How to buy a second hand car?

[Bahnhof Strasse]

In any case, I’ve always found the prevailing mentality around saving money by every means possible when buying cars rather weird.

I mean, a car is a premium possession that depreciates significantly in value over time, and which you’re supposed to enjoy owning rather than worry what resale value it might achieve later on. If you want to buy a certain car in a loud colour that you happen to love and might own for several years, then you’d have to be a fool to be ‘sensible’ and buy a boring dark grey one instead because four years down the line you might get 4k instead of 3.2k. If you can afford to spend thousands of pounds on a vehicle every few years, then the ‘lost‘ £800 are of no financial consequenc to you. So buy what you like ffs

My cars have always had a shite resale value due to my lifestyle, raves/dogs/kids have not been kind to them, so much so that I have only ever had one car that wasn't scrapped and we got some of its value back. Almost had a second, agreed £800 p/ex for it, in the week that followed Frau Bahn lost the only beep-beep thing and we couldn't open the doors or turn off the immobilizer, so had to suck up the extra £800 and scrap the cunt. 18 months later we found the thing under the TV stand, which was flush to the floor.

 

[T & P]

My cars have always had a shite resale value due to my lifestyle, raves/dogs/kids have not been kind to them, so much so that I have only ever had one car that wasn't scrapped and we got some of its value back. Almost had a second, agreed £800 p/ex for it, in the week that followed Frau Bahn lost the only beep-beep thing and we couldn't open the doors or turn off the immobilizer, so had to suck up the extra £800 and scrap the cunt. 18 months later we found the thing under the TV stand, which was flush to the floor.

And other than people of limited financial means who simply need a car in their lives as functional tool, and who could use every last quid of the additional resale value for their next one, this should be the attitude among all car owners. You like a car you’re going to lose a lot of money on in five years anyway to be in canary yellow instead of dark blue? You much prefer a manual gearbox to an automatic that will appeal to a wider range of potential buyers? Then treat yourself ffs.

To me it’s as bizarre as someone thinking ‘I can more than afford a week’s holiday in a lovely boutique hotel on a beautiful unspoiled part of Mallorca, but I’m taking the family to a 3-star hotel in Magaluf as it costs half the amount’.

 

[not-bono-ever]

Anyway. Averaged 60mpg in me octavia today. It’s poverty spec but after a few Sainsbury’s trolley bangs and wet dogs , it won’t make much difference. The 7 speed auto box is a delight tho. Seriously solid and well put together .Still need another car for fun

 

[kebabking]

Anyway. Averaged 60mpg in me octavia today. It’s poverty spec but after a few Sainsbury’s trolley bangs and wet dogs , it won’t make much difference. The 7 speed auto box is a delight tho. Seriously solid and well put together .Still need another car for fun

I splashed out to celebrate my mid life crisis - I went for an Octavia VRS. It covers the sensible and silly boxes admirably - long, straight (ish), fast roads across the Cotswolds are lots of fun....

 

[sim667]

So to flip the thread title on its head, how do I sell my car? I’ve never sold a car before.

My dad has lost his license due to medical reasons which means I’m going to have to do more running round after my folks. My 72 year old dad lowering himself into my 2 Door type s civic ain’t great, and to be fair I’m struggling with how low it is and fitting all
My diving kit in, so my dads given me his car and told me to sell mine.
I’ve stuck it on the enthusiast group on FB for the model it is, and done posts on my own fb and Instagram, but are places like autotrader worth it?

 

[mauvais]

Edit: just spotted the model

You could see what WBAC offer, if you don't mind being spammed repeatedly for a while afterwards. If you have a popular (sought after) car, it's actually not that bad an idea, they give you roughly dealer trade-in. If you have something weird or old but valuable, it's a terrible idea, they will give you thruppence. I'm not sure in your case.

 

[sim667]

Edit: just spotted the model

You could see what WBAC offer, if you don't mind being spammed repeatedly for a while afterwards. If you have a popular (sought after) car, it's actually not that bad an idea, they give you roughly dealer trade-in. If you have something weird or old but valuable, it's a terrible idea, they will give you thruppence. I'm not sure in your case.

They offered about what I asked for online, but on the basis there’s no damage, and it has 2 keys.

it never came with 2 keys and there are a couple of dings, so I suspect they’ll drop the price pretty rapidly if I go and see them.

 

[Ax^]

So to flip the thread title on its head, how do I sell my car? I’ve never sold a car before.

My dad has lost his license due to medical reasons which means I’m going to have to do more running round after my folks. My 72 year old dad lowering himself into my 2 Door type s civic ain’t great, and to be fair I’m struggling with how low it is and fitting all
My diving kit in, so my dads given me his car and told me to sell mine.
I’ve stuck it on the enthusiast group on FB for the model it is, and done posts on my own fb and Instagram, but are places like autotrader worth it?

what year and mileage

parkers is a good guide to its worth

 

[Riklet]

sim667 Gumtree is good for car sales.

My advice is be patient and ignore all the weirdos and scammers, feel people out from a phone call. Also probs worth considering what's the lowest price you'd take for it. Btw I have shared your ad with someone

 

[Ax^]

Gumtree is also go for fuckwits just be careful

don't use marketplace its worse

saying that if its a low mileage car as old folks car tend to be don't sell it cheap because for its age


that how i've gotten so real cheap cars

 

[hash tag]

If selling privately you will no doubt attract a plethora of tyre kickers Etc. I know someone who recently sold a black X5 for £9k I think. Some young kids came round, handed over the cash without so much as a test drive and returned a few weeks later demanding their money back because they claimed there was a problem with the gear box.

 

[sim667]

Someone rang me today about it, seemed sensible, asked sensible questions. They want to have a look at it tomorrow and then have a think over the weekend (I’m going away over the weekend anyway)

 

[sim667]

Well the person who was asking sensible questions apparently misread the ad, they want a type R not a type S

Buying it for their son who’s determined to get a type R apparently, I think they may be in for a shock when the insurance premiums come in

 

[hash tag]

Hi bimble, just saw this and thought of you. How's it going with your little Suzy?

Five-door Suzuki Jimny finally breaks cover

Slightly more practical version of tiny tearaway is revealed in Dehli

www.pistonheads.com

 

[bimble]

Hi bimble, just saw this and thought of you. How's it going with your little Suzy?

Five-door Suzuki Jimny finally breaks cover

Slightly more practical version of tiny tearaway is revealed in Dehli

www.pistonheads.com

i love my car, its great, but i wouldn't recommend it to anybody who does long drives or goes out when its windy or who wants to overtake anything apart from a horse box. For me its perfect.

 

[8ball]

When a thread called "how to buy a second hand car" surpasses 50 pages, it should arguably be renamed "just buy a new fucking car, or get a bike and an allotment or something".

 

[Riklet]

Bought my first car at auction recently. Vauxhall Insignia 2011. It's losing coolant but don't think its the headgasket. Ive only really bought it to sell it on once it's fixed up as it was v cheap but in great condition for 95k miles.

You do have to be a bit careful but if you know what youre looking for there's some amazing bargains to be had at auction on whatever budget.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Bought my first car at auction recently. Vauxhall Insignia 2011. It's losing coolant but don't think its the headgasket. Ive only really bought it to sell it on once it's fixed up as it was v cheap but in great condition for 95k miles.

You do have to be a bit careful but if you know what youre looking for there's some amazing bargains to be had at auction on whatever budget.

Good luck. I had a fucking nightmare with mine. (sorry)

 

[dessiato]

I've just picked up my GTD Golf after an oil service. The mechanic said it's one of the best he's seen for its age. (2011) Seems I bought the right car after the disaster of the Mini.

 

[Riklet]

Good luck. I had a fucking nightmare with mine. (sorry)

Diesel? This is a petrol 1.8 generally more reliable. If it's fucked I'll sell it on as is for someone else to sort out as I wouldnt do a head gasket myself probably. Im hoping it's just a coolant leak from somewhere. I'm only in it for the money at the moment and for £1100 cant really go wrong.

61 plate with full service history and plenty of work done and less than 95k. Should be ok. That's life in the old girl still.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Diesel? This is a petrol 1.8 generally more reliable. If it's fucked I'll sell it on as is for someone else to sort out as I wouldnt do a head gasket myself probably. Im hoping it's just a coolant leak from somewhere. I'm only in it for the money at the moment and for £1100 cant really go wrong.

61 plate with full service history and plenty of work done and less than 95k. Should be ok. That's life in the old girl still.

Yeah mine was a 66 diesel. Tbf it was lovely to drive when it worked, but it was the most I'd ever spent on a car, so it hurt when it kept fucking me.

£1100 sounds good though and you clearly know more about fixing them I do.

 

[wemakeyousoundb]

Diesel? This is a petrol 1.8 generally more reliable. If it's fucked I'll sell it on as is for someone else to sort out as I wouldnt do a head gasket myself probably. Im hoping it's just a coolant leak from somewhere. I'm only in it for the money at the moment and for £1100 cant really go wrong.

61 plate with full service history and plenty of work done and less than 95k. Should be ok. That's life in the old girl still.

I did a head gasket in the 90s on a transit van, easy enough.
coolant issues check the heater grid thing whatever it's called (ANY COOLANT IN THE PASSENGET FOOTWELL?) or the pipes...
I'm drunk ignore me

 

[Riklet]

Looks like it could be a leak I can see some coolant and marks around the transmission and undertray but I can't see any hoses leaking. It seems that the coolant reservoir can fail and leak or even the cap on it.. so that could be an easy fix. It's not overheating at all and no gunk in oil or oil in coolant as far as I can see so I'm ruling out a headgasket issue for now.

Ive topped it up and leaving it overnight with cardboard underneath. Will have a look tomorrow when it's sunny. If it's just the coolant reservoir ir a hose issue I can definitely do it myself, would save money but tbh I want to get it checked by the garage anyway as I don't have a ramp etc.

 

[Chz]

Yeah mine was a 66 diesel. Tbf it was lovely to drive when it worked, but it was the most I'd ever spent on a car, so it hurt when it kept fucking me.

£1100 sounds good though and you clearly know more about fixing them I do.

That's modern diesels for you. They're still dirtier than petrol, but the equipment required to get them even close to petrol in emissions has turned them from indestructible blocks that run forever into maintenance headaches.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

That's modern diesels for you. They're still dirtier than petrol, but the equipment required to get them even close to petrol in emissions has turned them from indestructible blocks that run forever into maintenance headaches.

Yes. To a point. I know this isn't statistically useful, but I used to look for a Facebook group for whatever car I owned. Lets just say there were far far most posts about people's Insignias breaking down in that group then were for a Passat.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Yes. To a point. I know this isn't statistically useful, but I used to look for a Facebook group for whatever car I owned. Lets just say there were far far most posts about people's Insignias breaking down in that group then were for a Passat.

or alternatively, there's often online forums for particular makes / models if you don't do farcebook

 

[Riklet]

I'd never buy a diesel nowadays tbh. Too much hassle. Only makes sense if youre doing serious motorway miles and not driving into clean air zones etc. Bristol ULEZ I can drive a 19 year old petrol in fine but a diesel has to be Euro 6... ouch.

 

[Riklet]

Good luck. I had a fucking nightmare with mine. (sorry)

Fucking nightmare mine too. I cut my losses and got rid and made a loss. Bummer.

Blown headgasket and was losing coolant due to overpressuring. Rubbish engines! I will stick to what I know better from now on and be more careful.

 

[hash tag]

bimble look after your Suzy, it could become a classic.

Suzuki calls time on Swift Sport, Jimny and more

Suzuki's lively combustion era is drawing to a close in the UK. The cull is brutal

www.pistonheads.com