- Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:12 pm
#499379
I have just invested in a Y reg Nissan Micra for £850 off eBay. Dirt cheap to insure and does the job
Bonanzoid wrote:Sorry to barge in on your thread, but I was seeking some pointers if any of you lovely car people would mind assisting?
Basically, I'm trying to get a wee car for as little money as possible. I've only been in the new job a month so I'm still awaiting my first full pay cheque, but its location is annoyingly tricky without a car. I was looking at Gumtree and there are some cheap cars available, but I'm obviously wary about the quality. Is there anything in particular I should look out for? Making sure it's MOT'd and probably taxed is all I'm looking out for at the moment, bar the "spare or repairs" notices that crop up now and again.
Any tips/pointers shall be rewarded with a gold star, and much gratitude.
Yudster wrote:Best post ever.
charlalottie wrote:A Micra? Jesus wept.
James H wrote: We've got 30 of them descending on Wicksteed Park in September!
Yudster wrote:Best post ever.
dimtimjim wrote:James H wrote: We've got 30 of them descending on Wicksteed Park in September!
Make sure you tell me what the date is so I can avoid going to Asda that day!
dimtimjim wrote:Bonanzoid wrote:Sorry to barge in on your thread, but I was seeking some pointers if any of you lovely car people would mind assisting?
Basically, I'm trying to get a wee car for as little money as possible. I've only been in the new job a month so I'm still awaiting my first full pay cheque, but its location is annoyingly tricky without a car. I was looking at Gumtree and there are some cheap cars available, but I'm obviously wary about the quality. Is there anything in particular I should look out for? Making sure it's MOT'd and probably taxed is all I'm looking out for at the moment, bar the "spare or repairs" notices that crop up now and again.
Any tips/pointers shall be rewarded with a gold star, and much gratitude.
Without going in to a lot of detail regarding specific checkpoints - you're kinda going down the right route. Its worth speaking to a few local (independent) dealers to see if they have any dirt-cheap stock floating about - at least with a dealer purchase (as opposed to gumtree, ebay etc) you will have SOME level of comeback should things start to fall off on the way home.
Beyond that and without the benefit of general experience, all I can suggest is going for something which has 10-12 months MOT left on it, meaning its only been looked at recently...
Simple things to do are:
Check for rust, mainly wheel arches and the underside of car (between the wheel-base). Also check for water ingress around the A pillar (holds windscreen in) and C pillar (holds rear window in) and front footwells and around boot surrounds.
Open each front door in turn, stand on the cill and jump up and down a bit (thus rocking car side to side) to check for suspension creaks/clonks.
Try to turn steering from lock-to-lock, you're feeling for a 'notchyness' or does it turn smooth.
Press pretty much EVERY button on the dash which is related to an electrical system to check what still works and what doesn't - fog lights, rear wiper, heater etc.
Move the gear-stick around the box, check it goes into each of the gears nicely (especially 2nd and 3rd gear)
Open bonnet - check engine is cold (as in not pre-warned before you arrived). Assuming engine is cold, ask seller to start the engine while you stand near enough the back of the car to see the exhaust gasses. A little bit of white smoke is fine, if it has a blue tinge (burning oil) walk away.
But above all else: remember its a buyers market out there at present. Turning up with a handful of cash and making the right 'buying noises' (explaining one way or another you're getting a new car TODAY - even if that's a lie) should buy you great bargaining powers, always try to get the 'window price' reduced.
hope this helps.
Yudster wrote:Best post ever.
dimtimjim wrote:No probs 'Zoid, happy to help where I can.
JimmHy, the beer pool looks tempting! Shame I'd have to drive there (and assumedly, back!). I only live ~8 miles from Wicky Park, y'see!
James H wrote:charlalottie wrote:A Micra? Jesus wept.I've had 4 and I run the Micra Club. We've got 30 of them descending on Wicksteed Park in September!
Excellent cars Ben!
Deadly wrote:Topher wrote:Stuff about Thatcher....
You are a disgrace and I'm looking forward to when someone you respect dies so I can rub your liberal face in it.
Topher wrote:James H wrote:charlalottie wrote:A Micra? Jesus wept.I've had 4 and I run the Micra Club. We've got 30 of them descending on Wicksteed Park in September!
Excellent cars Ben!
Aren't they basically ugly Clios? I know Renault have shares in Nissan (or vice versa) and if I remember correctly, as a consequence, Micras and Clios are basically the same thing? Except Clios are quite nice looking, of course.
Wicksteed Park though - not been there for yonks, must go back there.
James H wrote:Japanese performance cars!
Yudster wrote:Best post ever.
dimtimjim wrote:James H wrote:Japanese performance cars!
Oh, you not taking the Micra's anymore!
Charlalottie on Twitter wrote:Just remembered that I played pool with a satanist last night. Really should go out on a Friday more often.
Charlalottie wrote:Had a good night last night. We lost the pub quiz but had my hair plaited by a viking.
chrysostom wrote:I don't often foray into here, but my key fob's unlock button has broken.
Particularly annoying as it renders the remote locking completely useless, as if I lock the car with the fob, it has to be unlocked with the fob. Otherwise the car alarm goes off.
So my question is, what is the most cost effective way of getting this fixed? The unlock button itself has come off the circuit board, so I definitely can't to a DIY on it - but I know that might cost around £150 to get a new one.
Help!
Yudster wrote:Best post ever.
Deadly wrote:Topher wrote:Stuff about Thatcher....
You are a disgrace and I'm looking forward to when someone you respect dies so I can rub your liberal face in it.
Deadly wrote:Topher wrote:Stuff about Thatcher....
You are a disgrace and I'm looking forward to when someone you respect dies so I can rub your liberal face in it.
Yudster wrote:Best post ever.
Deadly wrote:Topher wrote:Stuff about Thatcher....
You are a disgrace and I'm looking forward to when someone you respect dies so I can rub your liberal face in it.
Topher wrote: I think the person whose car it is is going to get a meeting with an inspector and see where it goes.
Yudster wrote:Best post ever.
Topher wrote:There is a potential offence of driving without insurance, but of course there is a small possibility someone with a fully comp policy on another car that insures you third party on any car was driving.I'm not so sure about that now. Since Continuous Insurance Enforcement came out, all cars that have a valid tax disc MUST have insurance, so there's probably at least one more offence here too.
Deadly wrote:Topher wrote:Stuff about Thatcher....
You are a disgrace and I'm looking forward to when someone you respect dies so I can rub your liberal face in it.
Charlalottie on Twitter wrote:Just remembered that I played pool with a satanist last night. Really should go out on a Friday more often.
Charlalottie wrote:Had a good night last night. We lost the pub quiz but had my hair plaited by a viking.