After spending all day today going from dealer to dealer, I found two cars

Danger781

http://www.carzone.ie/search/MINI/Hatch/ONE/45413996657591710/advert?channel=CARS

I sat in the Mini today and fell in love with it. Didn't get to drive it but turned on the Engine and the sound made me melt :pac: Few interior flaws with it.. Some wear and tear on the driver seat and steering wheel. The gear stick has a plastic part on it that is cracked, and the handbrake leather part slides up and down. (I'm not sure how to describe what I'm talking about, hopefully you understand.). Has the full JCW body kit and interior done.

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http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-golf-1-4-2204/7334582

Immaculate condition. Have nothing to comment on.

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Also spotted this one but it was in their garage, so didn't get to have a look. Not sure if that means it has been bought or what..

http://www.jasonobriencars.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1091924

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Thoughts, comments, anything at all would be appreciated!

toyotaavensis

Not to depress you but an 02 mini with 150000 miles is not worth 3400.

The other two cars are in a dealer who doesnt have a great reputation here. If you look through threads here some people say some not nice things about them.

I can give you the name of a few decent garages near the city if you PM me.

Danger781

toyotaavensis wrote: »

Not to depress you but an 02 mini with 150000 miles is not worth 3400.

The other two cars are in a dealer who doesn't have a great reputation here. If you look through threads here some people say some not nice things about them.

I can give you the name of a few decent garages near the city if you PM me.

Really? I searched his name and found nothing. If you have any links I'd appreciate it. Yeah if you could send me on the names of the garages that'd be great.

EDIT: As for the price, it seems in range of other similar minis on DoneDeal.. And those don't have the JCW

EDIT: Did another search of his name, found one single thread and that came to a resolution by the OP simply popping back into the dealer.

bazz26

Would not be paying anywhere near that asking price for that jaded looking MINI no matter what bits of kit are bolted onto it. The odometer reads almost 165k miles btw.

colm_mcm

That's not a Mini Cooper either, its a Mini one.

Its also a uk import. So as well as the over 5 owners its had in Ireland - there are also uk owner/owners.

It also has an expired NCT since 16th April this year.

Danger781

I feel like everyone is advising me against the Mini.. I do understand the price is quite high, but assuming I could drop it to say €3k, what would you say then?

Any comments on the golf?

Danger781

colm_mcm wrote: »

It also has an expired NCT since 16th April this year.

Really? The ad said May next year..

toyotaavensis

Danger781 wrote: »

I feel like everyone is advising me against the Mini.. I do understand the price is quite high, but assuming I could drop it to say €3k, what would you say then?

Any comments on the golf?

Still no as is is very overpriced and if your spending 3000 you should be getting something with a lot more life in it.

colm_mcm

That Golf is quare basic. If you like the mini then surely a Golf Sportline would be a better bet if you're looking at Golfs

colm_mcm

Danger781 wrote: »

Really? The ad said May next year..

Its like an IOU NCT maybe?

toyotaavensis

Just did a little search on carzone and came across these two
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Yaris/1.0-TERR/61614061143931450/advert?channel=CARS
if you were happy with something small from a toyota main dealer

I know they arent pretty but the garage are a well known SAAB specialist with a good reputation
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Suzuki/Liana/1.3-5DR-/60314054183846500/advert?channel=CARS
cars not the prettiest though

colm_mcm

At that level, buying privately makes loads of sense

bazz26

Basic entry level Golf, I really don't for the life of me know what makes them appealing.

Proper MINI Cooper here:


http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/04-mini-cooper-1-6l/7291832

Danger781

bazz26 wrote: »

Basic entry level Golf, I really don't for the life of me know what makes them appealing.

Proper MINI Cooper here:


http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/04-mini-cooper-1-6l/7291832

What makes that one so good?

Danger781

So I've been PMing toyotaavensis and he has given me the name of a few garages to also check out. As other people have said, the two choices I narrowed it down to aren't the best. The Golf is a basic entry level type Golf, and the Mini is '02 with 160k on the clock. Out of those two, I could get the Mini + Insurance for cheaper than the Golf which draws me more towards the Mini. However, toyotaavensis said there is a reason you don't see many MINIs with 150k+ on the clock, and he was right. There is only 3 for sale in Ireland (On DoneDeal) with that many miles in the same year or younger. The one I chose is the cheapest of the three though! :P

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I just came across this while looking through DoneDeal.

2006 VW Golf Sportline (€4200)
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/06-vw-golf-gt-sportline/7188030

• NCT just passed
• 115,000 Miles

I always hate when people don't show the reg plate..

toyotaavensis

have you a link to the car?

Danger781

toyotaavensis wrote: »

have you a link to the car?

heh woops

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/06-vw-golf-gt-sportline/7188030

toyotaavensis

Looks nice but I wonder does it actually have a full service history.

Danger781

toyotaavensis wrote: »

Looks nice but I wonder does it actually have a full service history.

Would it be worth getting a full motorcheck.ie check done on it? Or just ask a mechanic to check it out and ask about the service history.

toyotaavensis

There is no right or wrong answer. I would say do the thing which costs you nothing first. Call to see it and drive it.
If you like it then do both the car check and bring a mechanic but check it out as best you can first as you dont have to pay yourself.

This lad does good videos on the youtube - heres his guide to checking out a car:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Tvgaix4jZ0

MidlandsM

Danger781 wrote: »

So I've been PMing toyotaavensis and he has given me the name of a few garages to also check out. As other people have said, the two choices I narrowed it down to aren't the best. The Golf is a basic entry level type Golf, and the Mini is '02 with 160k on the clock. Out of those two, I could get the Mini + Insurance for cheaper than the Golf which draws me more towards the Mini. However, toyotaavensis said there is a reason you don't see many MINIs with 150k+ on the clock, and he was right. There is only 3 for sale in Ireland (On DoneDeal) with that many miles in the same year or younger. The one I chose is the cheapest of the three though! :P

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I just came across this while looking through DoneDeal.

2006 VW Golf Sportline (€4200)
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/06-vw-golf-gt-sportline/7188030

• NCT just passed
• 115,000 Miles

I always hate when people don't show the reg plate..

nothing special about that golf, nothing.......

corks finest

toyotaavensis wrote: »

Not to depress you but an 02 mini with 150000 miles is not worth 3400.

The other two cars are in a dealer who doesnt have a great reputation here. If you look through threads here some people say some not nice things about them.

I can give you the name of a few decent garages near the city if you PM me.

good advice ref the cork dealer,i can vouch that that gang are (were)a nightmare to deal with,yrs ago i was promised 2nd key,full service etc,,,,still waiting,hence the head honchos nickname in cork,,johnnypromises,wouldnt buy a dinky off them

Danger781

Haven't had a chance to look at the garages being recommended to me, and probably won't any time in the coming days, or even potentially weeks. Starting a new job on Monday morning (This is what I needed the car for.. Sigh..) so my time will be limited for viewing cars.

I'm still in love with the Mini lads.. I know it's not the smartest of purchases by any means (High miles, possibly no NCT, etc.) but every time I find a new possibility on DoneDeal I always end up comparing it to the Mini..

Danger781

Just rang the owner of this Mini and told him I'd come to view it on Sunday..

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/7110289

Very low mileage. Owned by an older woman.

What ye reckon? What price should I knock him down to?

MidlandsM

Danger781 wrote: »

Just rang the owner of this Mini and told him I'd come to view it on Sunday..

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/7110289

Very low mileage. Owned by an older woman.

What ye reckon? What price should I knock him down to?

Bring someone with you to check it over, ideally a mechanic.

toyotaavensis

Cant say what to knock it down to without seeing the car.
Definitely bring a mechanic

Danger781

Thanks lads. Apart from the mechanic, anything else? Is everything I need to know included in the sticky about buying a car?

toyotaavensis

Not everything.
Most important thing is if it doesnt feel right walk away.
If the seller seems off walk away.
Have you got a mechanic to check it out lined up? If not I can recommend a few lads.

Foxhole Norman

If everything checks out with the mechanic do a Vehicle History Check to confirm the mileage, check to see if it was previously wrote off etc.

MidlandsM

Ask the seller was the abs module ever replaced?

Danger781

toyotaavensis wrote: »

Not everything.
Most important thing is if it doesnt feel right walk away.
If the seller seems off walk away.
Have you got a mechanic to check it out lined up? If not I can recommend a few lads.

I might, I might not. Send me on the names anyway just in case. The car is located in Middleton so they would need to be okay going there with me. I know most mechanics would prefer having the car in their shop, but that might not be possible unless they could bring it there themselves.

V.W.L 11

toyotaavensis wrote: »

Just did a little search on carzone and came across these two
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Yaris/1.0-TERR/61614061143931450/advert?channel=CARS
if you were happy with something small from a toyota main dealer

I know they arent pretty but the garage are a well known SAAB specialist with a good reputation
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Suzuki/Liana/1.3-5DR-/60314054183846500/advert?channel=CARS
cars not the prettiest though

the owner of that saab garage is a gangster!!!nothing but!i have first hand experience of the place,the toyota dealer is good though

bazz26

Don't see the point really in buying 10 or 14 year old cars from dealers, it's not as if they are going to offer much in the way of comeback on cars of that age and if they do you can be sure it's well factored into the selling price.

Danger781

Sorry lads just realised I said Middleton.. Actually meant Millstreet! Anyone know a legit mechanic around there?

Danger781

Finally got to have a look at that Mini and it's perfect. The man selling it is an absolute Gentleman as well. Pending a mechanic inspection I think I'm going to go ahead with it.

MidlandsM

Danger781 wrote: »

Finally got to have a look at that Mini and it's perfect. The man selling it is an absolute Gentleman as well. Pending a mechanic inspection I think I'm going to go ahead with it.

Good news. Who ever you are going to mechanically check the car, ensure they plug in diagnostics into it. Abs modules and other electrical gubinzes in them are big money.

MuppetCheck

There's a mini specialist in Ballincollig. Call him - not too far to bring the car to.

http://miniclub.ie/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=3685

Danger781

MidlandsM wrote: »

Good news. Who ever you are going to mechanically check the car, ensure they plug in diagnostics into it. Abs modules and other electrical gubinzes in them are big money.

Cool, thanks for the advice. Will probably end up using motorcheck.ie unless someone can recommend me a mechanic in Millstreet / Rathmore / Macroom direction.

Danger781

MuppetCheck wrote: »

There's a mini specialist in Ballincollig. Call him - not too far to bring the car to.

http://miniclub.ie/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=3685

I'm from Ballincollig actually.. Might pop over to him and discuss my options. Thanks for reminding me about him, had forgotten!

Danger781

So, just decided to do a History check..



I'm assuming I should be worried by this..

toyotaavensis

do you know when the car was imported?

This is not a good sign and if I was you I would not bring a mechanic. This car has had serious damage in its life and at the time the insurance company said it will cost more than the value of the car to fix it.

GoodisonPark

Danger781 wrote: »

I'm assuming I should be worried by this..

Walk away now.

Danger781

toyotaavensis wrote: »

do you know when the car was imported?

This is not a good sign and if I was you I would not bring a mechanic. This car has had serious damage in its life and at the time the insurance company said it will cost more than the value of the car to fix it.

Yeah the report said December I think. I know pretty much what that means, but it doesn't necessarily mean it was severely crashed though (Although I imagine that's the most likely cause)?

toyotaavensis

there are cases where cars get written off which are not that bad but you are talking about handing over a lot of money for potentially a former wreck.

If you buy this when you go to sell it down the line you can either be a bollox and not tell the buyer or be honest and never sell it.

Steer clear is the best advice but it is your decision.

MidlandsM

GoodisonPark wrote: »

Walk away now.

No, run.

Danger781

God sake.. Is there any way to find out exactly why it was written off? I know I could ring the seller but I'm not sure he would even know what I'm talking about..

I really appreciate the advice lads.

MidlandsM

No.


Dont waste your time. Move on

toyotaavensis

Every poster so far advises you to walk away. If you really want the car go for it but you arent going to find anyone who will tell you this is a good idea.

Danger781

Sigh...

Guess I'll be ringing the seller tomorrow to question him about it, but odds are I'm back to the drawing board..

For future reference though, is there a way to check why a car was written off?

bazz26

Cat D is light damage. Cat C is extensive damage.

If you got the report done by motorcheck then give them a ring tomorrow and see if they can contact the insurance company who wrote it off to understand what sort of damage was repaired.

If you cannot get any further info on it then just walk.

Danger781

bazz26 wrote: »

If you cannot get any further info on it then just walk.

That's the plan for now. Forgot I could chance ringing motorcheck.

Thanks everyone, and apologies for my optimism :pac: I was just so pleased to finally find something..