Is This Too Good to be True?

Kintarō Hattori

The missus and myself just bought a house so there isn't too much spare cash to throw around on a car/tax/insurance for something that will be used to get too and from work a few days a week.

I can get the train but the good lady would be travelling about 20 mins each way to work at max 4 times a week. She wants something small (easy to park) and economical. I had thought about a Micra but for the moment we just want something cheap and small so decided to broaden the field. After six months to a year when we have more spare cash we'll get something a little more permanent. I don't mind if in 6-12 months time I sell it and loose money on it.

I spotted the Fiesta below and it seems like good value for money. It allegedly has had 1 owner and low mileage, a FSH. There are plenty of extra's and the NCT doesn't run out until 2013- so it seems to tick all the boxes for a cheap small run around that is really only a short term solution.


http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Fiesta/1.1-5Dr-/201102200886801/advert?channel=CARS

What do you folks think? Does it represent good value for money? Should I ignore it? Are Fiestas fairly reliable (main reason we thought about the Micra). I'm heading for 33 and have never had a car in my life so I'm not mechanically minded at all.

That car isn't value for money at all
Keep looking.

Yawns

I can only recommend not to do business with that place at all. The gfs mother has bought some cars off him but only because she likes wasting her money. She won't listen to anyone and I have given up telling her to avoid him.

To date she has bought about 4 cars from him and they have all been pieces of ****. Busted rads, completely worn tyres, some looking like they were never serviced to name but a few.

The first car she bought had an air filter similar to this. When I showed her and him they bought swore it was serviced only the day before.



I now tell her I'm not even interested when she wants me to look at her car as there's "a funny noise". 1 of them even broke down on the way home and she'll still go back because get this. "He's a nice lad who looks after me".

Bad bad crowd imo. Oh if you do go with them let us know how long ur waiting on a logbook. She never got 1 within 2 months on any of the cars. Last car she got was october and still none. She's an old **** who still drives and stopped twice, each time telling guard she only bought it and being waved thru checkpoint. She'll grow bored with it and sell the car for a few hundred and spend another 2k in there in about 3 months and cycle will continue. She buys a car from him every 6 - 9 months nearly

neilthefunkeone

That is one tired looking motor!!! You can get the newer shape model for same or cheaper.. Stay away from that!!

Kintarō Hattori

OK looks like I won't be buying there so and it would appear what I had thought was good value...... isn't. I had a quick look on DoneDeal and there are plenty of interesting options- I'll go through it thoroughly when I get home.

Would you guys mind if I pick some out and ask you your opinions? As I say I'm afraid I don't know a whole lot about them.

Yawns

Best advice we can give you is bring someone along who knows about cars. Do you know any mechanics or anything? Even some who has quite a lot of knowledge about cars. Someone who does know their stuff tho. They should be able to advise you at the point of sale wether to take it or leave it.

Kintarō Hattori

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Would you guys mind if I pick some out and ask you your opinions? As I say I'm afraid I don't know a whole lot about them.

Ask away

Kintarō Hattori

Yawns wrote: »

Best advice we can give you is bring someone along who knows about cars. Do you know any mechanics or anything? Even some who has quite a lot of knowledge about cars. Someone who does know their stuff tho. They should be able to advise you at the point of sale wether to take it or leave it.

Thanks Yawns. No I'm afraid not. The folks never had a car and anyone who knows anything about cars in my family lives abroad. When I have something picked out I'll bring along a mechanic. Aren't there people you can pay to have a look at a car?

colm_mcm

I'm gonna go against popular opinion on this one:

If the service history is correct, and its had an nct just done this could be a gem of a car. It's essentially the same model that ran to 03, it has extras that newer ones won't have.

At €700 or so it'd be good.

Downsides:
1.1 engine is rattley
Manual choke (I think)

Absurdum

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055599311

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055408577


http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055618383

Kintarō Hattori

OK I'll completely throw that car/idea out the window. To make sure I don't make a total fcuk up of things I'll run any potential purchase past your good selves.

El Guapo!

Ther is much better value than that around. What about something like these:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1937066

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1770205

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1931539

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1937266

Kintarō Hattori

They look like far better options alright- I'll have a look when the boss isn't at the table behind my partition! Ideally I'd like the car to be in Dublin, Kildare or Louth as I'd have no way to bring it back from somewhere further away.

Tigger

this is cheap (its a fiesta really)

€800 will probably buy it

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1896102

BlackWizard

Congrats on the house.

Definitely check donedeal.ie for cars. If you are patient, check it every night. You'll find a cheap car with NCT eventually.

Anan1

colm_mcm wrote: »

I'm gonna go against popular opinion on this one:

If the service history is correct, and its had an nct just done this could be a gem of a car. It's essentially the same model that ran to 03, it has extras that newer ones won't have.

At €700 or so it'd be good.

Downsides:
1.1 engine is rattley
Manual choke (I think)

I think the OP's basic idea is sound, I just don't think that particular car is the one.

colm_mcm

Absolutely, at this money, nct, service history, price of parts, condition and mileage are more important than age.

With any car, make sure there's a spare key, this could cost a fair percentage of the cars value.

bazz26

That Fiesta looks rough imo and not worth anywere near that much. And I'd also be asking how many times the odometer on that car has hit 50k miles. On Fiestas of that vintage the odometer only went up to 99,999 and then back to 00,000.

CiniO

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Fiesta/1.1-5Dr-/201102200886801/advert?channel=CARS

What do you folks think? Does it represent good value for money? Should I ignore it? Are Fiestas fairly reliable (main reason we thought about the Micra). I'm heading for 33 and have never had a car in my life so I'm not mechanically minded at all.

Once I got interested in a car from above dealer (N4Cars.com).
It was 02 Nissan Primera.
Looked nice on a pictures, and in description it was stated that car is from first owner with low mileage and perfect condition.
I called the dealer I was asking if the car is really as great as described. He said yes. I asked if it wasn't used as a taxi or hackney - he told that it wasn't 100%.
I was just about to leave the house and drive 300km to see it and most likely buy it, but just to make sure I made online check on mywheels.ie.
Result was that car had 5 previous owners in Ireland and was used as a Taxi.
So 7 euros paid for mywheels.ie saved me plenty of money for petrol tu Dublin and a whole day's time.

So I would be quite careful buying anything from that dealer.

Kintarō Hattori

Had a good look tonight and came up with several options plus the Mazda Tigger posted earlier:

Mazda 121 - NCT until well into 2012, cheap:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1896102

Nissan Micra - Decent time left on the NCT. Dodgy interior I know but those items can be removed:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1842901

Nissan Micra - Certainly looks good and again decent time left on the NCT:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1928797

Nissan Micra - Reg'd 99 but looks to have the foglights that appeared on the revamped models around 00:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1772144

Volkswagen Polo: NCT until 2012, dodgy photos but could be OK?
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1815117


Do any of these look like decent options? Would I be right in saying that the Micra has a reputation for being fairly bulletproof?

realdanbreen

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Thanks Yawns. No I'm afraid not. The folks never had a car and anyone who knows anything about cars in my family lives abroad. When I have something picked out I'll bring along a mechanic. Aren't there people you can pay to have a look at a car?

I know I'm going slightly off the track,but would I be right in thinking that you sometimes think that perhaps you need to do something exciting in your life?
Also the fact that you want a small car because it might be easier to park is scary!

johnos1984

realdanbreen wrote: »

Also the fact that you want a small car because it might be easier to park is scary!

I'd consider it sensible for some people and their respective budgets and needs

redsteveireland

realdanbreen wrote: »

I know I'm going slightly off the track,but would I be right in thinking that you sometimes think that perhaps you need to do something exciting in your life?
Also the fact that you want a small car because it might be easier to park is scary!

What?

Kintarō Hattori

realdanbreen wrote: »

I know I'm going slightly off the track,but would I be right in thinking that you sometimes think that perhaps you need to do something exciting in your life?
Also the fact that you want a small car because it might be easier to park is scary!

Ehh what? My life is pretty exciting as it is thanks.
The car is for the missus who as a lady does place a lot of emphasis on easy parking!

Ken.

That very car was for sale on done deal about a month ago in clane,co.kildare. I rang about it and was 3rd in line to go check it out. I have the reg wrote down cause i was checking insurance prices for it. The person was selling it for €600

Kintarō Hattori

lucyfur09 wrote: »

That very car was for sale on done deal about a month ago in clane,co.kildare. I rang about it and was 3rd in line to go check it out. I have the reg wrote down cause i was checking insurance prices for it. The person was selling it for €600

Em which one lucy as I listed five cars in the post?

Ken.

Apologies, i should have put in 'the car the op' has in there first post.

Kintarō Hattori

lucyfur09 wrote: »

Apologies, i should have put in 'the car the op' has in there first post.

Ahh fair enough. Well I've taken the advice given out in the thread and will be giving it a wide berth.

Kintarō Hattori

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Had a good look tonight and came up with several options plus the Mazda Tigger posted earlier:

Mazda 121 - NCT until well into 2012, cheap:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1896102

Nissan Micra - Decent time left on the NCT. Dodgy interior I know but those items can be removed:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1842901

Nissan Micra - Certainly looks good and again decent time left on the NCT:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1928797

Nissan Micra - Reg'd 99 but looks to have the foglights that appeared on the revamped models around 00:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1772144

Volkswagen Polo: NCT until 2012, dodgy photos but could be OK?
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1815117


Do any of these look like decent options? Would I be right in saying that the Micra has a reputation for being fairly bulletproof?

Any opinions on the above?

Bigus

Black micra looks like being sold by back street dealer,too good photos.

sometimes bad photos mean a genuine private seller

Raskolnikov

colm_mcm wrote: »

Absolutely, at this money, nct, service history, price of parts, condition and mileage are more important than age.

With any car, make sure there's a spare key, this could cost a fair percentage of the cars value.

- Make sure the car has 4 decent tyres, ideally a decent one in the boot too.
- Checking the clutch is key, make sure it isn't too high and test it by taking off using it and not the gas.
- Try to test drive it over speed ramps, you'll get an idea of issues with the suspension or dodgy springs.
- Make sure to bring it up to 60mph and go through all the gears.
- Buying off an older private seller can really bring you a bargain. I got my first car this way, bought it off an auld one who never took it out onto a motorway and basically used it to pootle up and down to the shops - her husband made sure it kept ticking along.
- Check for sludge/mayo under the oil cap or smoke from the exhaust.

Bigus

Could fit the bill with a bit of bargaining
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1950227

Raskolnikov

Also, don't be afraid to haggle! 10% off a used car is practically a given, if you've the gift of the gab, you could get a bigger discount. Don't be afraid to walk away either.

kermitpwee

colm_mcm wrote: »

I'm gonna go against popular opinion on this one:

If the service history is correct, and its had an nct just done this could be a gem of a car. It's essentially the same model that ran to 03, it has extras that newer ones won't have.

At €700 or so it'd be good.

Downsides:
1.1 engine is rattley
Manual choke (I think)

Now normally a dent wouldnt bother me but that fiesta a does not add up. Fsh and 1 owner but has the following.

1. Dent on boot

2. Big dent on drivers door

3. Bonett is well out of line with wing.