2nd Hand. Buy from dealer or private

superflyninja

Hi im looking to buy a 11 or 1.2 seat ibiza or cordoba 5 door. Ive seen what looks like might be a decent car for sale privately. However some people STRONGLY think that I should only consider buying from a dealer. The car doesnt have a service history but is NCT'ed till Jan 2012. Any advice please?

djimi

I prefer to buy from a dealer as you have at least some comeback should anything go wrong with it, as most will offer some kind of warranty, even if its only 6 months engine and gearbox.

When I was buying my car I had the choice of getting one from a dealer or buying a similar one privately. Within two weeks of buying from the dealer the slave cylinder in the clutch went, and I was able to stick her on a tow truck and drop it on their doorstep. Car was repaired and back to me the next day. For that reason alone Im glad I went with the dealer as opposed to private sale.

Anan1

I think buying privately is safer, as you get to meet and evaluate the owner. Either way, I wouldn't buy a car with no SH unless it really was dirt cheap.

superflyninja

superflyninja wrote: »

Hi im looking to buy a 11 or 1.2 seat ibiza or cordoba 5 door. Ive seen what looks like might be a decent car for sale privately. However some people STRONGLY think that I should only consider buying from a dealer. The car doesnt have a service history but is NCT'ed till Jan 2012. Any advice please?

If you're green you may be better off with a dealer, some dealers are not as honest as others though. You'd be better off getting the car checked by a mechanic or similar. You could get lucky or unlucky really.

I'm not overly bothered with a service history to be honest, the most expensive car I ever bought had none, was 12 years old, a Jap import, bought from a guy selling cars from his house and was mint.

Logic would dictate she was trouble, she was 100% straight.

Also sold her 9 months later for €600 more than what I paid for her.

superflyninja

thanks a lot for the feedback lads. the car im looking at is : http://www.carzone.ie/search/SEAT/Cordoba/stella/201022198213080/advert?channel=CARS thoughts?
and where can i find a reliable mechanic to look over a car for me?

Anan1

RoverJames wrote: »

I'm not overly bothered with a service history to be honest, the most expensive car I ever bought had none, was 12 years old, a Jap import, bought from a guy selling cars from his house and was mint.

Logic would dictate she was trouble, she was 100% straight.

Also sold her 9 months later for €600 more than what I paid for her.

It's a bit different if you've a lot of experience with cars, though. I might buy a car on condition alone myself, but it's not a course of action i'd recommend to the uninitiated.

L-M

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1251813

If you get a warranty with that it'd be a win win!

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1283465

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1302042

A diesel for a bit more

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1275343

Although, by pictures alone (I know it's a 03) but this seems to be a winner...

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1350926

superflyninja

superflyninja wrote: »

thanks a lot for the feedback lads. the car im looking at is : http://www.carzone.ie/search/SEAT/Cordoba/stella/201022198213080/advert?channel=CARS thoughts?
and where can i find a reliable mechanic to look over a car for me?

Looks straight, original style wheel trims showing kerbing marks, not too bad a thing. Low miles, and lots of NCT left. A testdrive would tell a lot, nothing at all alarming about the add.

One of the Dublin posters may be able to recommend a mechanic to have a look at it for you. I'd drive it first and see is it what you want.

L-M

Now no offence,*gets ready* but I personally wouldn't by an SO reg *runs*

Anan1

While we're at it, is that a service overdue symbol I see on the dash?;)

L-M

Anan1 wrote: »

While we're at it, is that a service overdue symbol I see on the dash?;)

Yes it is. OP if there's no history at all with that I wouldn't touch it. Low mileage cars tend to forget that they need to be serviced on a basis of time as well!

superflyninja

service overdue symbol?? lol I didnt spot it at all!! thanks all Ill potter along to a dealer

Mr Benevolent

Limerick man wrote: »

Now no offence,*gets ready* but I personally wouldn't by an SO reg *runs*

Peasant may have something to say about that

L-M

Confab wrote: »

Peasant may have something to say about that

Peasant is a man with sense, he knows himself... He knows why Porsche are here...

But I'll keep a distance anyway:p

Anan1

superflyninja wrote: »

service overdue symbol?? lol I didnt spot it at all!! thanks all Ill potter along to a dealer

Plenty of them at dealers too..

superflyninja

Anan1 wrote: »

Plenty of them at dealers too..

out of interest where is the service symbol in the photos. I cant see any like.

L-M

Little blurry spanner on the left of the mileage

superflyninja

Limerick man wrote: »

Little blurry spanner on the left of the mileage

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cheers, is it the vertical or horizontal symbol?

L-M

superflyninja wrote: »

cheers, is it the vertical or horizontal symbol?

Vertical... IIRC the horizontal says miles...

superflyninja

Limerick man wrote: »

Vertical... IIRC the horizontal says miles...

that is some eyesight!

'tis a little spanner
To be honest it wouldn't put me off if the oil wasn't as black as night and the spark plugs and air filter were not too manky. First thing a dodgy seller does is get rid of all such service indicators.

Anan1

I don't think the seller of that car is dodgy (did a quick Google), I just think he didn't service the car. The last pic shows the service book, with two stamps - if that's all the car got over seven years then i'd forget about it. A quick phone call would unearth more info without having to make the trip out to see it.

Anan1

Anan1 wrote: »

The last pic shows the service book, with two stamps

Am I gone looney, I don't see any pic of a service book

L-M

RoverJames wrote: »

Am I gone looney, I don't see any pic of a service book

He's looking at a different car in one of my donedeal adds I think LOL

Anan1

Limerick man wrote: »

He's looking at a different car in one of my donedeal adds I think LOL

You're dead right. Was wondering why I didn't see the service book pic myself first time around!

L-M

Anan1 wrote: »

You're dead right. Was wondering why I didn't see the service book pic myself first time around!

If I'd time I'd show you pictures I used to sell a 94 Disco. It had 200,000 miles with a full documented serviced history, over 20 services. I used three pics out of 9 for the history, lol. The book was full

superflyninja

thanks for the advice all