Buying a car

SteveRobinson

TTony said:

Focus.  Simple, cheap, 12mths MOT and  £600.  It's disposable.  Wait for a scrappage scheme and you can double your money.

There are hundreds of cars listed there.    Accept that it will come "with issues" but that it's going to save your life.

Metallic green too. Mrs R had one of these we did 150K without missing a beat. 

celentium

No interest in recommending bangers but your 7k would get you a nice Golf or a newer Focus.

LordOxygen

Buy a petrol ford or petrol honda with decent history and then do something more productive with your spare time. 

Revolting1

Gumtree -Ad ID: 1348032721

  Got the same engine as Fretwired's 'Miles skoda'

  Based on a golf Floorpan and reliable older VAG suspension etc.

  Better handling than the 'Miles' skoda.

     Fsh.looks tidy

Revolting1

Gumtree Ad ID: 1347450979

   'Mile's engine again,

      Swansea.

jaytmon

Some eBay beauts that may meet some, all or nearly none of the criteria. They are all sub £2500 though:

Diesel Mondeo, in Maesteg, owner off to Europe:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-Titanium-x-2-2-Diesel-66500-miles-12-months-mot/173980513776

Avensis - dull but reliable and quite relaxing to drive, this one in Kington so probably a bit far (see disclaimer above) but I liked the fact it has four Michelin tyres (& fsh):
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-avensis-2-0-D-4D-T3-S-full-service-history-low-mileage/303232432933

Golf Plus in Aberdare, not sure why anyone would but you never know:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswagen-Golf-Plus-1-9-TDI/223602451857

Another Avensis, newer model, in Ebbw Vale:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-TOYOTA-AVENSIS-T2-D-4D-Estate/202745924383

A trusty Civic in Port Talbot:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-Civic-1-8i-VTEC-17in-Alloys-ES-2-OWNERS-NEW-MOT-LOW-MILES/293165535005

Another Civic (diesel) actually in Swansea:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-Civic-2-2i-CTDi-ES-full-service-history/323871276379

And another Avensis, in Garnant (near Ammanford):
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-05-Toyota-Avensis-2-0-D-4D-Diesel-long-mot-low-miles-86k/173982453262

I have obviously got way too much time on my hands! I think my efforts come from sympathy - my Saab is in the garage with a faulty ABS Brake Master Cylinder or some such, so at these times I find myself exploring other four wheel options. The more I look the less anything actually fulfils my criteria and all cars end up seeming shit. EIther I have been overly affected by this thread or I am equally pedantic and indecisive. Probably a bit of both. Luckily I have a motorbike to fall back on.

Revolting1

Gumtree Ad ID: 1348030068

   Ditto engine

    lengendary mk 4.

    Better than the later models re reliability.

Revolting1

Gumtree Ad ID: 1347866177

    6 speed box 1.9 tdi

   need to check engine power on this one

  90/100/130 HP engines have become reliability legends if properly maintained.

  110/115/150/170 HP engines have camshaft issues.

Emp_Fab

Thanks very much for helping @Revolting1.  I will definitely check out some of your finds, but many of them are too far away.  I need to get it tonight after work or tomorrow after work - if I can’t get there inside 30 mins, I can’t risk going.  If it turns out to be full of holes, I’d be out of time.

Emp_Fab

I could just get this to clear all the shit out from this thread:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-Toyota-estima-enima/401830420099?hash=item5d8ef59e83:g:1M8AAOSwGxBdNawU

welshboyo

jaytmon said:

Some eBay beauts that may meet some, all or nearly none of the criteria. They are all sub £2500 though:


A trusty Civic in Port Talbot:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-Civic-1-8i-VTEC-17in-Alloys-ES-2-OWNERS-NEW-MOT-LOW-MILES/293165535005

I reckon this one is a very good shout, Baglan is 30 mins drive easy from where you are - the car has only had 2 owners from new, and Service History and looking closer it still has its Ryland Honda Plates on it which to me shows it hasn't been shunted back or front, its also very low mileage for its age and I reckon its come in as a trade to Honda main dealer (Bassetts? or possibly whatever Honda is in Cardiff ), is outside Honda Approved age limits and has therefore been farmed out to smaller private dealers.

The Service History will show if its one of those cars as I would suspect the history would be all local Honda.

We've had 2 of these cars - they are brilliant cars.

If you don't even consider this, I'll come and throw you under a bus.......

LordOxygen

Yes, buy that Civic. Spot on.
Very good cars

BeardyAndy

These get compared to the Mini but they are nothing like, loads of room inside (I'm 6'3") and with the seats down they are cavernous! Drive great, cheap to run, look cool too. I was gutted when i sold mine but needed a van. 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/suzuki/suzuki-swift/1347996314

Budgie

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F283502882039

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F254292998835

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F123849511392

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F123852292440

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F123852292440

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F163773563103

There’s loads on eBay. If you end up buying from a dealer, make sure you use your credit card for at least £100.00 of the price for CC protection

strtdv

Another vote for the Port Talbot Civic

SteveRobinson

strtdv said:

Another vote for the Port Talbot Civic

If you don't buy that Civic which ticks every box then you might as well give up.

joneve

SteveRobinson said:

strtdv said:

Another vote for the Port Talbot Civic

If you don't buy that Civic which ticks every box then you might as well give up.

Yep. Looks like the right car in every way. 

Those Civics are really great cars and boots are pretty big too. 

RaymondLin

SteveRobinson said:

strtdv said:

Another vote for the Port Talbot Civic

If you don't buy that Civic which ticks every box then you might as well give up.

Don't want to jinx it but there's always a reason not to buy a car...

But is that mean someone here can buy that MX-5 now?

DiscoStu

joneve said:

SteveRobinson said:

strtdv said:

Another vote for the Port Talbot Civic

If you don't buy that Civic which ticks every box then you might as well give up.

Yep. Looks like the right car in every way. 

Those Civics are really great cars and boots are pretty big too. 

Panoramic roof!
Does it have the cinema seats in the back? They're great for squeezing stuff in.

Emp_Fab

I've rang them and they still have it.  I'm trying to get away from work early to check it out.

I don't want to tempt fate but....  This thread might...  Possibly....      I can't say it!  I'll jinx it!!