Looking at a car, but would like a bit of advice

mrcheez

I'm looking at a car, which I think is a good deal, but I don't know anything about cars beyond just driving them and filling them with petrol so was wondering if I can PM someone on here the details ?

Would rather not display the link publicly as someone else might nab it :pac:

I'm going to visit the dealer soon, but would like to have some idea of what questions to ask them.

Cheers!

You'll be better off finding someone to go with you instead of walking in with a list of questions from a bunch of randomers off the 'net.

Have you nobody in the family who will do you a favour for a few bob and visit the dealership with you?

mrcheez

Deleted User wrote: »

You'll be better off finding someone to go with you instead of walking in with a list of questions from a bunch of randomers off the 'net.

Have you nobody in the family who will do you a favour for a few bob and visit the dealership with you?

I do, but none of them would be "car" people if you know what I mean.

If it goes and looks shiny they'll probably say "ah it's grand"

biko

We can keep this general.

You are going with a dealer - good, dealers will give you some warranty.
* If car is brand new you don't need to do anything else, the dealer warranties will cover everything.
* If car is used, get on paper how long the warranty is and what it will cover.
Anything not written will probably not be respected by the dealer.

Shefwedfan

Sorry just seen it is with a dealer, is it main dealer or back street dealer?

If you check the prices of similar age/mileage/spec and this is very low compared to the rest then it is that low for a reason. If you think it is UK import then potentially could be clocked etc. Will they give you UK reg?

Normally these "bargain" are not worth the money.....if on done deal do they have it Green Light certified?

eldamo

the AA do inspections for not an awful lot of money, the guy i got was really thorough, I'd only be paying out for that if I was very happy that I would buy the car if I got a positive response though, don't want to be shelling out for 5 separate inspections.
If the garage wont give access for an inspection, walk away.

eldamo

eldamo wrote: »

the AA do inspections for not an awful lot of money, the guy i got was really thorough, I'd only be paying out for that if I was very happy that I would buy the car if I got a positive response though, don't want to be shelling out for 5 separate inspections.
If the garage wont give access for an inspection, walk away.

or they used to... they have a link on their site showing you how to look up a local engineer

mrcheez

eldamo wrote: »

or they used to... they have a link on their site showing you how to look up a local engineer

http://www.iaea-online.org/find-an-engineer/

Handy thanks.

Roughly how much is an inspection?


Also just a general question... I'm looking at two options:

- 2018 - 1.2 litre diesel (pretty much brand new with less than 20 km on the dash)

- 2017 - 1.6 litre diesel (65km on the dash)

Both similar price and slightly different variations of the same type of car.


I'm thinking it's a no-brainer for the 1.2 litre as the 1.6 litre seems to have a lot of mileage on the clock for the age, but I will be doing bi-monthly cross country trips (220km each way) so not sure a 1.2 litre will be decent enough?

Performance is not an issue, I don't drive fast and not bothered about acceleration.

eldamo

mrcheez wrote: »

http://www.iaea-online.org/find-an-engineer/

Handy thanks.

Roughly how much is an inspection?


Also just a general question... I'm looking at two options:

- 2018 - 1.2 litre diesel (pretty much brand new with less than 20 km on the dash)

- 2017 - 1.6 litre diesel (65km on the dash)

Both similar price and slightly different variations of the same type of car.


I'm thinking it's a no-brainer for the 1.2 litre as the 1.6 litre seems to have a lot of mileage on the clock for the age, but I will be doing bi-monthly cross country trips (220km each way) so not sure a 1.2 litre will be decent enough?

Performance is not an issue, I don't drive fast and not bothered about acceleration.

In august 2016 it was 219, more than I remembered, but if it is for a purchase of in and around 20k it's reasonable, I know no mechanics, or useful people in general.


The guy who did mine was really thorough, he drove the guys in the garage nuts as he was there for most of the day, his name is on the site they have linked, I will pm it to you.



I'm sure that small diesel engines have come a long way in recent years, but in 2010 i testdrove a 1.2l diesel skoda fabia in the phoenix park, I had my foot welded to the floor and could hardly do phoenix park speeds, as the salesman in the passenger seat boasted that they would soon be putting the same engine in the octavia... I was horrified.


Test drive it and see if it feels reasonable to you, the fabia really didn't to me, i'm not a fast driver by any means, but you need to have some power behind you to get out of the way of trouble on occasions.

terrydel

Deleted User wrote: »

You'll be better off finding someone to go with you instead of walking in with a list of questions from a bunch of randomers off the 'net.

Have you nobody in the family who will do you a favour for a few bob and visit the dealership with you?

If I had to pay a family member to do that, I wouldnt ask them in the first place

Shefwedfan

I sold a car before to guys in Cork, as I was living in Dublin he got me to drop off to a garage in Dublin who done a full report on it and then sent it down to him, I just dropped it off, waited around for about an hour and then went off, I never got report or anything

Can't of said anything too bad as he bought the car

mrcheez

mrcheez wrote: »

Also just a general question... I'm looking at two options:

- 2018 - 1.2 litre diesel (pretty much brand new with less than 20 km on the dash)

- 2017 - 1.6 litre diesel (65km on the dash)

Just on this... from what I can tell, the difference between a 1.2 and 1.6 is just that acceleration on the 1.6 is better, but otherwise both are similar enough when it comes to top-speed / handling etc ?!

Potentially more longevity in the 1.6 engine?

Anything else where a 1.6 is better?

Dravokivich

mrcheez wrote: »

http://www.iaea-online.org/find-an-engineer/

Handy thanks.

Roughly how much is an inspection?

I was onto a guy from that list. Cost 150 to inspect the car, do a test drive and send me a report.

mrcheez wrote: »

Also just a general question... I'm looking at two options:

- 2018 - 1.2 litre diesel (pretty much brand new with less than 20 km on the dash)

- 2017 - 1.6 litre diesel (65km on the dash)

Both similar price and slightly different variations of the same type of car.

You need to look at the whole car. The size of the engine will only give an indication of performance. And even that can vary by manufacturer within their own range.

mrcheez

Dravokivich wrote: »

The size of the engine will only give an indication of performance.

And when you say performance, you just mean the acceleration right?

Or will I have to service it more if it's a 1.2 vs 1.6?

Dravokivich

mrcheez wrote: »

And when you say performance, you just mean the acceleration right?

Or will I have to service it more if it's a 1.2 vs 1.6?

It can mean anything depending on the specific engine and the variance.

As it is, I've a 1.6 Ford TDCI. but it comes in a number of variants from 85 bhp to 115 bhp. Which can affect torque, acceleration and speed. And how it handles those can affect fuel consumption. But so can the rest of the car, such as gear box and weight.

Servicing recommendations can vary by manufacturer also. You shouldn't be just zooming in on the engine size.

terrydel

terrydel wrote: »

If I had to pay a family member to do that, I wouldnt ask them in the first place

It would be common courtesy to give someone a bottle of spirits or a few quid for doing you a favour, family member or not.

mrcheez

What sort of details would I need to ask when buying the car?

These spring to mind:

- What the CO2 emissions are
- What the mpg is
- Has VRT been paid and up to what date

anything else?

J.R.

mrcheez wrote: »

What sort of details would I need to ask when buying the car?

These spring to mind:

- What the CO2 emissions are
- What the mpg is
- Has VRT been paid and up to what date


anything else?

• Is it a UK import? - if so can you see UK reg?...any UK history with it?
• Was it ever crashed?
• service history...can you see it?
• How many previous owners?
• How long is warranty?.......what's covered?