Car Purchasing Help/Ideas

[Phils_VTR]

A lot of you will have seen my thread about what happened to my last car... Then I made a thread about the insurance valuating my car after the incident. I received the check today and it is much more than I expected, so I am rather chuffed with that. :A:

Basically I will be looking to purchase a car toward the end of next week. I am going to say a £2,000 maximum budget although if there is anything really worth buying I could stretch a couple hundred.

So far I have been looking at Honda Civic EP4 3dr 1.7CTDIs. Reasons being that I have a soft spot for the EP civics, they do 55mpg, come with a good amount of features, smarter/maturer look but still sporty, cheaper insurance and tax and reliable.

If you can find a bargain on one of these or a car in it's league then please make a suggestion or send links my way! :hug:

One I have been looking at for the past week is a black one with a small subtle sport trim (side skirts/grille/mini spoiler) 130k on the clock, year 2004. Downside is there is no service history. I know it apparently needs an EGR valve according to the dealer and I will have a cambelt fitted by my local Honda for £125 instantly (offer they have on)... Advertised at £1670, they said I can have it without them fixing the EGR valve for £1450. Would you say this is a good deal? - (Non-racist comment but the garage is in Luton and it is all indians you are dealing with that all confer with each other and sound really dodgy) :geek:

There is also a really tidy example in cosmic grey for £1800. 1 Owner, FSH. but 160k miles (really is rather high...:n:) it has the sport trim also.

What should I do? Is there any other car you would suggest for the price and what you get from it? I need something with the similar features this has, nice car, reliable, good mpg, insurance low, tax low...

I have seen Mazda6 TS2 2.0DTs (2002ish age) with around 100k for around £1000ish. Bit of a Mondeo/old persons car lookish... don't like the lights they're hideous... but looks good for what you get!

All help is really, really appreciated. I need to buy soon as possible which'll be end of next week! I loose the courtesy car on Monday and the check will be cashed Wednesday and I need to commute :panic:

[Phils_VTR]

No one?

Thoughts on this beast? 2007 model, 94k Miles, advertised at £3k, could try knock it down a bit too. I think it looks pretty good. 140bhp but still does 50+ mpg.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTg2WDc4OQ==/$(KGrHqN,!pkFB9kd-zPNBQiknoRr!w~~48_80.JPG

[AzzAW93]

ive never seen a civic that shape that ive liked. but i do like that one :y:

[wheeler]

www.carsurvey.org has always been helpful for real world reviews mate - the car looks nice and sounds great, petrol for play, diesels for day to day :) I would...

[mlawlan69]

seriously considering a 130k example but then say 160k is seriously high?

not a dig BUT when you come to sell it, is that not what others will think too?

not to mention for 30k less miles you get absolutely no history and an already fucked car, vs 30k more miles but a car that has actually been cared for?

food for thought :)

[wheeler]

also look up EGR valves on eBay or www.carparts4less.co.uk and see if it's a job you can do yourself.. A lot of people block them off to stop them from recirculating exhaust gas back into the engine as it's basically like getting a hose pipe from your arse to your mouth = and I suspect your engine will enjoy it just as much lol.

[Jizanthapus]

A mazda 6 TS2 would be a good car - sat nav, leather and Bose stereo as standard on most of them. A lot of car for your money.
What about a Passat tdi? Could probably get a 2002-03 ish year one for £2k. Or an Audi A4 tdi?

Don't know anything about them new civics -I thought you were on about the model before that one tbh. Didn't know you could pick up a later model for that price!

[Phils_VTR]

ive never seen a civic that shape that ive liked. but i do like that one :y:

Exactly my thoughts! :y:

www.carsurvey.org has always been helpful for real world reviews mate - the car looks nice and sounds great, petrol for play, diesels for day to day :) I would...

Thanks I will check it out! Yeah, this is more on insurance than the 1.7 ep4 but does 50mph and still has 140oddBHP. Quick but economic!

seriously considering a 130k example but then say 160k is seriously high?

not a dig BUT when you come to sell it, is that not what others will think too?

not to mention for 30k less miles you get absolutely no history and an already fucked car, vs 30k more miles but a car that has actually been cared for?

food for thought :)

Exactly my thoughts! But is 160k/130k too high a mileage? The 160k actually looks in a better condition but when coming to sell it... when it's closer to 200k it will not be worth too much. :n:

also look up EGR valves on eBay or www.carparts4less.co.uk and see if it's a job you can do yourself.. A lot of people block them off to stop them from recirculating exhaust gas back into the engine as it's basically like getting a hose pipe from your arse to your mouth = and I suspect your engine will enjoy it just as much lol.

I will have to look in to that... So instead of getting a new EGR Valve I block it off and it is healthier for the car? :geek:

A mazda 6 TS2 would be a good car - sat nav, leather and Bose stereo as standard on most of them. A lot of car for your money.
What about a Passat tdi? Could probably get a 2002-03 ish year one for £2k. Or an Audi A4 tdi?

Don't know anything about them new civics -I thought you were on about the model before that one tbh. Didn't know you could pick up a later model for that price!

I was talking about the older ones :oops:
However when I came across this one for £3k it did make me think... cheapest newer shape I have seen and it looks superb.

[0rang3peel]

3k for a 2007 civic?

stinks of fuckedness

out of interest, how much did they give you for the golf bud?

[wheeler]

I will have to look in to that... So instead of getting a new EGR Valve I block it off and it is healthier for the car? :geek:


Well all cars are different but I did it on my VW Transporter T4 camper.. Basically the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) Valve is there purely to keep the emissions people happy (Euro emissions or likewise in the USA).

It's a little valve which diverts exhaust gasses back into the clean air inlet (usually on the inlet manifold somewhere) so that exhaust gasses are burnt again = cleaner emissions.

Over time the EGR valve gets clogged up with carbon and tar and dirt and crap, which can cause restrictions to the airflow, or sometimes they simply just stop working, which again can restrict the airflow and on modern vehicles probably trigger some engine management lights on the dash. Many of the lads on the T4 cleaned their EGR valves and blanked off, and reported better MPG/better acceleration, one guy going so far as saying it felt like he'd been driving round with the handbrake on until that point.

I cleaned and blanked mine and didn't really notice much difference.

Get yourself on a honda or Civic forums and look up blanking or removal altogether.

N.B. and before any scaremongerers says it might fail MOT on emissions as a result - diesels are tested on smoke density (they use a probe with a light on one side and light sensor on the other) rather than actual composition of the fumes (i.e. hydrocarbons) - as long as a diesel isn't smoking its tits off then it will pass an MOT regardless of whether it has a catalytic convertor/EGR valve etc. It will however fail on an engine management light if the EGR blanking/removal/whatever causes a light to illuminate on the dash, and since every model is different *DO* check first..

[Phils_VTR]

3k for a 2007 civic?

stinks of fuckedness

out of interest, how much did they give you for the golf bud?

I know right, if I can get a bit of cash to put toward it and bring him down a few hundred I could at a squeeze get it!

I thought that if I got a grand I would be very happy with myself, I could then put a few hundred on top of that and get myself a more modern diesel. However their first offer, which I have already had the cheque for (today) is 1920GBP which really is what the higher priced examples of my car go for, I was so startled but I am very excited. I also get up to 200GBP extra for possessions in the vehicle ;)

This is the most I will have spent on a car and after having a fair bit of trouble with the last one, I need something that is going to be good to me. Sort-of modern/nice to look at, comfortable, economical but not hideously slow... I have heard Hondas are the best for reliability. I just need some good advice.

Well all cars are different but I did it on my VW Transporter T4 camper.. Basically the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) Valve is there purely to keep the emissions people happy (Euro emissions or likewise in the USA).

It's a little valve which diverts exhaust gasses back into the clean air inlet (usually on the inlet manifold somewhere) so that exhaust gasses are burnt again = cleaner emissions.

Over time the EGR valve gets clogged up with carbon and tar and dirt and crap, which can cause restrictions to the airflow, or sometimes they simply just stop working, which again can restrict the airflow and on modern vehicles probably trigger some engine management lights on the dash. Many of the lads on the T4 cleaned their EGR valves and blanked off, and reported better MPG/better acceleration, one guy going so far as saying it felt like he'd been driving round with the handbrake on until that point.

I cleaned and blanked mine and didn't really notice much difference.

Get yourself on a honda or Civic forums and look up blanking or removal altogether.

N.B. and before any scaremongerers says it might fail MOT on emissions as a result - diesels are tested on smoke density (they use a probe with a light on one side and light sensor on the other) rather than actual composition of the fumes (i.e. hydrocarbons) - as long as a diesel isn't smoking its tits off then it will pass an MOT regardless of whether it has a catalytic convertor/EGR valve etc. It will however fail on an engine management light if the EGR blanking/removal/whatever causes a light to illuminate on the dash, and since every model is different *DO* check first..

Edit: Sorry for not replying to this straight away I somehow forgot :S

Thank you so much for that information, I genuinely had no idea what an EGR valve was! (Learn something new everyday!)

I will get on to the Honda forums (registered on Civiclife.net when I first got ideas for a civic) and ask about those valves. The garage said that they were cleaning it and found they needed a new one so maybe it was just really clogged up! Although being smart it would be more intelligent to get the 160k 1 Owner FSH Civic instead. Hmph. :wall:

[Carl-h]

Buy on condition not mileage.

And if they seem dodgy, avoid them. I've seen some very dodgy Asian dealers, and some okay ones. There are some very dodgy ones in Birmingham, one the other day the 'premises' were inside a huge storage building behind a roller shutter with a crafty looking bloke sat in a jag outside with the shutter down. Other places in the building were advertising legal cannabis and there were signs all over the walls from the police saying we are watching you. I didn't see what I went to see and got out of there quick.

[wheeler]

No worries man, glad to be of help - I did a lot of reading around 12 months ago to find all that out for my camper :)

I'd be tempted to go with the one with service history in all honesty :)

[Phils_VTR]

Buy on condition not mileage.

And if they seem dodgy, avoid them. I've seen some very dodgy Asian dealers, and some okay ones. There are some very dodgy ones in Birmingham, one the other day the 'premises' were inside a huge storage building behind a roller shutter with a crafty looking bloke sat in a jag outside with the shutter down. Other places in the building were advertising legal cannabis and there were signs all over the walls from the police saying we are watching you. I didn't see what I went to see and got out of there quick.

Yeah these ones were just really weird on the phone, all confurring (probably spelt that wrong) with each other and passing me to other people for the simplest questions. They said it is fine and no dents and no stains on the seats (when I can see from the photos that they are lying).

No worries man, glad to be of help - I did a lot of reading around 12 months ago to find all that out for my camper :)

I'd be tempted to go with the one with service history in all honesty :)

Yeah it does look really nice! 160k Scares me a bit though, this is literally the most money i've had to put toward a car and don't want to buy something that isn't good...

That 3k 2007 Civic is really tempting me. I know if I tried hard I could almost achieve that, especially as birthday and Christmas is coming up, I could just get help buying this... Can't believe its cheaper on insurance, over twice the BHP, twice as expensive etc. It'll hold it's value for a while, I really love it.

But is it worth blowing literally all of my money on it do you think? Looks like a good buy, especially if I can knock it down a bit. :fcuk:

[Phils_VTR]

Picture of the 160k Civic - Asking for: 1.8k

http://is02.thegumtree.com/image/extrabig/152805550.jpg

Picture of the 130k Civic - Asking for 1.6k (1.45k without them doing the EGR valve)

http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=21261681

http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=21261678

More of the 2007 kitted model. One of my friends simply said they didn't like the kit and I usually hate 90% of aftermarket kits but this one in my opinion is actually pretty sick.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTg0WDc4OQ==/$(KGrHqF,!g8F!U3M0JruBQiknY8n2Q~~48_80.JPG

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTg2WDc4OA==/$(KGrHqJHJFUFBiiYcb0PBQikni2ijQ~~48_80.JPG

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTg2WDc4OA==/$T2eC16VHJFoE9nh6oV)nBQikn7cwO!~~48_80.JPG

[Mochachino]

Looks fucking awful lol maybe why its cheap because tis hard to sell and ugly ruined car?

Personally wouldnt buy a car on that mileage either just for the resale value. If you buy a car of this sort of status you are basically buying a car for 4k and throwing it in the sea. You will be just as well off driving it into the sea after you have finished with it. Serious waste of money.

[Phils_VTR]

Looks fucking awful lol maybe why its cheap because tis hard to sell and ugly ruined car?

Personally wouldnt buy a car on that mileage either just for the resale value. If you buy a car of this sort of status you are basically buying a car for 4k and throwing it in the sea. You will be just as well off driving it into the sea after you have finished with it. Serious waste of money.

Personally I think it's the best example of that model civic I have seen.

The car standard on that miles is still worth a at the least a thousand more than the asking price and if I got it for under 3k that would be a steal! I think if I wanted to sell it in a couple years, I would still get my money back and more.

Still 50+ mpg, quick, comfy, reliable, looks good (all opinion I guess but it's had money spent on it!)

[LSOfreak]

im not sure whether i like it or hate it?

[Phils_VTR]

im not sure whether i like it or hate it?

At first I wasn't too sure but if it came to it, it wouldn't be hard to return to standard.

Really want it...:panic:

[wheeler]

mate if it's mechanically sound and has the paperwork to back it up, then the looks are a subjective thing and if you like it then that's all that matters. I personally think claudia winkelman is probably a right minx but most of my mates think I'm sick..

As long as she goes like the clappers then all is well :)

[Jay_]

First photo I loved it. Most recent photos I thought someone had taken a shit on a laptop screen.

[Prickle]

More of the 2007 kitted model. One of my friends simply said they didn't like the kit and I usually hate 90% of aftermarket kits but this one in my opinion is actually pretty sick.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTg0WDc4OQ==/$(KGrHqF,!g8F!U3M0JruBQiknY8n2Q~~48_80.JPG

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTg2WDc4OA==/$(KGrHqJHJFUFBiiYcb0PBQikni2ijQ~~48_80.JPG


Cancel that idea off. It looks nasty mate :n:

[Phils_VTR]

imo, new front bumper and all is well. :P

[mattknight1984]

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTg2WDc4OA==/$(KGrHqJHJFUFBiiYcb0PBQikni2ijQ~~48_80.JPG

LOL - I couldnt drive that.

[LSOfreak]

you seem to like it mate, dont let us saxp lot put you off it lol

[Prickle]

imo, new front bumper and all is well. :P

yer but its added expense doing it lol. I cant imagine the bumpers will be that cheap either.

I mean its up to you like.

[Phils_VTR]

you seem to like it mate, dont let us saxp lot put you off it lol

:hug:

Maybe it is too much money to blow on a car, i'm so indecisive as it is... :panic:

Literally so excited but panicking about buying a new car. :n:

[mattknight1984]

Personally I'd save a bit more and buy a lower mileage example of the EP3 shape...

[Jizanthapus]

Kitted one is nasty.
Why don't you just look for a lower mileage, slightly older car?

[LSOfreak]

or why not buy another golf cab :)

[0rang3peel]

that kitted civic is the worst thing I have ever seen, sorry bro but it's vile.

I like the idea of the other civics you're looking at, surely for your budget you could get one with less than 100k on it (I'm aware that mileage isn't the be all and end all)