Help - for a novice buyer

CityChick21

I'm hoping there is someone on this forum who can help me, I'm a complete novice looking for advice.

I'm hoping to buy a classic car for my boyfriend but am a bit clueless on what I should be asking / looking out for.

I've seen a car on donedeal and am hoping to go take a look at it. But can someone please advise on the questions I need to ask when I go view it?

Thanks so much for any help.

Sleepy

I'm as much a novice as yourself but my advice would be rather than looking for questions to ask, look for someone who knows their stuff that can come with you to give the car a proper examination.

mustang68

You might think of telling what the car is or linking to the ad. This would help people see make/year/model of car you are looking at and you would get a person who knows about them and would be able to help. For instance I have an american car, but would be able to offer no help if you were looking for a 1970's british car.

CityChick21

Thanks for the advice.
The car that I was looking at was:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/2539597

Muckie

What a lucky chap he is

Post up what kind of car your looking at and you'll

get plenty of advice from here, theres also plenty of classic car

magazines if you want to check to, Easons are well stocked.

You don't want to get dodgy fixer upper(or you'll never see him,

as he'll be spending all he's free time fixing it!) or do you. :pac:

Tommyboy40

Lovely motor. You would want someone who knows old jags to have a look though, as parts can be expensive. Fuel consumption on these big V12's is horrendous.

SilverBell

CityChick21 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.
The car that I was looking at was:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/2539597

The car looks fantastic, and is at a good price for an amazing car. But its hard to judge everything from pics.
It really would need to be driven to suss out the mechanical items, and have someone take a good look at the bodywork. This might save you trouble down the line. If you are not so sure about cars, bodywork, etc, then have a word with someone who does know and will go with you and lend a hand.

The V12 is not an economical car though. It is an absolute guzzler. A friend of mine has one. Expect 15mpg tops!! However, for such a special car, this may not matter to the right owner. Jags have a very strong following and there are loads of clubs in both Ireland and the UK and you can get spares and advice readily afaik.
All the best whatever you decide.

salysol

As the car is in Carlow,it might be wise to give Derek Dickenson a call
tel 0868164493
he's in Ferns Wexford,and is a jag specialist,i'm sure he would look it over for you.
hope that helps

macplaxton

SilverBell wrote: »

The V12 is not an economical car though. It is an absolute guzzler. A friend of mine has one. Expect 15mpg tops!!

It's not even an HE model, so in the cold light of day expect less than that.

si_guru

There is a suspicious amount of black paint in the favourite rust bubble areas. Having never seen an NCT, and possibly not an MOT for years this car could be be rusty, very rusty in only the way a Jaguar knows how to rusty.

It needs an expert to look at it..

Dades

I love the idea of buying someone a surprise classic but think it's madness, tbh!

Any classic can turn into a world of pain, and end up being a money pit or a heartbreaker.

I really think owning one is a decision you should only enter into in full knowledge, unless you are talking about a mint classic from a dealer willing to stand over it.

CityChick21

Thank you all so much for your advice and help. It's much appreciated...

Thanks again.

MercMad

I can only agree with what the other folks have said, namely it DOES look fab, being pre-HE is actually a disadvantage, there IS suspicious black paint and therefore rust, Derek Dickenson IS the expert ( and you really DO need one to inspect it).

Firstly I would ask how old the pictures are (they could be years old), how long the guy had it, why he is selling, how long has it been in Ireland. What is the history, and I mean receipts for work done not service stamps. Is the current owner in a car Club, if so which one. What is his realistic price ( he probably wont give you one, but if he does then thats your new staring point to work back from)

After that decide if its worth viewing and bring someone along who knows how to look for rust. The mechanicals are less important, you could loose €3k in rust repairs very easily, but somebody needs to be able to check that it is mechanically sound.

Best of luck & happy hunting.

mustang68

Dades wrote: »

I love the idea of buying someone a surprise classic but think it's madness, tbh!

Any classic can turn into a world of pain, and end up being a money pit or a heartbreaker.

It's probably like buying someone a puppy because they like dogs, a lot of work involved. But if you went to look at puppies together, you might get the perfect one...

(I'm mores used to car analogies on computer forums, not dog analogies on car forums)

Dades

Except you might get a puppy home to find out it's actually a very sick, temperamental rat in a fur coat. :pac:

Tigger

very complicated car

CityChick21

I really appreciate all the replies....thanks so much.

I understand what you are saying re buying something like this, but its a special birthday and I'd love to surprise him.

I can't get in touch with the guy selling that jag so I'm trying to get an alternative. So I know its hard to judge from pictures, but if you could just tell me what you think of this, then I'll leave ye all alone I suppose I just want to know if this is would be considered a nice classic car, "respectable" in the world of classics...

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/2565715

Thanks so much.

alexr1

If you dont know what to look for make sure and get someone who does.
Some of these old cars can look great but underneath could be covered in rust. You could be buying a world of trouble.
Some can be painted upto look good buy a botch job could make them even worse.
Lucky bloke. If it doesnt work out between ye let me know...;)

Bigus

Feel free to keep coming back for advice here and keep posting up links

Dades

Those are two very different cars you've posted up!

I thinking you should have a more fixed idea on what you know he'd like.

RobAMerc

hi,

I think buying someone a classic is a great idea.
The only worry I have is that owning a classic tends to be a bit of a labour of love ( and money ). Are you sure he is the type of guy who would appreciate having to look after a classic car ?
I know most folk into classics tend to be very forgiving of them and just grin an bear being left on the side of the road on a Sunday afternoon spin regularly - is he that type of guy do you think ?

Sorry if I seem negative - I just dont want to see you waste your money on something he will feel compelled to keep but never use - it will literally rot your cash away ( particularly that Jag ! )

Anan1

I actually think a classic car is too personal a choice to buy for someone else. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a lovely idea, but there's nobody else in the world who could pick the right classic for me. I could spend weeks explaining my likes/dislikes to an expert, and they still wouldn't be able to do it. I'd advise buying it with him.