Motoring Discussion > Would you swerve,this Buying / Selling
Thread Author: wotspur Replies: 16

 Would you swerve,this - wotspur
I've been hunting for An Alhambra/galaxy/sharan type vehicle, I need it for the type of work I do
I've found a Galaxy 1.8tdci Zeneca ,a 58 plate diesel manual , it has only 28,000 miles ( bit of a concern)
I've checked the MOt schedule, and every year from year 3 it went , from 11, 14,16,21,25,28 I assume it's a mum taking kids to school....how damaging is this to a Diesel engine ??
It's up for £7495 , Parkers guide suggest , 7.8K from an independent dealer.
But I heard Parkers is useless, and Glasses suggests 6,5.
Any things I should consider , as it meets my criteria, but to me a car, is a mode of transport nothing more, but I do neeed something reliable , and low mileage ......
Can anyone recommend an independent specialist in checking out a car for a fee , and is it worth it, I know the AA can organise it, but would prefer an independent firm......in Surrey
Any help appreciated
 Would you swerve,this - Runfer D'Hills
Can't help you on the recommendation for a reliable check I'm afraid, but a couple of preliminary questions I'd be asking of the dealer you are talking to ( or thinking of talking to ) would be what the service history consists of (is it main dealer history for example? ) and what if anything they know of the previous owner. If those questions are answered openly and feel as if they are being honestly answered to your satisfaction, then it would be worth moving on to the next stage.

It may indeed be a genuinely well kept car which has only had light use. If it's one owner, main dealer serviced, has decent quality tyres on it and doesn't seem abused then it could be a bit of a bargain. If the service history is woolly, the general condition is poorer than it should be and the tyres are cheapo ditchfinders I'd be wary.
 Would you swerve,this - MD
As per Runfer, but sod the service history. Let's see vat registered invoices. Anyone can make up the history. There's not a car dealer in this world I would trust.
 Would you swerve,this - smokie
MOT schedule should be accurate, how wold they fake that (assuming its the online stuff)?

Sounds an item of interest to me... I think the OP was more concerned over whether the low mileage presented a technical risk
 Would you swerve,this - bathtub tom
I reckon wotspur's right to be cautious of a low mileage vehicle.

This is from another forum I frequent: "Hi everyone just thinking about changing to a hybrid from 1.3 petrol .current use is 1 mile to railway station and back mon- fri." He makes no mention of using it for any other journeys.
Who'd want to buy that as a low mileage example?
Last edited by: bathtub tom on Thu 16 Mar 17 at 10:19
 Would you swerve,this - wotspur
Yes thanks or the responses, in the hurst 3 years, it had done 11,000 miles and annually 2-4,000 it's, foes it mean, that the engine, or other major parts have been under used, and therefore a potentially expensive cost factor......
All on the online MOt are fine, going mow to take a look at the paperwork and test drive, then if all is hood, try and negotiate, I know what they want, and I need it down by 1k minimum
 Would you swerve,this - wotspur
Well I took for a short 5 mile test drive.......is that a reasonable time,period,
Anyway whilst he wouldn't allow me to take it to a mates garage, which is fair enough, as he said he can't wait around for 1/2 hr, he did say my mate was welcome to come and spend as much time as he needed to check it out......which I fully understood. It drove lovely and the engine looked well clean
But there was no paperwork, the V5 had a persons name on it , and 2 previous owners......why so many in such a short period of time........and apart from 2 service sheets in the last 18months, there was zero sheets nor a log book for before thst.

Well I thought I'd test the waters, anyway, and said onnthe 7495 car, been there just over a week, from others I've tried they've sold within days.
.*********
 Would you swerve,this - nice but dim
Wotspur, what type of work do you do? Help us suggest something alternative.

Does it have to a Ford/VW product, I think you are being too specific.

Nothing gained for style in commercial use.
 Would you swerve,this - wotspur
I carry and demonstrate equipment that fits nicely into a people carrier, as I need the height ......over the last 26 years I've had a Peugeot 806, an 3 Espaces, ( last one was a nightmare ) , a Zafira ( too small, but ok) Hyundai Trajet ( few and far between- but was probably the best, and last one was a Seat Alhambra( written off , after 4 months) I bought an 06 , with 60,000 on the clock and just 4K........try finding something similar age, mileage and cost and it's not possible.......got offered an 02 Sharan, with 65k and an 05 with 93k on the clock ......
So with the 4,3, plus some savings looking to go for an 06-08 Upto 80k within 100 miles of Surrey.....just not in red, and prefer non silver
 Would you swerve,this - wotspur
And I've driven a van, but don't want to be driving a van, as I need more seats at the weekends and holidays
 Would you swerve,this - nice but dim
7k sounds a lot for a 10 year old motor (john), is that what they go for? Never bought a people carrier.

Nissan NV200 (although van like) look to have stow away 6 and 7th seats and a removable middle bench to give van like space but allowing to accommodate the family on day out.

A quick AT search shows a 10 plater for about that money.

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201703133230487


That said you hold the money.
Last edited by: VxFan on Fri 17 Mar 17 at 01:40
 Would you swerve,this - wotspur
Nice but dim, Nice find thank you very much, never seen one of those before, pretty ugly, but it would,do the job, I'll look into one , nearer to me than Sheffield , but for £500 wow
So thanks again
 Would you swerve,this - wotspur
Sorry I mis read it, 500,000 , little,bit,out,of my,budget, 500 not too bad though !! Teehee
 Would you swerve,this - nice but dim
LO. its was 7,495 yesterday!
 Would you swerve,this - Clk Sec
>> I reckon wotspur's right to be cautious of a low mileage vehicle.

The lower mileage cars have always served me better than those with a higher mileage. My current 15 year old shopping trolley still performs as it did when new, and it covers less than 3k miles annually.

 Would you swerve,this - legacylad
It's the luck of the draw. Years ago I bought a high mileage Mazda 626 2.0 petrol for £950, and the 6 months I intended to keep it turned into several years, and I eventually sold it to a friend.
My current 2011 Focus diesel, bought last June and sourced by my experienced mechanic friend ( he is Workshop manager at a large Auto Engineers) now has 140k miles on the clock. Sailed through its MOT earlier this week, sweet as a nut, 60+ mpg. The interior is virtually showroom condition, and despite all I have said about its snail like acceleration ( compared to the 330) I'll be sad to see it go when I try to sell it later this month
Prior to getting a proper engine again...
 Would you swerve,this - mikeyb
>> It's the luck of the draw.

Very much - I've only ever bought 1 below average mileage, and that turned out to not be such a good buy - it wasn't awful, just not as reliable as others.

Current Lexus is sitting at just over 130K (30K by me) and in its time with me has had nothing other than new set of tyres and the prescribed servicing. Its not the most exciting car, but it has that feeling about it that it will just keep going forever. Still has 14 months Lexus warranty on it to so that should take it to around 150K. Pretty sure that after this one I'm not likely to go back to a diesel again
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