What about this for a first car?

whatawaster

Hi all,

Still on a provisional license (though I've done all my lessons, just haven't booked the test yet) and I'm looking for a first car for myself and my girlfriend (who hasn't got her provisional yet, but soon will). We're both 27

My budget could stretch to €1500, but the lower the better

I've seen the Ford Fiesta recommended so I've been on the lookout for a 1.25, somewhere around the Louth/Meath/North Dublin area. I've also looked at things like the Micra and the Yaris, not really interested in anything bigger.

I came across this on Carzone this morning:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Fiesta/LX-1.25/34113608586648520/advert?channel=CARS

'99 Fiesta, 89,000 miles, NCT until July.

Does this look decent value? Anything that immediately jumps out as being wrong with it?

shooter88

6-700 tops..999e is a bit rich for a 99fiesta you would be doing them a favour at 700.

pred racer

Seems like an awful lot of money for a 12-13yr old car.

The first pge on DoneDeal throws up this.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4449489

colm_mcm

pred racer wrote: »

Seems like an awful lot of money for a 12-13yr old car.

The first pge on DoneDeal throws up this.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4449489

To be fair, that's a 1.3 private sale, windey windowed green fiesta with no nct.

whatawaster

I don't really mind paying a few quid extra for nct, good location (I'm in drogheda so Balbriggan is not too far) and buying from a dealer (even if it just makes me feel better in my own head)

colm_mcm

At this price level you often don't get the full dealer experience (serviced, warranty etc.)

Best to get someone independent to look at the car too.

Far as I know the clocks on these only go up to 99999 then go back to 00000 so there may be more miles on it. Unlikely but possible

dgt

Rads can crap themselves, rusty sills, door lock woes and the clutch slave cylinder needs replacing with the clutch change.

Not a bad car, try to source one with a later set of clocks, they're digital so you know the actual mileage

repsol

Could be just the photos,but it looks like it got a good hit on the p/s rear door which has not been repaired properly.I suggest you get a mechanic to go with you to check it out and if its okay DO NOT pay asking price.

Merch

whatawaster wrote: »

Hi all,

Still on a provisional license (though I've done all my lessons, just haven't booked the test yet) and I'm looking for a first car for myself and my girlfriend (who hasn't got her provisional yet, but soon will). We're both 27

My budget could stretch to €1500, but the lower the better

I've seen the Ford Fiesta recommended so I've been on the lookout for a 1.25, somewhere around the Louth/Meath/North Dublin area. I've also looked at things like the Micra and the Yaris, not really interested in anything bigger.

I came across this on Carzone this morning:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Fiesta/LX-1.25/34113608586648520/advert?channel=CARS

'99 Fiesta, 89,000 miles, NCT until July.

Does this look decent value? Anything that immediately jumps out as being wrong with it?

Its definitely a good car type/size/make to start on, I think it has a bit extra added into the price as its a dealer and they expect people to haggle some price off.
Its a good engine if its looked after (I think)
Check stuff that you dont want to have to do immediately after the car is bought, as once you hand the cash over, they lose interest in helping you out (any seller).
At 89000miles, id ensure the timing belt is done, look for a receipt

colm_mcm wrote: »

At this price level you often don't get the full dealer experience (serviced, warranty etc.)

Best to get someone independent to look at the car too.

Far as I know the clocks on these only go up to 99999 then go back to 00000 so there may be more miles on it. Unlikely but possible

Im sure the 99's onwards have the digital odometers, some may have had mechanical odometers, but Im thought they went further than 99999, OP I recomend check other older models online that have an image of the display just for reference. 189,000 wouldnt be impossible in a 1.25 engine, but the condition of wear should tell that.

repsol wrote: »

Could be just the photos,but it looks like it got a good hit on the p/s rear door which has not been repaired properly.I suggest you get a mechanic to go with you to check it out and if its okay DO NOT pay asking price.

Def has some damage on the door, might be ok, OP check for paint differences on the structure behind that door, but it looks ok, ie why would they repair the structure if it was damaged and not the door, but if it was just the door, you can see why it would be cost effective just to touch up the paint (by whomever did the damage)

I recommend the 1.25 fiestas, get as good and clean an example you can afford, check for major stuff, like has the timing belt been done, was the clutch in need of being done etc there are some really clean Ghia models out there and even LX's, minor stuff that might be annoying, does it have a CD player and not a tape deck? check all lights function/fan. 3 door are awkward to get stuff/people in the back (normal for 3 door), but better space and boot than Yaris/Micra.

There really isn't much left on the NCT, that could be a problem, I also think there are cleaner models, it would be worth travelling to slightly outside your search radius to get one, not really far but at least to South/West Dublin

bazz26

I would not even bother buying a car at age or price from a dealer. I could imagin you having all sorts of hassle trying to get them to fix issues on cars of that age as there is very little profit in them. Better off buying private, at least you can talk to the owner of the car rather than just a guy who took it in cheap as a trade in and knows nothing about it other than he wants to turn around a few euro on it.

Merch

I agree with the last post, Id go private and if you get a nice clean example off a private seller via donedeal
(but dont rule out dealers, they may have good examples and they just want to shift it because of the age)

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4514132

heres one, maybe they will be open to negotiation, Id make them get the NCT done (in any case)

GHIA models have fogs on the front and a slightly nicer interior (think its faux wood paneling)

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4317104

here's one, NCT's a bit short