Looking for opinions on car

db

Hi All

I'm looking for opinions on this car https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2010-volkswagen-polo-1-2-76kms-as-new/26645052

I'm looking for a first car for my daughter and this came up. We have looked at it and it is spotless inside and out and drives very well. The problem is there is a bit of a story with it. The person selling it says he recently bought it from the previous owner who had it from new and he did not transfer it into his own name because he was buying it for his son but the insurance was too expensive so they have decided to sell it on.

When I went to see the car he met me in a hotel carpark. He seemed genuine but I would be worried that there is something not quite right about it.

What do you think?

Toyotafanboi

Tom is a part time dealer. Not the end of the world though once you are aware of that.

Not the cheapest example of a Polo but it does look like a good example.

Was he offering you much off?

Polos are loved by part time dealers. They have durable interiors which don't show wear and they find ready buyers and are usually bought by parents for their kids as a first car.
I know someone who sold their Polo recently to a part time dealer and didn't sign the transfer of ownership cert and post it back.
It appeared back on donedeal after a little bit of touch-up and valeting asking 1500 quid more than it was sold for.
1500 quid minus whatever discount could be negotiated means that if the part time dealer had done any maintenance work on the car it would have wiped out their profit so assume no necessary maintenance work was done and budget another 500 to 1000 euro on overdue work after purchase.

db

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Tom is a part time dealer. Not the end of the world though once you are aware of that.

Not the cheapest example of a Polo but it does look like a good example.

Was he offering you much off?

Thanks, I was thinking that was the case. I don't like the way they make up stories to look like private sellers. I didn't discuss a price but I told him I didn't think it was worth what he was asking and he said it was negotiable.

jake frost

It looks a nice starter car..although in my opinion its a bit expensive for the year...If it was me I would steer well clear, not because of the car but the seller if he is not telling the truth about himself, pretending he bought it for his son when in actual fact he is a part time dealer, what other non truths is he telling you..for example is the mileage genuine..

In my experience Done deal is full of part time traders pretending to sell privately, when a lot of them are picking up the cars at auctions and selling them on doendeal and other such sites.

Wildly Boaring

Looks reasonably clean.
No sign of the NCT sheets, but assume full dealer service history will verify the mileage.
Has new NCT.

6000 is a lot for a 10 year old car.

Toyotafanboi

That is what Polos go for though.

The car looks tidy, one owner, low mileage,new test and a full dealer history, motorcheck report provided, i'd say it's a very honest car in fairness.

Once you are aware of the seller for what he is and the car checks out, just treat it as a private sale.

Would rather buy a mint one from a part time dealer than a rougher one from a garage. 3 months tax, 4 new tyres, you'd find it hard to do better, specially if you haggle a few euro off.

punisher5112

Get a Clio or megane, much cheaper.... Good cars.

The Polo that I referred to above looked spotless too but that doesn't mean that it had been well maintained.
All their effort had gone in to valeting and presenting the car rather than maintaining the mechanicals.
Having known the car I wouldn't have paid near the asking price.

newuser99999

Think that’s quite dear for what it is. Got a 121 VW Golf nearly 3 years ago for €8,000 in the north with VRT and delivery down here.

Toyotafanboi

Deleted User wrote: »

The Polo that I referred to above looked spotless too but that doesn't mean that it had been well maintained.
All their effort had gone in to valeting and presenting the car rather than maintaining the mechanicals.
Having known the car I wouldn't have paid near the asking price.

Not to be disagreeable but OP's car has clear indications that it's a well cared for car, being one owner, full main dealer history, 4x new tyres and recent NCT pass.

I'd be very surprised if it needs much work at all, if any. Obviously i havn't viewed the car but the signs are, that it's likely a good one.

last entry in the service book I see is from 5 years ago.

Toyotafanboi

We can also only see one page of it.

You're welcome to bid on it then. I won't. It is expensive. It isn't the owner selling it. There is no warranty.

Toyotafanboi

You weren't interested in it anyway.

It's at the thicker end of the prices these go for but it also looks like a fresher example than a lot of them and the seller is open to negotiation.

You wouldn't get a meaningful warranty on a ten year old car anywhere.

I dont know why people get so caught up on the owner not selling it, sure it's a lie but it's easier than saying "it's a cash sideline i'm involved in". At that age and pricepoint you're much better off judging the car not the seller. Op needs a Polo, he's selling a Polo. You're marrying the car not the seller, once you drive away you wont see him again so judge the car.

Toyotafanboi

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

You weren't interested in it anyway.

It's at the thicker end of the prices these go for but it also looks like a fresher example than a lot of them and the seller is open to negotiation.

You wouldn't get a meaningful warranty on a ten year old car anywhere.

I dont know why people get so caught up on the owner not selling it, sure it's a lie but it's easier than saying "it's a cash sideline i'm involved in". At that age and pricepoint you're much better off judging the car not the seller. Op needs a Polo, he's selling a Polo. You're marrying the car not the seller, once you drive away you wont see him again so judge the car.

Based on my contributions you've seen I'm judging the car. You're being swayed by the physical appearance which is just a good valet, a cheap set of tyres and an NCT for a high asking price. That is the fertile ground which part time dealers operate in.

jake frost

Nothing wrong with being a dealer, but why is he afraid to tell the truth, instead of some cock and bull story about buying car for his son. Why not just admit to being a dealer..instead of hiding the fact..a bit of integrity and trust between seller and buyer is important

Toyotafanboi

Physical appearance is usually as good an indicator as any.

If you are judging it's appearance by the valet i'd be even more inclined to question the validity of your opinion.

I'd be more than capable of looking past a coat of tyre shine and a good wash to judge a car.

I'd consider 4x undamaged original hub caps a sure sign of a cautious owner after 10 years. All the panel gaps look well, the badges are in the right places, still has main dealer rear window sticker and disc holder in the front, number plates look properly aged.

Being super critical it's missing it's tow eye cover on the front and the roof whip.

selectamatic

Probably worth pointing out that these polos can suffer from timing chain issues.

Toyotafanboi

jake frost wrote: »

Nothing wrong with being a dealer, but why is he afraid to tell the truth, instead of some cock and bull story about buying car for his son. Why not just admit to being a dealer..instead of hiding the fact..a bit of integrity and trust between seller and buyer is important

Because operting cash only and offering no warranty is usually frowned upon.

jake frost

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Because operting cash only and offering no warranty is usually frowned upon.

researching a 10 year old car such as this on Done Deal, I would expect to pay cash and woudnt expect a warranty, but I would like a bit of honesty from the seller before handing over cash, instead of him pretending its a car he bought for his son..

punisher5112

selectamatic wrote: »

Probably worth pointing out that these polos can suffer from timing chain issues.

Surprised it's not mentioned timing belt is done ;-) as see so many stating the wrong

Toyotafanboi

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Physical appearance is usually as good an indicator as any.

If you are judging it's appearance by the valet i'd be even more inclined to question the validity of your opinion.

I'd be more than capable of looking past a coat of tyre shine and a good wash to judge a car.

I'd consider 4x undamaged original hub caps a sure sign of a cautious owner after 10 years. All the panel gaps look well, the badges are in the right places, still has main dealer rear window sticker and disc holder in the front, number plates look properly aged.

Being super critical it's missing it's tow eye cover on the front and the roof whip.

The wheel trims were tidied up on the car I mentioned. All style no substance.
You will not concede the point even though you know you are on very shakey ground. There are many part time dealers operating like this.

The Continental Op

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Physical appearance is usually as good an indicator as any.

If you are judging it's appearance by the valet i'd be even more inclined to question the validity of your opinion.

I'd be more than capable of looking past a coat of tyre shine and a good wash to judge a car.

I'd consider 4x undamaged original hub caps a sure sign of a cautious owner after 10 years. All the panel gaps look well, the badges are in the right places, still has main dealer rear window sticker and disc holder in the front, number plates look properly aged.

Being super critical it's missing it's tow eye cover on the front and the roof whip.

I don't know why but that puts me off as much as if the car was pictured with a frayed end of tow rope hanging down underneath it. Probably totally irrational

My opinion is everything looks good and the price is OK with room for negotiation BUT not for a car with that engine with all its known problems.

advert taken down.

db

Thanks for all the input guys. I suppose my thoughts fell between the two sides here. The car was in very good condition with very little wear on the pedals, seats or steering wheel. The dealer service history only went to 2015 and since then there was only 25k km on the clock. This could easily be explained if the owner was elderly and less mobile in the last few years but a little concerning at the same time.

I was hoping to get something a couple of years younger in good condition for this price so I will keep looking.