Buying a second hand car....

HaX · 11 Feb 2006 at 21:57

Hi there,

After looking on Autotrader I've found a car I really like the look of - a 1996 Mazda Xedos V6 going for £2000. Externally the car seems to be absolutely mint and all the electrics seem to work fine - electric windows, mirrors air con etc.

The car is at a small time Frank Butcher type car dealer in my town, and is not currently MOT'd. The dealer says that the price will include a service, MOT and 6 months Tax.

I would really like the car, howver I have a few concerns - eg that it may require expensive work doing etc.

Is there anything I can do to find this out before parting with my hard earned cash. I want this car, but only if it is going to be reliable. Any ideas how to get around this?

Cheers

HaX

mattpc · 11 Feb 2006 at 22:09

Well if it comes with 12 Month MOT there shouldn't be anything that immediately needs replacing. Make sure that when you buy the car you get the MOT advisory sheet. This will tell you if the tester found anything that concerned them but was not an MOT failure (tyres near legal limit, worn brakes etc.).

Rilot · 11 Feb 2006 at 22:12

mattpc said:
Well if it comes with 12 Month MOT there shouldn't be anything that immediately needs replacing. Make sure that when you buy the car you get the MOT advisory sheet. This will tell you if the tester found anything that concerned them but was not an MOT failure (tyres near legal limit, worn brakes etc.).

The MoT is proof of roadworthyness. They won't check if the engine is about to drop a valve or the aircon compressor is about to grenade.

Best thing you can do is get a friendly machanic to check it out. If no tame mecahnics are available, you next best is an AA or RAC check. They cost about £100 but are pretty good.

geiger · 11 Feb 2006 at 22:13

Dont rely on the MOT to show you anything wrong with the car, if he is a car dealer then he is well capable of getting a sympathetic test done and even if it was legit then its no sign of other faults with engine, etc

Is this your first car purchase?

A used car warranty may be of some use to you.
www.warrantydirect.co.uk/quote_page1.html?apc=311234599718640342

HaX · 11 Feb 2006 at 22:15

No,

Currently running a Megane 1.4 e. After something a little quicker and more comfortable.

I've been very lucky with the Megane, no problems with it at all other than the Mrs side swiping a wheely bin.

mattpc · 11 Feb 2006 at 22:51

This is very true Rilot- Good idea for a mechanic to check it out but failing that you can check yourself for mayo on the oil filler cap, be wary of fluctuations in temperature when the car is under load or at standstill. MOT is not even really proof of road worthyness (in the sense that it only means it was road worthy the day that it was put in for the test). If I am purchasing a car I always check it out on honestjohn.co.uk as if nothing else it usually gives tou an idea of what to look out for when you buy

In this case he says the following.

What's Good
Beautiful looking car. Really stunning. Could have been the prototype for a new small Jaguar - with Mazda reliability. 15' 3" long by 5' 7" wide and from 1,142kg. Sensationally smooth, free-revving 146bhp 2.0 litre quad cam 24-valve engine (which powered Ford's Mondeo Touring Cars). V6 is a non-interferance engine, so valves fo not hit pistons if the timing belt snaps. Mirror-like thick lacquer over paint has to be baked on while the car is rotating on a rotisserie. Suspension and handling much improved from 'N' reg on. Need timing belts every 60k miles, but no history of prior breakage and V6 engines are non interferance anyway. Mazda generally 4th lowest average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 47.61 v/s lowest 31.93) Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk
What's Bad
Early suspension not up to the engine or the sporty looks. Really just a 626 with strut braces. Difficult to feel what's going on through the steering. Very hard to match the original paint quality, particularly metallics, so don't think a £300 bonnet respray will work. MX5-engined 114bhp 1.6 four is underpowered. V6 can suffer from ignition problems. Repair kit from Ford dealers is £164 (inc VAT) for the V6. No longer necessary to buy a new/reconditioned distributor.
What to Watch Out For
Early UK SEs did not have aircon, just an aircon button with a sticker over it, so make sure aircon blows cold. (Aircon standard on SE from 'N' reg on.) Look for clean oil on the dipstick and evidence it has been changed regularly. Any mayonnaise under the oil cap, leave the car alone. First jobs: change coolant and brake fluid. Check for uneven tyre wear. Check complex quad cam 24v V6 carefully. Smoke could mean any one of 24 valve stem seals.
Recalls
1994 (VIN JMZ CA1***01100001-01119137): engine may stop without warning. 1997 (built March '92 to Aug '94): suspension coil may break and puncture tyre.

Rotty · 11 Feb 2006 at 23:38

Don't rely on a new MOT that dealer has put on to prove anything , many of them have mates at MOT centres who will issue an MOT without much more than a cursory glance at the car

Matblack · 11 Feb 2006 at 23:53

I used to have one of these

Its a nice car, a little thirsty but then it is a V6, its not really a car to chuck about and I got bored after a while and went back to a CRX but it was fun whilst I had it, it made me feel very exec

Nothing ever went wrong with it, it just bored me rigid, good of the mark in a straight line tho

MB

MB

mattpc · 12 Feb 2006 at 10:33

What Rotty says is true I am sure. The problem is that it's a £2000 car. Is it worth an AA inspection? Probably not. It probably is worth bunging a mechanic £50 to look at it and then if there is anything wrong you can negotiate on price or get the mechanic to sort it out.

HaX · 13 Feb 2006 at 00:14

I eneded up getting one of my m8s who is a mechanic to go with me. He talked me out of getting the Xedos due to expensive replacent parts. I ended up getting a 2000 reg 1.8 Modeo LX - in absolutely mint condition.

Picking it up Tues - will put pics up.. but then again... what is another Mondeo.

[TW]Fox · 13 Feb 2006 at 00:21

Congratulations on the new car - the Mondeo will serve you well.

Is it a Mk2 or a Mk3? Shame you went for the LX though - you miss out on a lot of the bits of kit which are basically free these days given the higher spec models are worth no more cash. Still - you get the essentials, Aircon, electric windows, etc.

If its a Mk2 the 1.8 litre engine is sufficient whilst not rapid

HaX · 17 Feb 2006 at 17:21

[TW]Fox said:
Congratulations on the new car - the Mondeo will serve you well.

Is it a Mk2 or a Mk3? Shame you went for the LX though - you miss out on a lot of the bits of kit which are basically free these days given the higher spec models are worth no more cash. Still - you get the essentials, Aircon, electric windows, etc.

If its a Mk2 the 1.8 litre engine is sufficient whilst not rapid

Thanks,

I think its a MK2 (Not the very newest shape). I can't believe how quick off the mark it is compared to the Megane. I can soon get up to road speed in it!

The model I've got has got ... electric windows and mirrors, aircon, heated front and rear wind screens, cd/radio, electrically adjustable driver seat, zetec engine, traction control and ABS. The bloke who sold it to me said that the electric seat isn't normally standard, however my car was in the last batch of MKII LXs or something to that effect.