Buying a used car in Ireland guide

OO7FITZY · 05-03-2014 10:00PM

Thx, haven't thought of SKODA, I know they are VW priced correctly but they do look ugly

Will do the rounds next week and let ye know how I go
Still leaning towards the Qashqai purely for economy, looks and reviews to date

willfarmerman · 05-03-2014 11:06PM

I would try and my current car privately if I were you. Then go buy a 13 regToyota avensis strata.

Denisehotel · 06-03-2014 03:05PM

Im having trouble getting a deposit back from a dealership, we gave a holding deposit to view but we were not happy when we saw it. Now he wont give the deposit back!! Whats the best option? I spoke with the owner and he told me im not getting money back and he was going to hang up, and he did!! 3ROC CARS, Naas Dubkin is the business, Finn is the owner

bazz26 · 06-03-2014 03:50PM

Oh man, putting a deposit on a car you haven't seen in the flesh is never advisable even if a salesperson pressurizes you. How much deposit are talking about here? What was wrong with the car?

whippet · 06-03-2014 04:25PM

what was the purpose of the deposit?

generally putting a deposit on something is as a guarantee that you would be buying it and should you withdraw from the sale the dealer would be able to keep the deposit as 'compensation' for not being in a position to sell the car while you had a deposit on it.

HOWEVER ... giving a deposit for a car over the phone when you haven't even seen the car is absolute and utter madness.

Firstly i'd run a million miles from any Dealer who would be involved in such practice and secondly I'd question as to how the car was advertised.

As you have paid over money based on what you saw advertised (I hope you have a copy) and if the car didn't match what was advertised in essence the goods failed to match the description and you could initiate a claim via the small claims court.

Before someone comes on saying the Ad is only an 'invitation to treat' .. money was exchanged based on the validity of the Ad and therefore if the dealer can not supply the car as is described in the advert he can't hold on to the deposit.

Thirdly ..... giving a second hand car dealer a deposit over the phone ..... Wow!!!!

MidlandsM · 07-03-2014 01:34PM

3RockCars ehhhh........ohhh dear.

dunno if a small claim will work, its not like you bought the item/car, and its was faulty. Maybe best to speak with the small claims administrator in you local courthouse, and ask them would a small claim be pertinent to your situation. They'll tell you.

Johnny_BravoIII · 07-03-2014 04:03PM

Totota Avensis Diesel 2.0 2004
Former taxi vehicle - 250,000 miles - engine replaced with 2nd hand engine on which has now 135,000 miles, new clutch, timing belt done recently, no driving issues. NCT for 1 year.
€1,500.

I'm thinking of buying it for a 12 month runaround. Any feedback appreciated

bazz26 · 07-03-2014 04:54PM

Was the flywheel replaced with the clutch as they do give problems on the 116bhp D-4D engine? If it's had a bit of work done and money spent on it recently I'd be curious to know why the current owner is parting with it so quickly.

Johnny_BravoIII · 07-03-2014 08:40PM

Thank you. I'm Not sure about the flywheel but will check.
He updated to a newer model.

gem898 · 07-03-2014 08:50PM

Hello, I've been reading this thread for the last couple days and would love someones advice I'm fairly clueless when it comes to buying a car. I've owned three but always bought from a local dealer that my parents trusted. Now I just don't have time to wait until I go home to get a new car. .

I've been looking for a new (used) car for the last couple weeks and have decided that a VW Polo suits what I need and like.

I'm going to go view and test drive this one tomorrow and would love opinion on whether its worth what they're looking for. Its via a dealer because I'm not much of a risk taker and I like the idea of a warranty (Depending on its terms and conditions).

Here is the link http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Polo/COMFORT-/43713936814967430/advert?channel=CARS a

One thing to note is that the mileage in the photos is closer to 80,000 than 70,000 (dealers tactics of rounding down rather than rounding up). The last owner was a female owner which doesn't mean much but its a bit of extra info.

Did a motorcheck on it and only discrepencies was in the mileage between Dec 09 and Feb 10 which I remember was a particularily icy time of the year. Could mean that it could have been in a crash but if its been driving fine since then is that a worry?

Its had 3 private owners 1st for 4 yrs, 2nd for 10 months and 3rd (current) for almost 2 years.

So thats all the information I have to hand about it. I feel good about it but would really value your opinions.

Oh and super sorry about the long post!

L-M · 07-03-2014 08:59PM

You're missing 4 years of ownership there!

Id be buying a Yaris if I had 3k to spend on that type of car.

colm_mcm · 07-03-2014 09:05PM

As always its worth researching any potential seller. Google, boards etc may throw up some useful information.

gem898 · 07-03-2014 09:06PM

Limerick man.... you are so right! I did not cop that at all... glad I put up all the info now.

What, in your opinion, makes a yaris a better choice? I'm not against the idea at all, I've been drawn to them before, never owned one though.

Currently driving a 98 KA and want something more reliable and sturdy on the roads. I drive from Dub to Cork and back at least once a month so need something that I feel safe in on the motorway.

colm_mcm · 07-03-2014 09:20PM

Yaris has robust electrics, cheap tax. No timing belt, decent safety, and just doesn't tend to go wrong.
They're also expensive, but they retain such value that you can sell them on for not much less than you buy them for.

gem898 · 07-03-2014 09:29PM

All good points colm_mcm, thanks for your help!

Going to take a look and see if any Yaris's jump out and say "buy me"

gem898 · 07-03-2014 09:35PM

Quick follow up question, does mileage have a huge bearing on quality of car in general, or more specifically a Yaris?. Like is anything under 120,000 decent? or am I better off with something under 100,000 or under 80,000.

colm_mcm · 07-03-2014 09:39PM

gem898 wrote: »

Quick follow up question, does mileage have a huge bearing on quality of car in general, or more specifically a Yaris?. Like is anything under 120,000 decent? or am I better off with something under 100,000 or under 80,000.

I'd prefer older and lower mileage. We bought a 00 with 65k on it last year based on its condition.
If you can afford one, the post mid 03 is the way to go as they get standard CD player and ABS.

This is a last of the pre-facelift luna models which have decent spec. This one has factory alloys added on.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-yaris-2003-1-0lt-5-drs-/6566952

04 base model
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/yaris-2004-66000-miles-only-3250/6565725

For an older car I wouldn't see the value in going to a dealer.

gem898 · 07-03-2014 09:52PM

Yeah I spotted the luna one but the NCT due in a month kind of turned me off it. Unless thats not an issue, but the longer the nct the better in my books!

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2003-toyota-yaris-1-0-5dr-61k-miles/6562788

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/car/6549714

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-yaris-new-nct-05-15-new-tyres/6563004

*Full Disclosure (I might be just attracted to the red ones!)

colm_mcm · 07-03-2014 09:55PM

Of those three I'd pick the red 5 door.
The blue one is just dull for the money. If you're spending 3, it'd want to be a lovely colour and with good spec. I also don't like how they're not showing the reg

The 04 facelift one I posted there could surely be got for 3, its a good colour and has ABS and CD,
Its also only got 2 owners, which is good for 10 years.

L-M · 07-03-2014 09:56PM

Been through my fair share of Yarii? (Lol), very rarely seen anything go wrong up to huge mileage.

You should just about manage a decent 03 within budget, just be wary of anything decent as they usually fly off the market.

traceyc34 · 07-03-2014 09:56PM

great thread - looking for an opinion. Currently has a 1.4 astra 2004 and need to change to an automatic.

price is an issue so looking to keep it under 10k with trade in, 2 questions:

likely trade in price for my car - 04 new shape astra, 75k miles, very clean car just some small scratches above tyres. i see similar selling for 4.5k carzone.

looking at 2007 passat 60k miles, good spec - asking 10k - am i likely to get much of a reduction on that and also concerned that engine is 1.6 petrol and may be a little small for size of car.

any opinions / comments gladly appreciated.

gem898 · 07-03-2014 10:02PM

Ok So I'm not mad for focusing a little on colour! I can stretch to €3,000 but would obviously like to spend less.

Last car I bought (the KA) cost €1000 and has lasted me 5 years with lots of driving.

Just rang the red 5 door one and its gone....

colm_mcm · 07-03-2014 10:03PM

If you're looking automatic, give the Toyota Prius serious consideration.

L-M · 07-03-2014 10:03PM

gem898 wrote: »

Ok So I'm not mad for focusing a little on colour! I can stretch to €3,000 but would obviously like to spend less.

Last car I bought (the KA) cost €1000 and has lasted me 5 years with lots of driving.

Just rang the red 5 door one and its gone....

Most of them will go fairly fast. Always remember if a Yaris is priced too good to be true it usually is!

colm_mcm · 07-03-2014 10:05PM

gem898 wrote: »

Just rang the red 5 door one and its gone....

Get used to that, the one we bought was on sale for 3 minutes when we rang, we went straight to it (in 15 mins) and while we were testing it, the guy had 5 phone calls about the car.

Limerick man wrote: »

Most of them will go fairly fast

I lol'd

Drove her yaris to Cork yesterday

gem898 · 07-03-2014 10:10PM

Limerick man wrote: »

Most of them will go fairly fast. Always remember if a Yaris is priced too good to be true it usually is!

Duly noted. So a 2003 Yaris, you'd be looking 2,700 to 3,300?

colm_mcm wrote: »

Get used to that, the one we bought was on sale for 3 minutes when we rang, we went straight to it (in 15 mins) and while we were testing it, the guy had 5 phone calls about the car.

Thats insane. Definitely going to have to be quicker.

L-M · 07-03-2014 10:12PM

gem898 wrote: »

Duly noted. So a 2003 Yaris, you'd be looking 2,700 to 3,300?

Thats insane. Definitely going to have to be quicker.

Where are you based?

gem898 · 07-03-2014 10:15PM

Limerick man wrote: »

Where are you based?

Based in South Dublin 18, kind of limited though because my car is dying quickly and only just moved up here recently so not many people around to ferry me from viewing to viewing...

L-M · 07-03-2014 10:19PM

gem898 wrote: »

Based in South Dublin 18, kind of limited though because my car is dying quickly and only just moved up here recently so not many people around to ferry me from viewing to viewing...

Try and keep your search to Dublin so, you'll be at your wits end touring the country looking at cars.

gem898 · 07-03-2014 10:21PM

Limerick man wrote: »

Try and keep your search to Dublin so, you'll be at your wits end touring the country looking at cars.

Agreed. I'm already at my wits end! Almost ready to tell the parents to pick one and I'll pay for it. But I am a grown up so this is one of the things I have to do!

Is it mad to be calling someone about a car at half 9 on a Friday night?

Buying a used car in Ireland guide

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