Ever feel like you have made a mistake buying a second hand car?

not sure i would have been paying out anything overly expensive if you think that your job might not have been safe (as a contractor). who's to say that it won't go anyway and you lose the position?
 
I did when I swapped my clio 172 for a Fiat Coupe 20VT LE. It appeared ok from the test drive and inspection, until a week after the turbo seals went, the manifold cracked, and the wishbones went.
The only saving grace was getting a speeding fine through from the police for the clio, 80 in a 40, sent that straight back to them with proof that he bought it off me the previous week :D
 
I'll cheer you up, at least it's not as bad as my mate who is waiting in at the moment for the police and low loader to turn up to take his '07 plate Freelander that he bought 2 months ago and discovered on the weekend it's a clone. £14k down the spout!
 
They're only scratches - ignore them and enjoy the car - you say it drives nicely so how many scratches can you see from inside anyhow? And who cares what someone else thinks if they can see them.
 
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panthro said:
I did when I swapped my clio 172 for a Fiat Coupe 20VT LE. It appeared ok from the test drive and inspection, until a week after the turbo seals went, the manifold cracked, and the wishbones went.
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Fingers crossed that doesn't happen!

kefkef said:
I'll cheer you up, at least it's not as bad as my mate who is waiting in at the moment for the police and low loader to turn up to take his '07 plate Freelander that he bought 2 months ago and discovered on the weekend it's a clone. £14k down the spout!
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That was/is what i remain worried about. First time I've bought a car privately, instead of from a dealer.

Morba said:
not sure i would have been paying out anything overly expensive if you think that your job might not have been safe (as a contractor). who's to say that it won't go anyway and you lose the position?
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That is a very very real possibility...let's hope my mortgage protection insurance pays out should that happen, i'll be an out of work lawyer, with a lot of time to research and write maaaaaany letters!
 
Why not give the car to a fancy detailer type person? It'll cost a fraction of that, and you'll probably end up with a much much better finish. Just an idea :)
 
My wife paid £700 for a 2.0L Cavalier many years ago, 3 weeks later I paid a scrapyard £30 to take it off our hands, worst buy ever, tappits were gone, electrics were knackered, the alarm kept going off randomly all through the night until I ripped it out, the central locking only worked when it felt like it and it had a habit of spraying fuel all over the engine rather than in-to the carb. She claimed it was perfect when she viewed it of course.
 
amigafan2003 said:
They're only scratches - ignore them and enjoy the car - you say it drives nicely so how many scratches can you see from inside anyhow? And who cares what someone else thinks if they can see them.
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I wish I could think like that, alas I am doomed to a life of being anal about the smallest scratch.
 
I still have a secret giggle about my partners first 2 cars and the "issues" she had with them. The first was a Fiat Tipo which she had seen with her dad. He is mechanically inept and decided that without even having a proper look or test drive it was a good car. I had serious doubts and made these clear when I found out what she was buying. She got it about 10 miles before one of the power steering pipes burst and the tyre which was supposed to have been changed due to being flat was flat again. Was in for even more of a shock when we had a look underneath. It had somehow passed its mot with a hole big enough in the sill to fit most of my hand into, a shagged engine mount and numerous other faults. Was scrapped with a loss of £800.
Her Punto wasnt much better. I got stuck behind her in it and noticed abit of smoke under acceleration and upon closer inspection there was black gunge being fired out the back with it. Check the oil and its just on minimum and very black. Dealer wouldnt tell us what was wrong with it just gave her the money back thankfully.
I have been rather lucky though, I will accept I paid abit more for the Megane than I wanted but it was low mileage (65,000) with full service history, a stack of reciepts and a full service/camblet change. Still going strong and no regrets!
 
rossyl said:
That is a very very real possibility...let's hope my mortgage protection insurance pays out should that happen, i'll be an out of work lawyer, with a lot of time to research and write maaaaaany letters!
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i would be checking the protection very closely, chances are you wont be entitled to cover of out of work period due to the nature of your employment.
i wasnt covered on my northern rock loan when my contract ended last year!!
 
kefkef said:
I'll cheer you up, at least it's not as bad as my mate who is waiting in at the moment for the police and low loader to turn up to take his '07 plate Freelander that he bought 2 months ago and discovered on the weekend it's a clone. £14k down the spout!
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When it's his Birthday, buy him a copy of Star Wars ep 2: Attack of the Clones, he'll really really like that, I guarantee it! ;)
 
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