What to look for buying secondhand cars?

[Steve30]

http://users.autoexposure.co.uk/vehicle.cfm?Account=SHD3052697&Style=2&Id=AETV63497710&Make=SKODA&Model=FABIA&City=London

looking at getting this on Friday partners daughter first car she's 18 passed her test first time in a manual car.

its been 15yrs since I bought a secondhand motor so feel a bit rusty. 

[Rhyso]

Read this thread by Mr Chuff   

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=161429.0

[Steve30]

Read this thread by Mr Chuff   

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=161429.0

Thats a brilliant thread thanks Rhyso and the big man

[Bellend]

Why not look at Lupo 1.4TDIs or Polo 1.4 TDIs at that price?

£30 a year tax.

Those Fabia's are decent enough but the 1.4 petrol is a pretty bland engine. Even a 1.4TDI fabia is miles better!

[Thom89]

Also, something that should be added to that thread... HPI "Clear" does NOT mean that the car has not been involved in any sort of accident! many older cars are insured 3rd Party, to cut costs. Car is then damaged, but completely bypasses the claim process, and sold on as "Unrecorded" damage, rendering an HPI or any other checks, including Govt. checks, completely useless!

Thom

[Bellend]

Also, something the should be added to that thread... HPI "Clear" does NOT mean that the car has not been involved in any sort of accident! many older cars are insured 3rd Party, to cut costs. Car is then damaged, but completely bypasses the claim process, and sold on as "Unrecorded" damage, rendering an HPI or any other checks, including Govt. checks, completely useless!

Thom

Good shout.

Best bet for that sort of thing is paint on rubber seals, blow ins on a pillars etc, checking all fixtures on the car are tight, no broken clips, odd coloured panels, misaligned panels, odd clips etc.

Can generally spot repaired panels etc. Sometimes the angles just feel different.

[antogoof]

watch out for wishbones on them, they are a cack design and an absolute bastid to change, my sister has one of these, sdi fairly well specd and it goes ok. the parts ive bought for it are suprisingly expensive though.

[Bellend]

Why not look at Lupo 1.4TDIs or Polo 1.4 TDIs at that price?

£30 a year tax.

Those Fabia's are decent enough but the 1.4 petrol is a pretty bland engine. Even a 1.4TDI fabia is miles better!

£100 a year tax...

On the Fabia, not the Polo or the Lupo.

[Bellend]

Why not look at Lupo 1.4TDIs or Polo 1.4 TDIs at that price?

£30 a year tax.

Those Fabia's are decent enough but the 1.4 petrol is a pretty bland engine. Even a 1.4TDI fabia is miles better!

£100 a year tax...

On the Fabia, not the Polo or the Lupo.

apologies, didn't know that

No probs, don't know why the Fabias are higher!

[Egbutt Wash]

The old maxim "Rough people rough cars" is usually true.
If the seller is an irritating loud mouth scruff with a skanky wife and filthy house then just walk.