go random - I was pleased I had an opportunity to change it.

E class is better to park - feels smaller to drive than the V70, has a better turning circle and muchh more boot space - also the road tax was half.

Only downside is that I had to get a diesel. The only E class currently made that comes in petrol is the E63 and that costs £90k new. It's possibly a bit fast for practical use
 
There's a lot to be said for diesel if your doing long drives. My fuel bills would be awful if I drove a petrol.
 
nick said:
We're deviating from the OP - but no matter.

Yes 4*4s are generally rubbish internal size wise - sat in a neighbour's Q7 as he was extolling its virtues - he said it was surprisingly manouverable around town: a lot more so that the MErc ML he had before. It was nice inside, but had limited load space (although the 6&7 seats are forward looking).

Volvo estate: I used to have a petrol V70. Hated it. It was good enough, but really ....... boring.... to drive, also less load space than an Eclass and an appalling turning circle. IT lasted me about 6 years until 120,000 miles until the electrics started to go random - I was pleased I had an opportunity to change it.

E class is better to park - feels smaller to drive than the V70, has a better turning circle and muchh more boot space - also the road tax was half.

Only downside is that I had to get a diesel. The only E class currently made that comes in petrol is the E63 and that costs £90k new. It's possibly a bit fast for practical use
Click to expand...
No such thing as too fast. Nothing beats driving fast and furiously. And, if you can afford it, sod the petrol bill, just drive. Drive it like you stole it.
 
I have written this on here before but I felt somewhat uneasy in an airport taxi (Merc 190) when we hit the autobahn and I realised the driver was holding his foot to the floor in top gear. I was wondering when something might break, he was going for it because it was in the design parameters that it should go flat out.
 
nick said:
Thanks both
Yes it will be in London. I suspect my wallet won't stretch to 2015 or newer (I live just outside the sarf circular). I think I am going to have to accept the extra 12.50 pollution charge as it appears nigh on impossible to get a non diesel E class estate that isn't an AMG beast. However, I am a good(ish) citizen and cycle on a daily basis: the car is for weekends and holidays - and will only occasionally go into the Congestion / ULEZ zone)
Click to expand...

AFAIK the charge only applies inside the circular (not sure if it includes the circular) so it won't matter apart from driving into London.

E2a: I should have read your full post before replying. :facepalm:
 
My issue is not how to buy but what!
First question; do I get my other half something small and cute or something a little bigger, more pratical and not really wanted. Because if I got her something pratical,
I would be free to go and get something nearer to my heart desires; a classic, a fun little roadster or something big and fuck off BUT can I even justify it at all? decisions, decisions :confused:
I note the new epace is now out. It would be more of a joint drive and pratical, but I would rather not have brand new, especially if it is a joint driver and likely to get bumped and scratched!
 
If you do go new or newish, avoid PCP.
I may not know much about cars, but I know about finance.
Pay for it out of money you have, borrow from the bank if you need to but don't get seduced by the apparent cheapness of low monthly costs on a PCP deal - it's the next big consumer scandal waiting to happen
 
Buying my first car should be a happy thing but after just a couple of days of online research am feeling totally lost. Also seeing as i haven't got a car, getting to dealerships to have a look at things is going to take me about 4 hours on trains and buses.. thinking today maybe a daytrip to either wembley or croydon, where lots of 2ndhand cars are.

Question: Can i expect to be allowed to do a test drive do you think without booking just showing up with a photo of my provisional & my just passed driving test certificate?? (had to send it off to get full license).
:confused:
 
bimble said:
Buying my first car should be a happy thing but after just a couple of days of online research am feeling totally lost. Also seeing as i haven't got a car, getting to dealerships to have a look at things is going to take me about 4 hours on trains and buses.. thinking today maybe a daytrip to either wembley or croydon, where lots of 2ndhand cars are.

Question: Can i expect to be allowed to do a test drive do you think without booking just showing up with a photo of my provisional & my just passed driving test certificate?? (had to send it off to get full license).
:confused:
Click to expand...

The happy bit is getting it. Shopping for them is a ballache.

I'd certainly be calling them with that question and checking the insurance situation. Be an arse to get there and find you couldn't.
 
bimble said:
Question: Can i expect to be allowed to do a test drive do you think without booking just showing up with a photo of my provisional & my just passed driving test certificate?? (had to send it off to get full license).
:confused:
Click to expand...

Yes, and tell them to fuck off if they don't let you. There's a million other second cars out there if they won't co-operate.

There's better value in private sales if you've got the time and energy to sort the wheat from the chaff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
First car / how do people afford cars when in low paid work?
2
Replies
59
Views
1K
Chz
Chz
kebabking
Car buying websites?
2
Replies
38
Views
1K
colacubes
colacubes
Maggot
Buying a small, reliable car
2 3 4
Replies
112
Views
4K
hash tag
hash tag
story
Has anyone tried Turo.com for renting a car?
Replies
3
Views
231
Winot
Winot
A
How much does it cost to run a small car?
2
Replies
51
Views
2K
Riklet
Riklet
Back
Top Bottom