trying to find car dealer.

carzony

Hi guys, i'm looking to buy a car that down in the years as in 1999-2000 (focus or almera ect..) I have been looking around and I know there are plenty of cars at that age being sold privately but I'd rather just buy from a dealer. Is there any good car dealers that would sell cars in them years? if so where? :D:D

colm_mcm

Heres the simple maths:

00 car like that is maybe €1500
I sell you a yoke like that, I might spend €100 on bits and pieces. If I'm gonna cover it for 3 months theres an inherint risk. Let's attach a value of €500 to that risk.
Also. I'm not a charity, so I'll need to cover my costs and have a few quid for my trouble.

Problem is, I need to get the car for next to nothing to be able to sell it for market value, so its auction stuff, or cheap trade ins from garages.

In this scenario, I've never even met the previous owner.


If you buy privately, you're buying from the owner, you can tell a lot about a car from its owner, what they're like, how they keep their house, how they drive the car, they can answer specific questions about previous servicing etc.

At higher price levels, dealers make sense, but at the bottom of the market, a car thats been sold by an honest head who doesn't sell cars all day, has owned it for years, is less of a risk than tarted up auction fodder sold by a tax free casual trader who's warranty isn't worth a ****e anyway.

wildefalcon

I tend to agree.

The risk with an older car is that when it fails the parts may be more difficult to obtain. Few dealers will take the risk, or the hassle, involved.

A private sale of a well looked after car is the lowest risk approach.

And don't be disappointed if it does break down, just spend the extra money on a break down service cover, or befriend a good independent local garage - they often will recover broken down cars for customers. Mine does.

G.

Anan1

carzony wrote: »

I have been looking around and I know there are plenty of cars at that age being sold privately but I'd rather just buy from a dealer. Is there any good car dealers that would sell cars in them years? if so where? :D:D

What colm and wildefalcon said, basically. If you don't know cars then look at the owner.

bazz26

The majority of stuff at this age and price range from dealers tends to be the type that is sitting around the back of the forecourt yard gathering moss for ages being sold with little or no warranty.

You will get more car for your money in this price range by buying private.