I'm Car Hunting......any Suggestions?

[mumof4]

OK....loathe as i am to admit it,and hate to do it as i love my gal....and i have thought about this hard and for the past couple of days,as a single parent i cannot afford the repayments on my Gal.So she will be going back to the finance company even though 4k will buy her outright.I cant afford that.He stopped paying for her 6 months ago and i only found out last week,so you can imagine whats going on right now.

 

So i am car hunting.I have a limited budget but i know what i like in a car..diesel is a must, smooth lines and not a box shaped nose.(yeah i know..cosmetic looks.)

 

Any suggestions?I have i would say about 4 weeks to find another car before im made to hand her back at the hearing.I very much doubt that i will be able to find another MKII for the budget i have.

 

I have been having a gander on ebay and autotrader..But if you see something that you think i might like, and it isnt a huge distance from me, give me a shout.

 

Thanks peeps.

 

Maz

[neiluk]

Very sorry to hear about all your troubles Mumof4 :-( . I will keep an eye out for you. Where in the East Midlands do you live? I've never been in a Mk2, but I find my Mk1 great and they are available for sensible prices now. Roughly how much were you thinking? Would you want a Private or the reasurance of a garrage warantee?

 

Happy hunting,

 

Neil.

[mumof4]

Im in Lincolnshire..(wasnt sure whereabouts i was)....most i can afford is

[mumof4]

OK..saw a silver vauxhall vectra 1.6 LS R reg 100k miles..haggled down from 795 to 750 with 5 months tax and it will have a yrs MOT..taking it for a test drive tomorrow.She is a very well looked after car, clean inside, only a couple of spots of surface rust..Alloy wheels..see how she goes tomorrow!

 

Anything in particular i should look out for??..cam belt was last done at 57k miles.

[Gteuk]

I would say get the cam belt done no matter what when buying a car just to be safe, if it has a years MOT check the advisory slip just so you know what needs doing in the future.

 

Check the front end chasis for any signs of welding, just in case it has been in a crash, saw a program last week where two identical cars were crashed one was OK-ish no harm would have come to the occupants the other would have sliced the legs off, that one had previously been in a crash and fixed.

 

PS my mondeo has gone, personally although reliable the cosmetics were not great, I tend to run cars into the ground and get another when they fail MOT. Although I just put 12 month ticket on it recently.

[mumof4]

Thanks for that tip...ill have a gander under the car tomorrow.

 

It is exactly the same as this one....Mine was born on the 15/08/1997

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-R-VAUXHALL-VECT...1QQcmdZViewItem

[neiluk]

You don't need a seven seater now then? I was thinking that was what you were after.

 

Are there any makes or models you hate that we could rule out?

 

Could you give us your postcode (or one close to you) so I can use your address as the center of my serches.

 

Thanks, Neil.

Edited May 20, 2007 by neiluk

[mumof4]

ive found a car neil..thank you sooooo very much hun...went out for a drive with the kids and spotted her in a garage..turned around and went and had a gander..Take her for a test drive tomoz but my minds made up..shes lovely.Will miss the gal soooo much.

[Biscuit]

OK..saw a silver vauxhall vectra 1.6 LS R reg 100k miles..haggled down from 795 to 750 with 5 months tax and it will have a yrs MOT..taking it for a test drive tomorrow.She is a very well looked after car, clean inside, only a couple of spots of surface rust..Alloy wheels..see how she goes tomorrow!

 

Anything in particular i should look out for??..cam belt was last done at 57k miles.

 

 

Hi Maz

if the vectra is diesel it should have a timing chain and not a belt therefore it should be ok

also check around the engine mounts to the chassis for corrosion, as when i had my old vectra (s reg) they broke and the engine dropped!!!

hope this helps

Biscuit

[mumof4]

its a petrol one....but i will add the engine mounts to my list..thanks garibaldi. ;)

[Davetheref]

Is it the Vectra you are getting now MO4 ?

[gregers]

glen looks like your going to have to open up the fooksall site again :2: ;)

[mumof4]

Yessss.....all being well will be getting the Vectra!.see how she rides tomoz.

[El Dingo]

OK..saw a silver vauxhall vectra 1.6 LS R reg 100k miles..haggled down from 795 to 750 with 5 months tax and it will have a yrs MOT..taking it for a test drive tomorrow.She is a very well looked after car, clean inside, only a couple of spots of surface rust..Alloy wheels..see how she goes tomorrow!

 

Anything in particular i should look out for??..cam belt was last done at 57k miles.

 

Sounds good - I'm sure you know what to look out for...

Steers straight - brakes straight - does the car have ABS (does it work?) - four good tyres (no cracks in the sidewalls) all radials, all the same size (you'd be amazed) - all the electrical gizmos (if any!) work - no major oil/fluid leaksw - no major smoke on the overrun (get one of the kids to look out the back window, while still strapped in of course) - good long test run - any unusual clunks (don't listen to 'they all do that') - structural rust - etc., etc.

Since scapping a car became a cost rather than an earner, there are more than enough bad cars on the road, so any kind of history is valuable. Without an MOT the car is essentially worthless. A dealer *must* give you a warranty (on paper, and not just a letter from him). Brake fluid changes are just as important than cam belt changes (IMHO). The crash check is excellent advice (pull up the carpets mid section to look for welds, also look for signs of re-spraying, such as overspray on plastic components, tyres, rubber seals, etc.). Also an HPI check would be nice, but at this value it's probably not worth it. Is it a hatchback? - Make sure the hatch seals are in good condition (exhaust fumes can enter this way).

 

:D

[big_kev]

She is a very well looked after , clean inside, only a couple of spots of surface rust..

 

This sounds like your type of car.

 

Take it you won't be wanting my old jalopy then ?

[mumof4]

Dont think i can afford yours kev, going on the guide prices as i had a gander :D .only have 1200 to spend.

[neiluk]

Mumof4, If we all chipped in a fiver or so I'm sure we could get you enough money for a Mk1 Galaxy.

 

You try to do enough for charities Mumof4. At the moment you youself seem to be a worthy and needy cause. If you told us your address or Paypal account E-mail I'm sure you would find the money would flood in. I would gladly send you

[mumof4]

Awww Neil, you give me way too much credit..all that i know i learnt from the other members on here past and presant...and i still dont know the half of it.

Thank you for you kind thoughts and generosity,But im an independant stubborn bugger and i cant ask this of anyone.I will get another Galaxy eventually.

All good things come to those who wait and i can wait.Having to let mine go is just another step on the path that i travel. :D

 

Thanks again for the kind thoughts.

 

Maz

[adrianf.]

[El Dingo]

And you won't *believe* what she charged Wolfie, Bigjeeze, Gregers, Matt and Matt Jr!

[mumof4]

Oh....My......God...!!!!....You lot are unbelievable!! :D :D :16:

[gregers]

AND SHE KEPT THE BLOODY CHANGE

[Guest wolfie]

I get the impression that this a done deal! dont just rush out and buy the first thing that you look at! there is always something else around the corner! dont rush in head first and then regret it later, take a couple of days to think about it and carry on the search, your not exactly rushed? you say you have a couple of weeks till they want the other one back? take your time and run up a load more miles in it before you hand it back :D it will lower the value at auction and possibly pass on a greater debt to the dick head who lost it :16:

[mumof4]

I get the impression that this a done deal! dont just rush out and buy the first thing that you look at! there is always something else around the corner! dont rush in head first and then regret it later, take a couple of days to think about it and carry on the search, your not exactly rushed? you say you have a couple of weeks till they want the other one back? take your time and run up a load more miles in it before you hand it back :16: it will lower the value at auction and possibly pass on a greater debt to the dick head who lost it :D

 

I will have the gal till the end of the month..and believe me..im gonna clock as many miles as i can in it...The dick head who lost it..is lucky he still has legs to walk with. :D

 

The vectra wasnt the first i looked at...spent most of last night looking at diff cars, on ebay..autotrader.....car auction sites.....

 

Today went to 4 sep places that sell cars before me and the kids saw the vectra...all depends on how she goes tomorrow..so it aint a done deal yet, untill ive driven her and checked her out.

[AndeeeH]

Hi Marian, sorry to hear of your predicament and I hope you get it sorted asap. :D I dont suppose the target of your anger got to hear of our clandestine meetings in pub car parks and around the back of garages did he? :D You didn't mention money at the time so I assumed I didn't have to pay!! :16: :D Andy.