About To Buy V6 Auto

[craigm]

Hi,

 

As with all things I find this site, after making a decision to buy...... but as it's before we do the final handover, there's just time to ask for input.

 

I'm planning to buy an 02 V6 Auto from Gates of Stortford. 11000 miles, one owner- HPI (done by gates) shows last keeper change as mid March - so I guess it was traded in 3 months ago. Price 16,499 but got tax, petrol, 2 tyres, mats, flaps (fitted) roof rack, diamond wax & service if needed (June 02 registered so it's over a year and should have had one). Oh, the silver surround around (?) the auto shift was cracked - they'll replace that as well. The rest of the car looks very tidy, no paintchips on nose, v. minor scuffing on rear tread plate and one alloy.

 

(On the price, Parkers and that other book say 15 to 15.5 for 02 V6 Auto - so with the bits I think I'm in the right ballpark - plus I had to drive over from Suffolk as V6 autos seem fairly rare in East Anglia. Driving 70 miles eachway I think scores -1 in the negotiation stakes.)

 

The sales person was very reassuring - (are they ever other?). She said full check will be done of everything before car is ready for pick up in case I missed anything. "Don't worry :(" Hopefully the warranty and sales of goods will protect me against buying the one that was traded in because the previous owner got so tired of it. (She did check Gates' service records but had no record of the car. The reg is AE02ULC, but I assume there's no way of finding any unusual service records without talking to the previous owner - which I can't find out until after I've got the reg document - even if I can see it before Gates send it off to the DVLA to notify them. I assume when it comes back to me it would show Gates as the previous owner.)

 

I plan to check as much as possible - but anything specific to go for?

 

Reading the Ford site (this is my first Ford - ok, I have a Volvo 850 so I have been assimilated), the warranty looks ok for 3 years - which leaves me with just under 2 assuming the paperwork is ok.

 

In trepidation ( I love spending this much money :( )

 

Craig

[Ivor_E_Tower]

If you can find the right phone number, someone at Ford's warranty centre should be able to tell you if there was any warranty work done on the vehicle.

Other than that, could phone the supplying dealer if it wasn't Gates to see if they have any info.

Then, just check everything works before paying your money - all electric items especially (eg windows, fan on all speeds, lights, horn etc).

Good luck!

[craigm]

Ta, nice lady at Ford Warranty said no Warranty repair recorded for the VIN.

[HJT]

Before you finally accept delivery, ask the salesperson to confirm that the car hasn't been in an accident and repaired. Also take the her name so if you find out that it has you can claim against the garage.

Other than that, take your time and inspect the car thoroughly, don't rush or be rushed. Anything you aren't happy about then don't accept the car until it's sorted.

If you're trading in a car don't forget to keep the section of the V5 that you keep and send it off to the DVLA immediately. I forgot when I got my Galaxy and ended up witha ticket for driving in a bus lane 1 month after I got rid of the car! Had to then prove I didn't own the car.

 

Howard

[craigm]

So, I went ahead and bought the car. Great fun, kids love it, - just some niggles exacerbated by being 70 miles from dealer - but great sales person makes them tolerable.

 

Problems -

 

- oil overfilled by at least 1-2cm above max, only discovered today after 100 miles which included some hi revving - so that's one to write down in case of future cat problems and minimal strain until I get it back to the dealer for correction. I took the 'levels checked' at face value. Sorry.

 

- Locking alloys key thingie was not in the car, and as I picked it up after 5pm the service area was locked which was where the key was assumed to be. However, it couldn't be found so that's a trip back to get new locking nuts fitted (I assume the old ones will be removed somehow.) (And hoping no puncture before then.)

 

- new tyres were not fitted as the wrong sort had been delivered, but without prompting the sales lady offered petrol compensation and the next service FOC as I would have to return for the new tyres to be fitted.

 

- retaining clips on battery cover were missing and black foamy insert above it missing as well - promise of replacements with alloy key - so I guess I'll pick them up when I get the other bits sorted out instead

 

and I picked up a chip and crack in the windscreen on the way home after purchase...so that's

[HJT]

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Galaxy :) . Overfill seems to be quite common problem. Mine was about half a cm over the mark but I can live with that this time but will mention it next service.

 

Howard

[Ivor_E_Tower]

..and I picked up a chip and small crack on the windscreen within half an hour of picking my second-hand Gal up too.