O/T second hand car advice

Johnno

Johnno

Well-known member
Hi all, I’m looking for a cheap car (£1,500 ish). I know zilch about cars so will be taking someone with me, but before I get to that stage does anyone know of some decent sales rooms to start looking at?

Any advice appreciated.
 
Johnno said:
Hi all, I’m looking for a cheap car (£1,500 ish). I know zilch about cars so will be taking someone with me, but before I get to that stage does anyone know of some decent sales rooms to start looking at?

Any advice appreciated.
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My youngest lad is a mechanic. He’s just bought a 2010, 1.2l 2010 Corsa. It’s got loads of history and has been checked over and serviced etc. full MOT. I think he wants a bit more than £1500 though, but I’ll ask him. Looks a nice car TBH
 
You'll always have much more comeback with a dealer, there's no such thing as 'sold as seen' with traders despite what some say, unless they make you trailer it away it has to be in roadworthy condition when you drive off in it. It's why dealers are more expensive, they're taking more risk, especially at the cheaper end.

Private sellers can sell you any old wank with no comeback.
 
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Oh and if you do buy private get a history check, they're about a tenner, or failing that at least go on to the DVLA's MOT history checker for free, gives quite a good idea of a car's history but doesn't cover write offs, HPI etc...
 
Johnno said:
Hi all, I’m looking for a cheap car (£1,500 ish). I know zilch about cars so will be taking someone with me, but before I get to that stage does anyone know of some decent sales rooms to start looking at?

Any advice appreciated.
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If this person you are taking with you knows is onions
Go to the car auctions you can pick up a bargain sometimes its worth checking it out even if you dont buy
 
I bought from a back street garage last September. Absolute nightmare and paid 3.5k. Eventually got my money back after paying for a 200 quid RAC report and threatening legal action. Clutch went as soon as I drove it home from Preston to Blackpool 😡

Paid 4K for same model same year at Arnold Clarke a week later. Not a jot of bother with this one , full service history peace of mind etc.
If you do buy private please please take someone with you who knows what to look for, but even then it isn’t risk free.

There are some proper nasties out there who don’t care if they fleece you of your last penny 😡😡

Good luck and sorry to be a bit negative with this one. Wouldn‘t want you going through the bother that I did though.
 
Lala said:
I bought from a back street garage last September. Absolute nightmare and paid 3.5k. Eventually got my money back after paying for a 200 quid RAC report and threatening legal action. Clutch went as soon as I drove it home from Preston to Blackpool 😡

Paid 4K for same model same year at Arnold Clarke a week later. Not a jot of bother with this one , full service history peace of mind etc.
If you do buy private please please take someone with you who knows what to look for, but even then it isn’t risk free.

There are some proper nasties out there who don’t care if they fleece you of your last penny 😡😡

Good luck and sorry to be a bit negative with this one. Wouldn‘t want you going through the bother that I did though.
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You are right lala the problem is that second hand car prices have shot up
Its the same here in holland 1500 will get you a banger
 
£1,500 - wow ! that would be about R$9,000 in Brazil... would not even get you a banger! wouldnt even get you summat that you would scrap in the Uk!
 
Gazboro said:
You are right lala the problem is that second hand car prices have shot up
Its the same here in holland 1500 will get you a banger
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Yep, what I bought for 4K would probably have been about 2k 6 months before. It all went crazy because of the missing ‘chip.’ 🫤
I think if someone hasn’t bought or looked to buy a second hand car recenrly they would be quite shocked by the hike in prices.
 
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I bought a 2005 BMW 325 convertible with 80k on the clock last year for under 2 grand, it hasn't put a foot wrong so far.

There are still decent value cars about, but they tend to be ones that are a bit less fuel efficient.

At £1,500 you will have to compromise somewhere (age, condition, spec, economy).

What kind of car are you after?
 
Lala said:
I bought from a back street garage last September. Absolute nightmare and paid 3.5k. Eventually got my money back after paying for a 200 quid RAC report and threatening legal action. Clutch went as soon as I drove it home from Preston to Blackpool 😡

Paid 4K for same model same year at Arnold Clarke a week later. Not a jot of bother with this one , full service history peace of mind etc.
If you do buy private please please take someone with you who knows what to look for, but even then it isn’t risk free.

There are some proper nasties out there who don’t care if they fleece you of your last penny 😡😡

Good luck and sorry to be a bit negative with this one. Wouldn‘t want you going through the bother that I did though.
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Another reason to dislike Preston
 
Johnno said:
Hi all, I’m looking for a cheap car (£1,500 ish). I know zilch about cars so will be taking someone with me, but before I get to that stage does anyone know of some decent sales rooms to start looking at?

Any advice appreciated.
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Nissan I have found to be very good for reliability in older vehicles.
Had many over the years and I don't remember ever being let down by them.
 
GeminiPool said:
I bought a 2005 BMW 325 convertible with 80k on the clock last year for under 2 grand, it hasn't put a foot wrong so far.

There are still decent value cars about, but they tend to be ones that are a bit less fuel efficient.

At £1,500 you will have to compromise somewhere (age, condition, spec, economy).

What kind of car are you after?
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I just need something I can use to get to the Lakes a couple of times a month. It won’t get used much apart from that.
I’m not really bothered about Make and Model, reliability is the biggest factor.
Sizewise, I’d prefer something smallish, only to kee insurance costs down.
 
Johnno said:
I just need something I can use to get to the Lakes a couple of times a month. It won’t get used much apart from that.
I’m not really bothered about Make and Model, reliability is the biggest factor.
Sizewise, I’d prefer something smallish, only to kee insurance costs down.
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My Ford KA is bloody cheap as chips to run. I’m the only one in my family who can afford to just go for random drives these days fuel prices being what they are.
Not sure if it’s a bit too small for a fella though, in terms of Willy waving 🤭
 
Lala said:
My Ford KA is bloody cheap as chips to run. I’m the only one in my family who can afford to just go for random drives these days fuel prices being what they are.
Not sure if it’s a bit too small for a fella though, in terms of Willy waving 🤭
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I could always hang it out of the window?
😎
 
Johnno said:
I just need something I can use to get to the Lakes a couple of times a month. It won’t get used much apart from that.
I’m not really bothered about Make and Model, reliability is the biggest factor.
Sizewise, I’d prefer something smallish, only to kee insurance costs down.
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Maybe something like a Toyota Yaris? Can't beat Toyota when it comes to reliability.

A very quick search on auto trader is showing up 2010 models with about 80k miles for 2k.

If you were willing to take the slightly riskier option of using ebay, I'm sure you would find one for 1500.
 
Funny you should say that, mate, there’s a Yaris at a dealers in St Anne’s that I’m going to have a look at.
👍
 
If I had to buy at that price point, I'd probably consider a smaller Vauxhall, Corsa or Astra. They're cheap, no frills and generally reliable. Plenty of them about too.

Edit to say, dont know too many local dealers (not good ones anyway) which was your actual question, so I've not been much help, however we sold a car to Hallmark garage between Clifton and Preston on the main road, they seemed reasonable people.
 
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