MOT conundrum

[TimberWolf]

I've avoided buying from a car from the trade in the recent past. Reasons being that they are expensive and the cars are likely to have been palmed off on the dealer in a part exchange deal. But on the other hand with trade you get a better chance to look around the vehicles and it's probably less hassle if you pick a bad 'un.

What's best, private or trade?

[Spacecadet]

I've avoided buying from a car from the trade in the recent past. Reasons being that they are expensive and the cars are likely to have been palmed off on the dealer in a part exchange deal. But on the other hand with trade you get a better chance to look around the vehicles and it's probably less hassle if you pick a bad 'un.

What's best, private or trade?

I've bought trade before, got a nice Honda Civic which was in pretty good nick.
However, i did get the AA to check the car for me. They highlighted worn from discs and pads. The garage had them replaced for me that day before I had even made a final agreement to buy the car from them.

[TimberWolf]

Some of the cars I saw at auction today:

2004 Ford Focus 1.8 TDI 5DR hatchback. 103,854 miles. £1725
2003 Mercedes Benz C class C180K. 66,884 miles. £4700
2000 BMW 3 series 316I SE. 150,000 miles. £1500
2002 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 16V. 64,800 miles. £1359
2004 Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec. 76,000 miles. £2300
2001 Peugeot 206 1.9LX. 64,000 miles. £1325
2003 Ford Fusion 1.4. 63,000 miles. £2250

They all looked in pretty good condition on the outside and the cabin interior. Who cares about high mileage? I was only looking at ex-lease cars, not private sales.

I noted down perhaps 100 or so prices (some may not have actually sold at the last bid price) and have not compared to guide prices yet. Seems cheap though. Is there a free on-line car price guide?

Even the £100 cars made my car look tatty in comparison

[Spacecadet]

Some of the cars I saw at auction today:

2004 Ford Focus 1.8 TDI 5DR hatchback. 103,854 miles. £1725
2003 Mercedes Benz C class C180K. 66,884 miles. £4700
2000 BMW 3 series 316I SE. 150,000 miles. £1500
2002 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 16V. 64,800 miles. £1359
2004 Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec. 76,000 miles. £2300
2001 Peugeot 206 1.9LX. 64,000 miles. £1325
2003 Ford Fusion 1.4. 63,000 miles. £2250

They all looked in pretty good condition on the outside and the cabin interior. Who cares about high mileage? I was only looking at ex-lease cars, not private sales.

I noted down perhaps 100 or so prices (some may not have actually sold at the last bid price) and have not compared to guide prices yet. Seems cheap though. Is there a free on-line car price guide?

Even the £100 cars made my car look tatty in comparison

www.Parkers.co.uk

[TimberWolf]

www.Parkers.co.uk

Thanks!

[DimPrawn]

Christ you make MOTing a car a long drawn out process.

Ever thought of contracting?

[Paddy]

I've bought trade before, got a nice Honda Civic which was in pretty good nick.
However, i did get the AA to check the car for me. They highlighted worn from discs and pads. The garage had them replaced for me that day before I had even made a final agreement to buy the car from them.

I have bought from trade, auction and private. As long as I like the car it makes no difference. However I do find that private sellers tend to over estimate the value of their car. I find that PXs and ex fleet cars are the best deals.

[OwlHoot]

Christ you make MOTing a car a long drawn out process.

Ever thought of contracting?

WHS

All this fuss over a couple of grand for a car is ridiculous.

[threaded]

Aaargh! MOT day on my 14 year old Mondeo hasn't gone well. Apparently it needs 3 anti-rollbars

[TimberWolf]

WHS

All this fuss over a couple of grand for a car is ridiculous.

Looking at the going prices for a 4 year old Mondeo at the auction, it's not far off what I paid for a 3 years old Mondeo at the same auction 10 years ago, about 3 grand.