Buying a used car in the UK

Mike_Eile · 27-06-2012 08:04PM #1

So I've decided that I need to change my car. I've an Audi A3 currently and need to change it as it's getting old and the tax is €585 a year...too high for me.

My requirements for a new car are: Hatchback, diesel tdi, low tax, less than 70k miles and less than €11k. I've been looking at cars here and have whittled it down to an Audi A3 again or a Volkswagen Golf.

I've spotted the following car http://bit.ly/M5eOc0 in London. Including VRT and transport I could bring it in for about €10,800. The same car here is about €13,500 +.

Any thoughts on this car? Is it good value for the asking price? I'm not overly familiar with buying used cars. Should I haggle with this guy and if so what should I realistically expect to get off? How should I pay, cash or bank draft? They say it has been HPI checked, should I take their word for it?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

colm_mcm · 27-06-2012 08:13PM

I need to throw in the obligatory statement about how bonkers it is to spend €10k to save a few €s a week on tax.

Also, 08 basic model golfs don't make that much in Ireland
I was able to get an 09 for that money a month ago.

Some garages won't take drafts as payment if you're collecting straight away.

Anan1 · 27-06-2012 08:26PM

Mike_Eile wrote: »

The same car here is about €13,500 +

Is it? I'm not up to date on Golf prices, but a quick look threw this up: http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=6113347679315120

New model, half the mileage, you'd probably pay a bit over €12k?

Be careful not to fall into the trap of comparing UK prices with Irish asking prices - we're a lot more amenable to discounting than they are.

blindside88 · 27-06-2012 08:32PM

You won't have much room to haggle when going to the uk, if he knows your coming from Ireland he knows you won't leave it behind you for the sake of a couple of hundred. By travelling over to see the car your telling him that your happy enough with the price it's advertised for

FrontDoor · 27-06-2012 10:30PM

I wouldn't pick that one out of what is available over there. New shape ones are available for similar money.

I think Golfs are very expensive in the UK, so I'm not sure what you are going to save on one.

If you broadened your search, you could have a well specced 2010 Focus for similar money.

166man · 28-06-2012 12:24AM

Must it be a diesel tdi? Other manufacturers make very good diesel engines too you know.

Nissan doctor · 28-06-2012 12:29AM

Mike_Eile wrote: »

So I've decided that I need to change my car. I've an Audi A3 currently and need to change it as it's getting old and the tax is €585 a year...too high for me.

My requirements for a new car are: Hatchback, diesel tdi, low tax, less than 70k miles and less than €11k. I've been looking at cars here and have whittled it down to an Audi A3 again or a Volkswagen Golf.

I've spotted the following car http://bit.ly/M5eOc0 in London. Including VRT and transport I could bring it in for about €10,800. The same car here is about €13,500 +.

Any thoughts on this car? Is it good value for the asking price? I'm not overly familiar with buying used cars. Should I haggle with this guy and if so what should I realistically expect to get off? How should I pay, cash or bank draft? They say it has been HPI checked, should I take their word for it?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Never, ever take the word of someone selling you a car, especially someone in another country who knows you are not going to bring the car back if you find any issues later.

shawnee · 28-06-2012 08:20AM

With the sterling costs , the vrt and the travel costs , it is difficult to see how one could make a huge saving in buying a car in the uk. As the previous poster said , prices quoted on donedeal , carzone etc are asking prices. Go to any of them with no trade in and ready to pay draft or cash and their eyes will "open wide with delight" Expect to drop anything from 2 to 3 grand off a 11 k car if they really want and need to sell.;)

KOR12 · 01-07-2012 12:03AM

I'm in the same boat as Mike here, looking to change up the Car, currently in a 01 Golf would like to go for the new model 2009 MK6 TDi, however my budget is around 10k, i've been looking both on the Irish sites and UK sites, VRT included I think I may just pull it off, by going across the water, it seems Irish prices advertised are in or around 13k for the same type of car here, I think expecting a 2/3k discount for cash is quite optimistic to say the least, from chatting to a number of dealers here it seems in or around 5/800 (at a huge push 1k) are more realistic discount figures, which will still leave you 2k more expensive than what you're gonna pay in the UK.

KOR12 · 01-07-2012 12:06AM

Here's my ideal VW maybe not in white though!

http://www.clivesutton.co.uk/carsavailable/Volkswagen/Volkswagen-Golf.php

colm_mcm · 01-07-2012 12:07AM

Any 09 golf TDI you get for €10k will have a story attached.

Maybe if you're adding the value of the 01 golf to the budget you'd scrape it.

KOR12 · 01-07-2012 10:27AM

Colm,

In your opinion whats a more realistic cash price for a Golf TDi with less than 80,000 miles? If I could i'd preferably go with a comfortline model also.

Was looking on autotrader and for the money the Golf seems to be quite expensive in comparison with the A3.

KOR12 · 01-07-2012 10:31AM

I suppose while we're at it how much do you think my 1.4 01-D gold VW Golf with 87,000 miles will fetch? Its in pretty good condition for a car of its age as its my first ever so looked after it with a bit of pride

bazz26 · 01-07-2012 11:33AM

I'd say the 01 Golf is worth about €1500 privately. With such low mileage why are you thinking of upgrading to diesel? Surely another petrol model will be cheaper to buy and probably have less mileage on it?

KOR12 · 01-07-2012 01:34PM

I've been told by almost everyone I speak to about cars diesel is the way to go as its more efficient to run but I suppose the other side of the coin is its far more expensive to buy initially.Don't know what to do to be honest...

bazz26 · 01-07-2012 02:21PM

KOR12 wrote: »

I've been told by almost everyone I speak to about cars diesel is the way to go as its more efficient to run but I suppose the other side of the coin is its far more expensive to buy initially.Don't know what to do to be honest...

Work out your annual mileage and then work out the price difference between a Golf petrol and Golf diesel of similar vintage and see how long it would take you to drive to make back the difference. Everyone will tell you to go diesel because it is the trend at the moment rather than what actually makes more scense.

Nissan doctor · 02-07-2012 12:47AM

KOR12 wrote: »

I've been told by almost everyone I speak to about cars diesel is the way to go as its more efficient to run but I suppose the other side of the coin is its far more expensive to buy initially.Don't know what to do to be honest...

You chose an engine/fuel type based on your requirements, not based on what all the sheep are doing IMO.

Buying a used car in the UK

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