Buying A Used Car..

[Quoi]

Where do you look when you are buying a used car?

I have been looking on ebay and autotrader but what I really want is a local private seller because I think the car dealer prices are high at this low end of the market.
I am looking for a second car but it has to be automatic ( astra sized ) for about £1200.
There are cars I would buy on ebay but seem to be a long way from me & even though I won an auction the other day, the seller seems reluctant to give me any details about how to pick up the car!

[tonyav]

Quoi, on Autotrader you can put a search distance in ie one mile to national from your post code. Other than that keep your eye on the small ads in your local papers.

[whiskeryron]

Be aware that if you buy a used car from a private seller you have NO comeback, whereas if you are buying from a good noteworthy dealership you are covered for all sorts of things.

[Quoi]

Thanks WR but I expect a few problems & have a bit of budget for that.
Just want to know where else to look because ebay and autotrader are not coming up with much locally.
The local rag motor section is horrendously slooooow when searching.

[tonyav]

Also check out your local shop windows for those postcard ads.

[Quoi]

A-ha yes TonyAV - I remember those - do people still do that? I remember seeing them in the supermarkets too.

[maggiebee]

At a loose end yesterday and watched a bit of Judge Rinder. Similar case being aired. Buyer not a happy chap - bought privately through eBay and apparently bought a heap of scrap. He was looking for redress. The judge's comment was caveat emptor (buyer beware I think) and case dismissed.

[tonyav]

Yes they still use the postcard ads, Quoi. Well they do around where I live.

[tonyav]

Also Quoi, beware of dodgy motor traders passing themselves off as private sellers.

[TWR]

Preloved / Gumtree / Freeads / Frida Ads are good selling sites Quoi, are you mechanical Minded? if not, be care full what you are doing, there are sellers & there are sellers, I don't think I have to define that? if you do not know anything about the workings of any cars take someone that knows with you, if it cost you £20 for the person to check, £20 is worth it, do not buy on the promise that the V5 +MOT Will follow, if no paperwork, walk away. do not buy in the rain as this hides a lot of sins. check the shunt panels for gaps.

[derekpara]

Adding to Tonyav's usual good advice in his last post about crafty dealers, just say you are calling about ' the car for sale' and if he answers
'which one ?' you know it's a dealer !

Cheers.

D

[cazzz1975]

I use autotrader, motors.co.uk isn't a bad site either, there should be plenty to choose from without having to travel miles for £1200

[TWR]

What area re you in Quoi?

[Quoi]

Thanks for your answers - I have been using preloved too. Compared to ebay some of the other sites are horrid to use. I had forgotten about free ads too.
I have been around long enough to know some of the tricks but I also accept it will be difficult to buy at this level without being hoodwinked somewhere - I will just have to live with that.
My main target is a 53 or 04 older style astra with less than 100k and no major dents or rust. Dealers seem to be fixated with 1295 as a price break but for older/high mieage cars.
so far,I have negotiated one for 1000 that I agreed to pick up at the weekend but the dealer then sold it anyway. And another where I won the auction but the guy didnt want to give me his address.
I am in Northampton btw.

[TWR]

Quoi, I am not a dealer I can assure you, I can help you here but do not want to go against the rules of the site, "R" Astra 20000 Genuine Mileage, in mac condition.

[TWR]

To add, I am familiar with N/Ton Quoi.

[Quoi]

thanks tonyav - looking through friday-ads came up with this one - which is broadly what I am looking for. Everywhere else this car would be 1295 but this guy was easily worked down to 900 (for starters) which I think is good value- will be going to see it later.
http://www.autotrustcars.co.uk/used-car-vauxhall-astra-hatchback-406

[Quoi]

Apologies I meant TWR for the friday ads recommendation. try [email protected] for my throwaway - apt eh?

[gollob]

You can forget about all the previous postings. I have bought 14 cars from
auctions(Mannheim) and all have been about 25% cheaper than you see on the forecourt. I bought a Fiat Cinquentto for my son for £3500 after three years he wrote the car off and the insurance paid me £4,000