To think, I can trust anyone when buying a car, can I?

[OHforDUCKScake]

Need a family car, sold my old car.

I look out for the usual, low milage, full service history, tax, long MOT etc etc.

We drove an hour to view what appeared to be a great car last night. Got there, closer inspection saw that it was a dangerous bag of nails.

Ive seen one near by which also looks good, did a check on it and their 90k on the clock turns out to be 120k flr real. And the garage itself have terrible reviews.

Garage next door to me is selling a car that Im after, but is about £1000 more than what its worth. Autotrader advised that you could sell such a car to a dealer at £215 or private at £645. He ks trying to sell it for £2195, so potentitall nearly £2000 mark up.

Im taking my childrens dad who is very good with cars, Ive done my home work and going with reliablemcars with plenty of excellent reviews (VW Golfs, possibly Polos, Skoda Fabia or Octavia.)

Yet despite doing everything as sensibly as I can my end, I feel like Im going to be screwed over anyway.

Im never going to know if its truly a good car. I hear of car dealers 6 month warranty, and the, not sticking to it.

Am I missing something?

Ive only got 2k to spend but that should be enough for a good, reliable, safe car.

Based on the mileage? The fabias done more...

But it's basically a VW, so it should be solid still, and that age of fords are notorious for rust problems.

At that price I'd be buying something Japanese privately and based on condition not mileage. Its a strange British thing that we get hung up on mileage where people think anything with over 100k is going to explode like the earlier poster. Its complete rubbish, in most of europe they'd consider a car under 200k kms as fairly low mileage. No reason not to buy something with 150k miles thats been well looked after and spent most of its life on the motorway. I'd avoid diesels as well at this price - much more likely to get hit with a 4 figure bill.

Definitely avoiding diesel.

Ive only ever driven my old car, Im worried Im going to fuck it up and crash one of them straight away!

Why should she avoid diesels?

In that price range there's a greater chance of a diesel chucking a 4 figure bill. Things like fuel pumps, injectors, dual mass flywheels and turbos. I wouldn't touch a 10 year old 2 grand diesel with a barge pole unless I just wanted a hack and was prepared to scrap it in the case of a big bill arising. Something like a 1.4 petrol Civic has a much lower potential for bork.

I would be worth 80 quid to get the AA or RAC to check it over - just remember caveat emptor on secondhand goods (buyer beware)

Have you thought about going to auction? Try BCA, (you have to register online before you can see what stock they're holding)we've bought our last couple at auction and you can check online and make a shortlist before you go and check autotrader/parkers guide to see what they are actually worth beforehand. I was really nervous to start with but you've already got an open mind with regard to what car you're after so you could could potentially have lots of choice and bag a bargain.

Guess what ive just bought

Tbf though, my nbest mate and my mum always go for an older diesel and have never had a problem.

The car that cost us the most in repairs and had the most problems was a citroen grand picasso petrol engine, it was expemsive to buy too and was from main dealership. Close second was a peugeot 307 that was a year old, again from a main dealership. Nothing but problems and £££ to fix.

My Mechanic told me that parts for diesel cars are much more expensive than petrol cars.

Also agree with the above poster about millage. What does it matter with the miles as long as its looked after? My parents gave me their old car when they got a newer car. They had it for 10 years and drove to the South Of France twice a year in it, but they looked after it. Got it serviced regularly, did any repairs it needed straight away etc. Ive had it for 2 years now and still not a thing wrong with it.

I've got a 2002 1.6 ford focus with about 135,000 miles on it. Absolutely love it, it's going strong and so far only paid a couple of hundred in repairs since I got it 9 years ago - mostly new brake pads & related bits which I guess most 11 year old cars doing around 500 miles a week would need to have done by now. Radio has died though Would recommend and would get one again.

I would say you can't trust anyone, however I brought a 2nd hand Polo recently and I trusted the seller.

I was looking for a reliable car and as I had to buy ASAP (just split from Ex who took car), it was middle of winter and I had basically no child free time I knew I had to spend more & I was looking at CarGiant cars. It was draining and stressful.

Then a friend of a friend was selling her car for a good reason. I test drove it and paid her the asking price without quibble (after checking it was reasonable). She lived around the corner and dropped it off to me at work. I figired although I didn't know her I could trust her as she would not knowingly shaft a friend of a friend - she had other options for selling it.

Years ago I brought another car locally after doing the smallest search possible on autotrader.

Put the word out to everyone you know and good luck.

My mum had a polo for nearly 15 years, which was second hand when she bought it! It was a war horse.
Interested in thus because I will be getting a car soon, same budget op.
I want a Suzuki swift, but may get a micra, as the insurance is less.
Now im scared, as have never bought a car before!

I drove them both an still couldnt decide.

But Im going for the Skoda now.

I think.

I'm not sure if I would trust just anyone to buy a car from after being stung with a death trap.

I'm lucky to know someone that does cars up for a hobby and touch wood has always managed to supply me something when needed that might not what I want but is serviceable for my needs, sound history and he wouldn't touch anything that isn't immaculate with the exception of the engine.

I've just bought a high mileage but completely reconditioned engine 11 year old astra for £1k.

Read Roald Dahl's "Matilda": Mr Wormwood putting sawdust in gearboxes, and turning back the mileage with an electric drill.

Not all fiction I'm sure!

most reliable car brand 2012,VW came in at 20th.

Marking my place as in a similar situation myself...

I bought a little smart car in January (2nd hand) with my late hubbs death pension to drive to work as a carer. Car shone like a new penny, seller took it off e-bay when I drove down to see it a day before auction end, it cost me £2000 cash. Seller lived on an exclusive close, nice middle class family, wife said he fixes up cars as a 'hobby'...The next day engine light came on. Smart specialists said needs an engine re-build (£1400) seller wouldn't answer his phone and I had NO comeback because he'd sold it before e-bay auction ended. I felt physically sick that I'd trusted this man who cannot be classed as a 'trader' unless I can prove he sells cars on a regular basis off his drive. Although I knew he'd sold 3 cars including mine no one could tell me how many cars are classed as a trader GGGGRRRRR

I'm looking for a car too but just a little runaround. It's such a headache. I think I'll go to a dealership though? I only want a micra or similar? I don't really like driving it's just for going to my new job and back and local.

Good luck OP hope you find one? And I do too

salsmum that's horrific

Thanks.

Salsmum thats horrible, if that was me I think Id be sending the heavies round.

Have you found something reliable since?

Well its done, its bought. I got the Skoda Fabia. Its in absolute mint condition.

He charged me about £300 too much despite me getting hkm down by £250, but I get 6 months warranty, he lives 2 yards from my front door so if things go wrong we arent travelling for hours.

We dont have to travel hours with young kids to keep viewing potential bags of nails cars.

The car purrs.