Some General Car Advice needed

[MattWilliams]

Rite, I'm looking to get rid of my 1.1i and move on to a vtr. I have found one up for sale a local garage in very good order.

My problem is its very over priced. I would like to trade my car in for it but it will be a backwards deal if you know what I mean.

The car I'm looking to get is a P reg 1997 Mk1 VTR. It has done 108,000, has got a full service history and has had quite alot of money spent on new parts recently. The garage wants £1395 which I think is redicolous. I have done a tailored parkers quote on it and it coming out at £765 from a independant dealer.

They have offered me the VTR plus £200 cash in exchange for my car.

Another bad deal as my car has been valued by parkers at minimum £1800 part exchange as it has only done 25000 miles.

Can all of you experts give me some advice on waht to do. i.e ask for a much better deal or walk away.

Thanks :y:

Matt

[andrew0510]

Ask for more money,

Show him the guide, let him know your researching.

Your car and 4-500 pounds sounds fair

[Peejous]

Find a better one mate with lower mileage.

[Danr]

Sell your car privately, then walk in with cash and offer them what you are willing to pay. If not then leave it and go and find another. So many deals to be done out there at the moment.

[andrew0510]

Find a better one mate with lower mileage.

This sounds like a good idea aswell :y:

Furio's arn't bad either mate

[MattWilliams]

Thanks for the advice people. I have had a phone call back from him saying the best he will do is the VTR + £300 cash + Brand new 12 month M.O.T for my car. Really want to get this car as its in really good nick and when I test drove it I could not find a thing wrong with it. Only problem is I still feel like I'm loosing out.

Anymore advice in relation to the update would be appreciated.

Thanks

Matt

[Danr]

It's a shit price for the car imo.

[666]

thats silly money i gave 600 quid for my mk1 in mint condition with 91000, sell yours private and look elsewere, the one your looking ats worth about 500 pound privert and 6-700 from a dealer

[Ben_L]

would stay well away from a vtr with 108k tbh.. mines on 68 and is falling appart already

[PETE-VTR]

shop around mate, you carnt buy the first one you see thats just daft.

you will probs buy it then see a far better one round the corner...

[Ben_L]

would be something better even on ebay for less

[djflipsaxo]

it seems the mialage is too high.
if your looking for an upgrade a lower milage car is the best way to go.
i sold my white mk1 vtr which was mint and had a simila mialage for £900 i think.
that was before the price of cars rock bottomed.
personally id sell your car, then as you will get more money selling privatly, then buy one you like.
i have a mk2 vtr modded, clean, 74k, fsh etc etc on an 02 plate for only £1700!!!

[VTEC-Saxo]

you dont want to be going fomr a nice low milage car to shity thrashed really high milage car mate trust me :)

[Danr]

Mileage isn't really that bad as it's a 12 year old car. So actually it's under average. It's just over priced though imo.

[Ben_L]

Mileage isn't really that bad as it's a 12 year old car. So actually it's under average. It's just over priced though imo.

I agree its under average, BUT why the hell would you go for an older car that is the same as what you already have with more wear...just because it has a slightly bigger engine.


i'd steer clear of it if it was me tbh...

[My4tt91]

u shud just look round on piston heads n places like that there r sum crackin cars on there n priced pretty cheap as well also try selling urs private on there its free 2 advertise so wont cost u a penny.

[MattWilliams]

Thanks for all the good advice people. I have made a decision and will not be going through with the deal. I have had a good look around and there are a fair few vtr's around with much lower milage for a better price.

Can anyone give me suggestions on what to watch out for when buying a vtr ?

Thanks again

Matt

[Ben_L]

Take it for a drive.
check biting point on clutch isn't too high.
check gearbox feels nice and tight through the gears (normally small amount of wobble anyway)
check for knocks and clicks (steering and suspension etc)
lift carpet in boot and check its all flat and doesn't look like its been in an accident.
check panels line up correctly,
Any signs of repairs on body work if so ask for receipts?
check for excessive rust
check for smoke on start up,
FSH?,
check under the car and just make sure theres no oil leaks or anything that looks suspicious,
and just general condition really. think thats most of it :y:

[Danr]

You'll always get problems when you buy a saxo but the good thing is it's normally dirt cheap to fix and probably easy to fix yourself. Just try and find a decent one that has service history and you should be alright :)

[Kerryc]

id walk away, sell your car privatly to get more cash, then buy an awesome low mileged newer model VTR :D

[MattWilliams]

Take it for a drive.
check biting point on clutch isn't too high.
check gearbox feels nice and tight through the gears (normally small amount of wobble anyway)
check for knocks and clicks (steering and suspension etc)
lift carpet in boot and check its all flat and doesn't look like its been in an accident.
check panels line up correctly,
Any signs of repairs on body work if so ask for receipts?
check for excessive rust
check for smoke on start up,
FSH?,
check under the car and just make sure theres no oil leaks or anything that looks suspicious,
and just general condition really. think thats most of it :y:

Thanks very much for that extensive list. I did notice on the vtr I was going to get that the clutch was very stiff and had a very high biting point. Is this a bad thing ? The dealer said it was like that because it was a VTR and should be alot stiffer. Sounds dodgy ?

[Ben_L]

i'd say its dodgy, i dont know about any1 elses car but mines quite soft with a midway biting point. think my cable could do with a tweak. I'd see if theres and reference to a clutch replacement in the history. 108k would suggest that its likely to need replacing shortly if it hasn't been done already