Bad purchase

HoldStady

Well I actually want to post this on personal issues. Basically I made a bad buy last year and the car has turned into a money pit and I want to get rid. With the used car price crash (I also overpaid:mad:) I am worried I will be stuck with it now.
I am wondering are dealers doing trade ins still or is it just a case with new cars. Is it just a case of going around the garages and try to get lucky.
If I can't get a trade in I will have to settle for a cheap car. My budget would be limited to about 4k and I would be looking for reliability (something japanese) over everything else (apart from maybe a micra), I also do about 16k miles a year. I would need this car until I get my finances back on track.

Obviously I am very wary of entering the car market from the errors of my previous buy so I would appreciate any pointers and any suggestions for a car in this price range. Thanks

Rowley Birkin QC

What's the car?

If it's something interesting or rare, all might not be lost.

Halfrauds

HoldStady wrote: »

Well I actually want to post this on personal issues. Basically I made a bad buy last year and the car has turned into a money pit and I want to get rid. With the used car price crash (I also overpaid:mad:) I am worried I will be stuck with it now.
I am wondering are dealers doing trade ins still or is it just a case with new cars. Is it just a case of going around the garages and try to get lucky.
If I can't get a trade in I will have to settle for a cheap car. My budget would be limited to about 4k and I would be looking for reliability (something japanese) over everything else (apart from maybe a micra), I also do about 16k miles a year. I would need this car until I get my finances back on track.

Obviously I am very wary of entering the car market from the errors of my previous buy so I would appreciate any pointers and any suggestions for a car in this price range. Thanks

what car is it? and what was wrong with it??

Alanstrainor

Are you trying to sell your current car? If so what is it? and where do you have it advertised?

Seth Brundle

From what you say its not a personal issue so this may be the best place for it!
What is the car and what issues have you had?
Regading trade-ins - forget about it - a dealer can't sell what is already on the forecourt. If you are lucky to offload it to a dealer you will get pretty much nithing for it!

Guy:Incognito

HoldStady wrote: »

I would be looking for reliability (something japanese) over everything else (apart from maybe a micra),

Nissan are Japanese.

Tony Broke

What did you buy?

A Golf?

If you need something reliable and kinda comfortable, get a Carisma/Primera or similar.

This Primera for under 1k would be a good buy.

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1325998

Halfrauds

Stekelly wrote: »

Nissan are Japanese.

i dont think she likes micras, because they are ****.:pac:

bet thats what she is stuck with.

colm_mcm

could you list what's gone wrong so far and what the car is?

Halfrauds

lets try guess....

Id have to go with a

Classic mini, that can be a money pit, along with inflated prices and dreamers:pac:


whats wrong??

Gearbox and rust

Johnny Utah

So, you bought an Alfa...........:D:D:D

JimmyCrackCorn!

Has to be french.
Now give us details.

I hate to say this but everyone loves a hard luck story and everyone has one.

Op if you learned a lesson it may be an expensive one but you will never make the same mistake again.

4k will get you a good reliable mile muncher.


This is without even trying look harder than i did i only searched diesels for 4k:;)
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=2693491
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=2573615#
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=2830035
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=2684551#
http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=2802402
got to love recession motoring the avensis tempted me.


Best advice we can give you is get your car fully checked by a trusted mechanic before you buy it. If the seller refuses go somewhere else.

klaus23

This should be moved to the personals section.

Mr Benevolent

This should be moved to the personals section.

Especially since they won't admit what they bought!

voxpop

Its this isnt it

The go to guy

tell me the car details and ill give you some advice on it. im new to this 'boards' but i would like to think i can point you in the right direction,

regards,

HoldStady

I posted before heading off, apologies. The car is 04 stilo 1.6 active. There is not a big problem per se but I have it less than a year and I have payed out €800 in repairs - two services, coil replacement, radiator leak, also other small things(tracking). I did read honest johns review there recently and found it interesting that the stilo gives uneven tyre wear coz I had a blow out there recently.
I want to get rid because I do not feel its going to get any better (there's only 35k miles with me driving 15k of them.
I overpaid for the car but I see that there are still priced between 5-7k on CBG and carzone but I'm guessing these are hopeful prices or the actual selling price is well below this.
Thanks to the people posting suggestions.

Seth Brundle

HoldStady wrote: »

I posted before heading off, apologies. The car is 04 stilo 1.6 active. There is not a big problem per se but I have it less than a year and I have payed out €800 in repairs - two services, coil replacement, radiator leak, also other small things(tracking). I did read honest johns review there recently and found it interesting that the stilo gives uneven tyre wear coz I had a blow out there recently.

Servicing cannot be counted within your €800 - if a car needs a service then it needs a service!
The other items could happen in any car to be honest!
Did you get the car checked over before you bought spent a lot on it?

HoldStady wrote: »

I want to get rid because I do not feel its going to get any better (there's only 35k miles with me driving 15k of them.
I overpaid for the car but I see that there are still priced between 5-7k on CBG and carzone but I'm guessing these are hopeful prices or the actual selling price is well below this.

Don't you read the papers? Nothing is selling. Someone can ask for 100k but it doesn't mean that the car will sell!

colm_mcm

that's hardly a money pit, wait till the syncros go in the gearbox, the sky-window stays jammed open in the rain and the car refuses to start on Wednesdays before getting too upset.

Cars go wrong, maintainance is necessary, this is normal.

EPM

HoldStady wrote: »

I posted before heading off, apologies. The car is 04 stilo 1.6 active. There is not a big problem per se but I have it less than a year and I have payed out 800 in repairs - two services, coil replacement, radiator leak, also other small things(tracking). I did read honest johns review there recently and found it interesting that the stilo gives uneven tyre wear coz I had a blow out there recently.
I want to get rid because I do not feel its going to get any better (there's only 35k miles with me driving 15k of them.
I overpaid for the car but I see that there are still priced between 5-7k on CBG and carzone but I'm guessing these are hopeful prices or the actual selling price is well below this.
Thanks to the people posting suggestions.

In fairness you have to service cars so thats something you got to do, the tracking will usually need doing regularly on any car. If you hit a pot hole hard you'll put it out. Coils go but it was an outlay as was the rad leak. Thats two small things and in 15k on a stilo i'd think you've got a good one there...

Flyer1

You need a good Nissan Almera I have a nice one going for sale...

18 months, i've put 21k miles on it, not once has it given so much as an ounce of trouble.

EPM

Flyer1 wrote: »

You need a good Nissan Almera I have a nice one going for sale...

18 months, i've put 21k miles on it, not once has it given so much as an ounce of trouble.

Has the timing chain stretched yet?

colm_mcm

Flyer1 wrote: »

You need a good Nissan Almera I have a nice one going for sale...

18 months, i've put 21k miles on it, not once has it given so much as an ounce of trouble.

The downside is you've been driving an Almera for a year and a half though

HoldStady

Points taken but I think the unreliability is too much, between services and other jobs I feel I'm never out of the garage. However I did not check it out and got a head of steam when buying. As someone previously said I have learnt some lessons.
However on the separate point is there a market for this car on a trade or selling. I think the best thing is to go to dealers and see if I can recoup some money from it.

Seth Brundle

As I said earlier, servicing is a normal practice for a car. If you don't want to have to service it then maybe don't drive!
As for trying to sell it onto a dealer, don't waste the petrol driving there, they won't want it! Even if you were buying a new car off them, they would still prefer not to have to take the car off you!

Halfrauds

HoldStady wrote: »

Points taken but I think the unreliability is too much, between services and other jobs I feel I'm never out of the garage. However I did not check it out and got a head of steam when buying. As someone previously said I have learnt some lessons.
However on the separate point is there a market for this car on a trade or selling. I think the best thing is to go to dealers and see if I can recoup some money from it.

cars are expensive toys. there is no such mechanical machine on this planet that doesnt require maintenance.

Its a vicious circle the less you look after the car, the more that will go wrong.

Maybe you should walk, thats about the most reliable , efficient way of transport:)

i dont mean to be sexist here but are you of the female persuation?:o

F-Stop

Halfrauds wrote: »

i dont mean to be sexist here but are you of the female persuation?:o

I think she is, the fact that she can spell gave it away.

EPM

HoldStady wrote: »

Points taken but I think the unreliability is too much, between services and other jobs I feel I'm never out of the garage. However I did not check it out and got a head of steam when buying. As someone previously said I have learnt some lessons.
However on the separate point is there a market for this car on a trade or selling. I think the best thing is to go to dealers and see if I can recoup some money from it.

Points taken? You've had two relatively minor problems in the time you've had it. This happens with second hand cars and new ones for that matter. And again servicing is an essential part of motoring! Get over it. If its an inconvenience get the bus! You should probably hang onto it and get yous moneys worth at the moment though. Nobody will touch it unfortunately

EPM

F-Stop wrote: »

I think she is, the fact that she can spell gave it away.

And there was me thinking it was the getting advice and ignoring it regardless bit was the giveaway

Mr Benevolent

€800 inc two services is not a money pit. My brother and I stopped in traffic beside an Alfa 156. My bro was thinking of getting one (against my advice), so he rolled down the window and asked him if it was reliable 'Reliable?' the other guy yelled, 'I've spent €2,500 on it in the last two months and I've only had it three!'

THAT's unreliable. Your Stilo is doing fine.

Edit: Although Honest John's does say

A failed car. No reason to buy it rather than the better competition. Disastrous quality.

Halfrauds

F-Stop wrote: »

I think she is, the fact that she can spell gave it away.

the fact that shes totally ignorant to costs and servicing involved in cars kinda gave it away too, but i didnt want to come across like you:rolleyes:

are you implying that men cant spell??

F-Stop

EPM wrote: »

And there was me thinking it was the getting advice and ignoring it regardless bit was the giveaway

You mean all those posts where people ask about insuring a 170bhp car on their provisional license and ignoring the advice to get a smaller car and build up their ncb are women? Well, I never would have thunk it

F-Stop

Halfrauds wrote: »

the fact that shes totally ignorant to costs and servicing involved in cars kinda gave it away too, but i didnt want to come across like you:rolleyes:

are you implying that men cant spell??

No, I was implying that stupid generalisations are stupid.

Halfrauds

F-Stop wrote: »

No, I was implying that stupid generalisations are stupid.

id say men are more literate than women, so your generalisation was wrong IMO.


well females earn the generalisations, although some men are catching up, like the idiot who left his car while running and expected it to be still there.

I never said she was a woman, i asked. could easily have been a man.(metrosexual) i know fellas who know more about moisturiser than cars:rolleyes:

Mr Benevolent

Eh? What do Fiat Stilo's have to do with spelling?

Eoin

Confab wrote: »

Edit: Although Honest John's does say

I don't really pay much attention to Honest John. They seem to list every single problem a car has ever had, with quite little weighting attached. Parkers is a much better site IMO.

F-Stop wrote: »

No, I was implying that stupid generalisations are stupid.

Are you saying that all stupid generalisations are stupid?

Halfrauds

Confab wrote: »

Eh? What do Fiat Stilo's have to do with spelling?

i made a speeling mistake:(

F-stop, is a literary genious akin to william shakespeare, hence doesnt make spelling mistakes. oh and seems to be a feminist(ye them):pac:

Halfrauds

eoin wrote: »

I don't really pay much attention to Honest John. They seem to list every single problem a car has ever had, with quite little weighting attached. Parkers is a much better site IMO.



Are you saying that all stupid generalisations are stupid?

but good ones like women know feck all about mechanics is true. wonder why its a male dominated trade:pac:


lets female bash for the craic. they can male bash and well all have a stupid argument!

colm_mcm

to be fair, the Stilo is very well equipped, early models had huge safety spec as well as loads of other nice bits, due to their poor resale they can be had for the same price as much older versions of its competition.

I wouldn't buy one, but it's easy to say you should buy a Focus or a Golf or something instead, but you'd probably be looking at a higer mileage older car with lower spec for the same money.

EPM

Halfrauds wrote: »

but good ones like women know feck all about mechanics is true. wonder why its a male dominated trade:pac:


lets female bash for the craic. they can male bash and well all have a stupid argument!

Should we start on women drivers so?

Runs for cover...

F-Stop

eoin wrote: »

Are you saying that all stupid generalisations are stupid?

Yes I am, but I'm not saying all generalisations are stupid.

Guy:Incognito

colm_mcm wrote: »

to be fair, the Stilo is very well equipped, early models had huge safety spec as well as loads of other nice bits, due to their poor resale they can be had for the same price as much older versions of its competition.

I wouldn't buy one, but it's easy to say you should buy a Focus or a Golf or something instead, but you'd probably be looking at a higer mileage older car with lower spec for the same money.

Did you not have a Bravo or a Brava once? Hardly a million miles away.:)

D/C

F-Stop wrote: »

You mean all those posts where people ask about insuring a 170bhp car on their provisional license and ignoring the advice to get a smaller car and build up their ncb are women? Well, I never would have thunk it

Well I hope your not refering to my thread where I asked about insuring a 170bhp car, because I was waiting to get my full license before I got the car and I am not ignoring the advice given!

Wait better make a spelling miskate before Im classed a woman!

Anyhow, I find that its a fair bit of money to put into a car after 1 year, should of been serviced before it was bought, unless it was bought private, but it is a 04 stilo!!!

colm_mcm

Stekelly wrote: »

Hardly a million miles away.:)

Nearly bought a feckin' Stilo when they were launched

maidhc

€800 per year maintenance on a 2004 car is nothing. If it was 3/4 times it I would say you had a money pit.

Halfrauds

EPM wrote: »

Should we start on women drivers so?

Runs for cover...

nah lets go for the holy grail,

women drivers driving 4x4s:pac:

CharlieCroker

Taking the services out, how much did the other stuff cast you?

To be honest, no dealer is going to have much interest in the car. I like the Stilo, had one as a company car in '06 but i wasn't paying to keep it on the road!! If you were trading it it, you'd prob be insulted by the offers. I'm thinking about €2000, maybe €3k at a push. Prob not what you want to hear but thems are the cold hard facts!!

Sparky

Aye very true.
I wanted to trade in a 307 HDi with 30k on the clock and I was told 4k