Buying a used car in Ireland guide

L-M · 02-10-2011 9:06am

The only way to know how much a car is making is to look at other ones for sale, that's it. There's no good "book value".

Bombbastic22 · 02-10-2011 9:39am

Limerick man wrote: »

The only way to know how much a car is making is to look at other ones for sale, that's it. There's no good "book value".

Alas, what they are asking is not what they are getting. Plenty of dealerships I see have cars sitting there for months, if not longer and nothing seems to be moving.........

L-M · 02-10-2011 9:44am

Bombbastic22 wrote: »

Alas, what they are asking is not what they are getting. Plenty of dealerships I see have cars sitting there for months, if not longer and nothing seems to be moving.........

Not Dealers, we're private so we look at what other private sellers are selling for and go from there.

Bombbastic22 · 02-10-2011 9:49am

Limerick man wrote: »

Not Dealers, we're private so we look at what other private sellers are selling for and go from there.

With a lot of the private sellers asking the same or more than garages? With no warranty, no valet, no full service and absolutely zero chance of a refund if things go wrong??? I'd happily pay 500 more from a garage with all of the above. Anyway, pointless debating this.

Great thread all the same. (I'll still be checking out VRT calculator - as well as comparing what other people are selling cars for, sure tis no harm at all.)

L-M · 02-10-2011 9:52am

Bombbastic22 wrote: »

With a lot of the private sellers asking the same or more than garages? With no warranty, no valet, no full service and absolutely zero chance of a refund if things go wrong??? I'd happily pay 500 more from a garage with all of the above. Anyway, pointless debating this.

Great thread all the same. (I'll still be checking out VRT calculator - as well as comparing what other people are selling cars for, sure tis no harm at all.)

Are you going to give a few examples?

Bombbastic22 · 02-10-2011 9:58am

Limerick man wrote: »

Are you going to give a few examples?

Gosh darn this thread keeps sucking me in! Damn you Limerick Man ;-)

Well there's this, it's private: http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2577038
(Toyota Avensis, 04, 1.6 Petrol, 124000miles) 4100

vs.

This one was garage and it's already sold after only being posted Friday
Toyota Avensis, 05, 1.6 Petrol, 73,000miles, one owner) 4950.

Alas, like most bargains - the latter is gone already - was only posted Friday. I know which one I'd go for.

Bombbastic22 · 02-10-2011 10:04am

Garage: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mitsubishi/Lancer/1.3-COMF/201135204184728/advert?channel=CARS&featuredListingClickThru=true

Private: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mitsubishi/Lancer/1.3-COMF/201123202790648/advert?channel=CARS

L-M · 02-10-2011 10:06am

If every car is cheaper in Dealers surely you could post a similar car, link for link?

Bombbastic22 · 02-10-2011 11:16am

Limerick man wrote: »

If every car is cheaper in Dealers surely you could post a similar car, link for link?

Easy enough varified methinks..........anyone can check it easy enough. It's not every instance - but a whole lot of them.

L-M · 02-10-2011 11:36am

Bombbastic22 wrote: »

Garage: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mitsubishi/Lancer/1.3-COMF/201135204184728/advert?channel=CARS&featuredListingClickThru=true

Private: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mitsubishi/Lancer/1.3-COMF/201123202790648/advert?channel=CARS

That Lancer is way over priced, it won't sell either way at that money!

Bombbastic22 · 02-10-2011 11:52am

Limerick man wrote: »

That Lancer is way over priced, it won't sell either way at that money!

Methinks I agree. 3500 is about right I think. People are a bit overly optimistic with their pricing.

Esel · 02-10-2011 7:12pm

€2000 is the minimum OMSP that the VRT calculator will ever use. This is to ensure that the specified minimum VRT amount is arrived at in each case e.g. the minimum amount for a vehicle which is on the 36% rate is €720.

jendavnlillie · 03-10-2011 3:56pm

Hi,
Most likely the wrong place to post this...
i am currently looking to "downgrade" to a 7 seater. Unfortunatley my lovely Audi A4 does not have the capacity for 2 kids seats and a 16 year old. So We started to look on the web for good value 7 seater diesel. Most reviews came back to the VW Sharan or Seat Alhambra (seems to be same car with different badges) and the Ford Galaxy. Dont have alot of money, as most people so we checked what we could get for our own, in around 7-8k from the dealers for same spec car. So we figured we could get a 05-06 model with handing ouver maybe 1000/1500 and no more. Alas our own has been valued at least - 4k and most 5.5k meaning that we can realistically only look at same year galaxy's (VW & Seat out of picture due to price)
Anyway, went on Friday to take a look at a few. one in Rathcoole, 04 Galaxy with 96k for 6900, looking for 1400 with our own.
One in Kilmainham with 115k, auto looking for 7900, and wanted 4000 withy our own.
Today I went to see a 05 Glaaxy with 143k and he said hed give us 5000 for ours so wed have to come up with 2500... but I've seen this same car on donedeal for 6450 dated only yesterday. Have I any room for bargaining here? And has anyone any advice on selling our own car privatley or going with the rathcoole deal. My hubby seems to think its a good bargain
Any suggestions or pointers would be welcomed. BTW I really dont want to get rid of my Audi....I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to cars. I only like German built ones having only ever driven VW or Audi. Is the Galaxy a good car???? Cheers

L-M · 03-10-2011 3:59pm

The Galaxy is the same engine as the Seat and the Vw

Any links to them?

What's your own car?

jendavnlillie · 03-10-2011 4:13pm

I don't know a whole lot a bout engines. Mine is a '04 A4 with 125k miles. 100bhp. Timing belt, breaks done and 4 new tyres in June

Links
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Galaxy/diesel,t/201132203890205/advert?channel=CARS

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2506190

2nd link is the original ad for the Galaxy I saw today. Dealer however wants 7500 for it.

Appreciate any advice.:o

Kev_ps3 · 04-10-2011 7:44am

Lots of people either want cash or draft. If it's anything over €5,000 you should arrange a safe way to deliver the money. Always meet the seller at their house. If something does not feel right just turn around and walk away.

2 questions here, I looking at a car thats around 7k, what would you recommend is a 'safe way to deliver the money'? Going to a bank and withdrawing the cash? Transferring the money to his account if I decide to buy?
Also, this particular car is in Donegal, which is very far from where I am, he as agreed to meet nearly half way, would you discourage this and say I should drive all the way??

L-M · 04-10-2011 9:08am

Kev_ps3 wrote: »

2 questions here, I looking at a car thats around 7k, what would you recommend is a 'safe way to deliver the money'? Going to a bank and withdrawing the cash? Transferring the money to his account if I decide to buy?
Also, this particular car is in Donegal, which is very far from where I am, he as agreed to meet nearly half way, would you discourage this and say I should drive all the way??

Yes, yes I would. I would want to see the house, inspect the logbook etc. That, or meet them during broud daylight, in a well lit car park full of cameras etc. It may sound OTT but it's nothing short of saving you the lose of 7 grand. Make sure the VIN number on the book matches the car and that the "owner" has their licence or some form of ID.

As it goes "Trust everyone, just not the devil inside them".

Mr. Presentable · 04-10-2011 11:18am

Hi folks. Going to consider a car with 82k miles on at Main dealer. NCT 2013.

But the Service history is strange. What think ye? The book is only stamped twice: 74k and by the dealer himself at 82k.

I'd appreciate any thoughts.

L-M · 04-10-2011 7:31pm

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

Hi folks. Going to consider a car with 82k miles on at Main dealer. NCT 2013.

But the Service history is strange. What think ye? The book is only stamped twice: 74k and by the dealer himself at 82k.

I'd appreciate any thoughts.

What is it and what year is it? It must of been serviced at some point in between 0 and 72,000 miles. Any link?

Mr. Presentable · 04-10-2011 8:17pm

Merc C200

I'd have thought it has to have history somewhere, so I spoke to the first garage on the service book who did it at 74k, and he said he remembered it because it was such a clean car for its age

He only serviced it once (Merc Main Dealer)

I asked the garage to contact the previous owner for any history he may have and am awaiting a call back.

L-M · 05-10-2011 10:30am

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

Merc C200

I'd have thought it has to have history somewhere, so I spoke to the first garage on the service book who did it at 74k, and he said he remembered it because it was such a clean car for its age He only serviced it once (Merc Main Dealer)

I asked the garage to contact the previous owner for any history he may have and am awaiting a call back.

Did you ring the main Dealers in Dublin and ask them to type that reg into their system and see does any service history come up?

Mr. Presentable · 05-10-2011 11:00am

Thanks LimerickMan!

It is a 2003, spoke to the dealer (PT) that imported it from UK in 2004. He was able to tell me the next owner, *****, had it to 2006, then an accountant to 2009. I spoke to the last owner who had it from 2009.

PT reckons the ***** has a relative in the industry who did his servicing, thus the probable reason the book wasn't stamped. PT took it as trade in and sold again in 2006. It was traded in again to PT in 2009, who sold it to the last owner who got the book stamped.

The last owner had to have replaced:
Indicator switch
Ignition coil
Lambda sensor.

L-M · 05-10-2011 11:03am

I assumed it was a UK import alright, we didn't get many Classics over here with Auto, leather and alloys!

If you could do a bit more digging to find a bit more service history, and also it may be worthwhile to do a history check on the likes of cartell.ie or motorcheck.ie just to be sure it was in no prangs in it's, albeit short, life in the Uk.

L-M · 05-10-2011 11:07am

Also, just a thought.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2403511

You could buy alot of leather for €2000

jwmpayne2004 · 06-10-2011 10:56am

Great guide! Just a quick question. What if when your doing a check on motartax.ie and this result came out "most recent vehicle Reg. Certificate was issued on 10/9/11" and at the top it says no changes notified in the last3 months". Hoping for you kind reply. --thanks lads!

L-M · 06-10-2011 1:02pm

jwmpayne2004 wrote: »

Great guide! Just a quick question. What if when your doing a check on motartax.ie and this result came out "most recent vehicle Reg. Certificate was issued on 10/9/11" and at the top it says no changes notified in the last3 months". Hoping for you kind reply. --thanks lads!

Basically means the owner lost the logbook and applied for a new one

(Could also mean that someone in the trade applied for a new one)

11-10-2011 8:17pm

Hi guys, looking for someone with more information than myself to give me an idea of what to check when I view these cars this week. Just moved to the UK, and need to get a car for work soon, but the budget isn't huge. Need a car that's going to last me 18/36 months without much hassle, but would like one that is comfortable and that I wouldn't be embarrassed to be seen in.

Any opinions / anecdotes / on either make or model would be appreciated. The astra looks to be in phenomenal nick and has been well minded too.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2002-alfa-romeo-147-16-ts-3dr/89418323#gallery-item-full-9

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/vauxhall-astra-coupe-bertone-18-16v-full-leather-fsh-49k-miles-full-mot-possible-px/89401886

Thanks

L-M · 11-10-2011 11:34pm

If you were set on either one of those I'd probably pick the Opel. Not mad one the way they drive and they're very Astra-ey on the inside, I wouldn't pay a premium for one.

If you're looking for hassle free, stay away from the Alfa

FrankGrimes · 17-10-2011 12:31pm

I'm very close to deciding to purchase a 2011 Skoda Superb from a Skoda dealer. It's a demo model and has everything I need inside and comes with floor mats. He'll extend the warranty a few months so I should get something like 16 months warranty.

Other than that, I'm just interested to hear of any suggestions for sweeteners to ask for to seal the deal. It'll be valeted and serviced before I take it and he can put mud flaps on, though I'm not sure what the consensus is on those - do they ruin the aesthetics or are they worth it?

Anyways, any ideas on things like that to ask for which are generally considered reasonable would be much appreciated.

L-M · 18-10-2011 10:15am

It depends on what you want, generally if the car is what you want, a tank of diesel is generally a dealer sweetener!

Mudflaps would be personal opinion, but generally unless they're hughe they do sweet fa!

tommyjin83 · 19-10-2011 9:25pm

Hi Limerick man,

Great post there you have. I am actually looking for my first car, and have came across this http://www.carzone.ie/search/Rover/StreetWise/SPORT-1./131557337655387/advert?channel=CARS
As this is my first time buying a car, i was wondering if i could get some advice from you? I heard that this car has ceased production so repairs in the future might be expensive.

Cheers

L-M · 20-10-2011 12:08am

Repairs won't be expensive, there are plenty of parts about for them and there always will be!

Looks cool, low mileage. Just make sure you get at least a 6 month warranty (I'd have no problem paying the asking price for this)

jwmpayne2004 · 27-10-2011 8:29pm

Hi Limerick Man! I have been seriously following this thread as you have mentioned all relevant check to perform prior to purchase. Just a quick question , if there's a website we can use to check for financial loan on a car less than 8 years old? Will a cartell check reveals it? Thanks and God bless you!

L-M · 27-10-2011 8:33pm

jwmpayne2004 wrote: »

Hi Limerick Man! I have been seriously following this thread as you have mentioned all relevant check to perform prior to purchase. Just a quick question , if there's a website we can use to check for financial loan on a car less than 8 years old? Will a cartell check reveals it? Thanks and God bless you!

Have a read of this,

http://www.motorcheck.ie/faq/is-there-outstanding-finance

JR23 · 28-10-2011 2:00pm

Hi Guys, great posts, makes interesting reading, first post on boards and looking for some advice, looking to upgrade current BMW 316ti to something more "family" like car. I have found a 2008 passat on done deal for 8,800 euro, 78000 miles. Its a 2.0 tdi fully loaded, only thing is, is that it is a eng reg and i havent a clue where i stand with that. Any advice would be appreciated.

Heres the link http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2569955

jwmpayne2004 · 29-10-2011 6:40am

Thanks a million Limerickman!you are a valuable asset here at boards.

L-M · 29-10-2011 9:30am

JR23 wrote: »

Hi Guys, great posts, makes interesting reading, first post on boards and looking for some advice, looking to upgrade current BMW 316ti to something more "family" like car. I have found a 2008 passat on done deal for 8,800 euro, 78000 miles. Its a 2.0 tdi fully loaded, only thing is, is that it is a eng reg and i havent a clue where i stand with that. Any advice would be appreciated.

Heres the link http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2569955

I've never imported a Uk reg car myself, but I'm sure if you asked the seller to register it for you they would. Also, technically they should be a Dealer if they're holding foreign registered cars here.

monkeycork · 03-11-2011 9:57pm

can someone explain how cars reg. 1999 can have nct till mid 2013 http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2684739 for example my understanding was that cars 10 years or older needed an nct every year?

L-M · 03-11-2011 10:20pm

monkeycork wrote: »

can someone explain how cars reg. 1999 can have nct till mid 2013 http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2684739 for example my understanding was that cars 10 years or older needed an nct every year?

The Law changed in June, that was obviously done before the law changed. And is correct as the NCT runs in two year intervals from the year the car was registered, 99 - 03 - 05 - 07 - 09 - 11 - 13.

monkeycork · 03-11-2011 10:57pm

Limerick man wrote: »

The Law changed in June, that was obviously done before the law changed. And is correct as the NCT runs in two year intervals from the year the car was registered, 99 - 03 - 05 - 07 - 09 - 11 - 13.

thanks. does anyone know the previous law? eg. 1996 reg car nct'd november 2010 and nct was only for one year, expired november 2011. why is this?

L-M · 04-11-2011 7:42pm

monkeycork wrote: »

thanks. does anyone know the previous law? eg. 1996 reg car nct'd november 2010 and nct was only for one year, expired november 2011. why is this?

Could of been an Import, AFAIK.

monkeycork · 05-11-2011 9:55pm

Limerick man wrote: »

monkeycork wrote: »

thanks. does anyone know the previous law? eg. 1996 reg car nct'd november 2010 and nct was only for one year, expired november 2011. why is this?

Could of been an Import, AFAIK.

It's an Irish car. :-/

L-M · 06-11-2011 6:30pm

monkeycork wrote: »

It's an Irish car. :-/

Any link?

olas · 09-11-2011 11:27am

Know nothing about cars and haven't bought a car in over 10 years and have some money put aside for it.Tired of having an unreliable car so would like to get a fairly new estate,low milage,not too expensive to run,and the wife would like leather seats if possible as she's tired of cleaning all the yogurt etc off the seats that the kids keep throwing around in the back! Would like low tax as HATE giving money to the tax man.Figured the avensis would be good as people say it's reliable? Saw this http://www.cbg.ie/car_detail.aspx?ID=4573769
A little out of budget and UK reg.Would there be anything to know or look our for when buying a UK reg?I imagine if it didn't have a full service history then stay away?Anyway of checking the mileage? Sorry for all the questions. Any advice? Thanks in advance.

L-M · 09-11-2011 11:32am

You could do a history check in advance on www.motorcheck.ie or www.cartell.ie, but you would need the UK reg. I assume since that is coming from a Dealer that the price of the VRT is included in the price.

You would have a warranty with the car, and if the history check cleared and you were happy with the car I can't see why it shouldn't suit. If you wanted, for extra "peace of mind" you could always bring a mechanic with you to check the car structurally for any signs of new paintwork, previous damage etc.

olas · 09-11-2011 11:46am

Thanks Limerick Man. Yep VRT is included. I presume service history would be a must? What sort of warranty should I expect? Any opinion on Avensis or other estate? It seems like a decent price for that year/spec? Thanks for the free advice. Very decent of you.

L-M · 09-11-2011 12:01pm

olas wrote: »

Thanks Limerick Man. Yep VRT is included. I presume service history would be a must? What sort of warranty should I expect? Any opinion on Avensis or other estate? It seems like a decent price for that year/spec? Thanks for the free advice. Very decent of you.

To be honest, If it was me buying a new estate I'd be buying a Skoda Superb, but I don't think you'd get one in budget. The Avensis are a fine car, other options would be the Opel Insignia, and the obvious ones like a Mondeo or Passat. Drive all of them are see which you prefer.

History is a must with a new car like that, if it doesn't have it you'll find another.

olas · 09-11-2011 12:08pm

And what sort of warranty should I be getting?? Limerick man, genuinely thanks again for you time on this.

L-M · 09-11-2011 12:16pm

olas wrote: »

And what sort of warranty should I be getting?? Limerick man, genuinely thanks again for you time on this.

That depends on the Dealer really. Some might offer you a year, some might not.

6 months - 9 months would be fairly acceptable, I wouldn't accept three. Price one in a Main Toyota dealer, they might be inclined to offer you a longer warranty. Also, any Toyota dealer should be willing to "source" one for you.

It's also not about the length of the warranty, it's about the type. Some will give you a full, bumper to bumper, everything included warranty. And some with give you a 6 months "engine and gearbox" warranty which would just cover any major engine/gearbox related faults. On such a new car I'd be looking for a full warranty, but remember to ask the seller about this and get it comfirmed in writing.

Also, what kind of mileage to do you roughly per year?

olas · 09-11-2011 12:36pm

We do about 12k per year, mostly on country roads, but also motorway miles from the west up to Dublin once a month. The cartell checks etc have different options, any opinion on these? Is it worth getting the full check as I doubt I could bring a mechanic with me. Especially considering I know nothing about cars. Sorry, am starting to feel I am abusing your time!

Buying a used car in Ireland guide

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