Buying a used car in Ireland guide

colm_mcm

Not particularly, they can have problems with ignition - misfires etc

Overall they're pretty bulletproof though.

They're pretty outdated though. They're a reskin of the early 90s model.

Flunch

Anyone had any dealings with the North Road motor company in Finglas? Are they reliable?

forevertwisted

Looking to to buy a 2004 Golf, 1.9TDI, Diesel, 115000 Miles. Dealer has the car marked at £4350(sterling), but automatically dropped it to £3850 when I enquired. Drives great, full service history and it on the surface looks to be in great condition. Although have heard from two different people experiences with this particular dealer selling cars that had been written off. So, will a vehicle check tell me if its been damaged in any way? Also, I was thinking of asking to take the car to my mechanic to get him to give it the once over too? Is this common enough?

Esel

^ Provided your mechanic is in the sterling area, shouldn't be a problem.

Gadget Man

Very useful, well done Limerick Man. Anyone know how to check if there is finance on a car?

jontr

I'm looking to buy a car (Volvo S40), but the one I'm considering had 6 owners so far. it's a 2005 car, so it's bit worrying. on paper it all looks good: timing belt done at 65k miles (now 105k miles on clock), no accidents, full specs, no DPF filter, so no worries with that, all electronics work fine, car bought in Ireland, so I'd say it was a company representative car - could that be a reason for so many previous owners? there's no service book with the car - should that be another warning sign?

is there anything particular I should be looking at when checking Volvo S40?

the car comes with 3 months of warranty (for engine and electronics) from dealer, so in theory if there's something wrong with it I should be able to find out pretty soon (I drive around 3k miles per month).

any advices on that?

link to the car: http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4156587

SRFC

Bit dear imo personally I wouldnt pay that for one maybe thats the market price but not for me know somebody who had one think the turbo went not known as the most reliable of cars from what Ive heard but not had one personally so how true that is I dont know get a mechanic to look at it before ya buy it anyways dont take the dealers word for it.

Esel

^ The above post; rendered a bit more legible for jontr:

A bit dear, in my opinion. Personally, I wouldn't pay that for one. Maybe thats the market price, but not for me. I know somebody who had one - I think the turbo went. They are not known as the most reliable of cars, from what I've heard, but I have not had one personally. So, how true that is I don't know. Get a mechanic to look at it before you buy it anyway. Don't take the dealer's word for it.

Spiritual

Hi Folks. First post in motors.

I am looking at buying a 05 Golf 1.9 Diesel. Is 100K miles a lot on a Golf. The price is around my budget. Car looks good.

SRFC

Esel wrote: »

^ The above post; rendered a bit more legible for jontr:

A bit dear, in my opinion. Personally, I wouldn't pay that for one. Maybe thats the market price, but not for me. I know somebody who had one - I think the turbo went. They are not known as the most reliable of cars, from what I've heard, but I have not had one personally. So, how true that is I don't know. Get a mechanic to look at it before you buy it anyway. Don't take the dealer's word for it.

Esel

^ Not grammar, mate - it is called punctuation.

SRFC

What a sad individual you really are say it made your night doing that out:o now jog on an stay on topic please.

FairCity12

Did you buy it? Says sold now! :P

donal7

Hi,

I'm looking at getting either an 07 VW Passat or 07 VW Jetta 1.6 Petrol in the new year. Don't do hugh mileage by any means so petrol will do me fine.

Anything I should be looking out for or are they pretty reliable?

galway1985

So, considering I can't get an engine for my Astra [although I'm holding on in extreme hope over the next 2/3 weeks], I might have to actually buy a new car. I don't know whether I should spend the 3k to put a new engine in, if worst comes to worst? Alternatively, what sort of car could I buy? My current one is a 2005 1.4 petrol. I travel about 12,000 miles per year. I live a short distance from work. I like hatchback cars, and wouldn't drive a really small car like a Ka or Fiesta.

jontr

nope, didn't buy it. we've decided, that selling a car with 7 owners will be mission impossible, so we passed.

now looking for a avensis or A4. will be viewing two cars today with a mechanic, so we'll see..

Flunch

Could anyone recommend a mechanic around to come view a car with me in Leixlip? Thanks guys.

ViDuchie

Hi,

Looking for some advice.

Thinking of bringing an Audi A5 across the border. Budget circa 23K all in.

Is it worth the effort, perceived savings if any?

Thank,

V

ThunbergsAreGo

Looking for a second hand car

Price 5000 or lower, 5 Door, Low Mileage

Any reccomendations? Honda Jazz looks good

L-M

Can't go wrong with a Honda Jazz really. Just try and get as much bang for your buck.

Also, look for a Service History, this is more important that Low mileage.

If you buy a 7 year old car with, lets say, 20,000 miles on it, chances are it's been arsed around town it's whole life, probably in car parks and had a few dints and bangs.

Get the same 7 year old car with 70-80k miles on it with a service history you know it's been driven, and serviced accordingly.

Most low mileage cars are serviced with mileage intervals instead of time.

ThunbergsAreGo

Limerick man wrote: »

Can't go wrong with a Honda Jazz really. Just try and get as much bang for your buck.

Also, look for a Service History, this is more important that Low mileage.

If you buy a 7 year old car with, lets say, 20,000 miles on it, chances are it's been arsed around town it's whole life, probably in car parks and had a few dints and bangs.

Get the same 7 year old car with 70-80k miles on it with a service history you know it's been driven, and serviced accordingly.

Most low mileage cars are serviced with mileage intervals instead of time.

Thanks, Jazz was ideally what we would go for they are thin on the gorund though, think itll be alternative

Joshua J

Hey guys, the mother lokking for a small car, 3 door, low tax etc. found this one VW FOX. Did a revenue check and was registered new owner 20/10/12 and on motorcheck says UK import. Auto walk away?.

oregano

Joshua J wrote: »

Hey guys, the mother lokking for a small car, 3 door, low tax etc. found this one VW FOX. Did a revenue check and was registered new owner 20/10/12 and on motorcheck says UK import. Auto walk away?.

Tons of ex uk cars out there so that's no issue. The ad is up since October, did the vendor buy it to sell? He says trade in his ad, but surely even a muppet trader would whip out the l plates!

L-M

Wonder was the previous owner the BBC

Joshua J

oregano wrote: »

Tons of ex uk cars out there so that's no issue. The ad is up since October, did the vendor buy it to sell? He says trade in his ad, but surely even a muppet trader would whip out the l plates!

Yeah was thinking maybe a backyard dealer but would expect a better ad and as you say, the L plates outta the window. Anyway am based in Donegal so bit of a travel for a possible lemon (no pun intended lol). The old adige of seems to good to be true etc.....

myshirt

What do people think of this?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/316-316I/201234209709206/advert?channel=CARS

Seems in pristine condition, practically new.

Advert last updated 95days ago. I'm very surprised this car didn't move.

What does everyone think? Am I listening to Jim Corr too much, or would anyone else think this offer may not be true, or there is something up....

Then again, it's carzone, they are usually good to move on adverts that are bull.

Scubadevils

In the market for a car with a budget of about 5k, possibly stretch to 6k. Want something reasonably fun to drive and with enough room for a wife and kids :pac: Just had to give back my Audi A4 (availing of the half-way rule) so kinda want to keep to a car of decent quality if possible, prob asking a lot though with my budget. Anyway, been considering the RX8 as I like the look of them and seem to sell cheap enough - has anyone here got any experience of them? I read Mazda had to do a recall of cars around 2004-2006 due to some engine issues so I need to consider that while shopping about, especially considering thats the year range my budget falls into.

pilot1087

Hi All,

Looking for a bit of advice. I'm thinking of upgrading my 06 Almeira (63K on the clock). I'm looking at the Qashqai or focus. The Qashqai is 09 1.6 Diesel for around €16995 and the focus is a 2011 1.6 Diesel for €14975.

I've spoken to both dealers and obviously both are giving it the hard sell.

Price is an important factor for me, it'll be finance and minus my Almeira trade in. The Qashqai has 60K on the clock and the Focus has €30K.

The above figures seem to have me leaning towards the focus, but I do like the Qashqai. Any idea why there is such a difference in price considering the Focus is newer but less expensive? Does the Qashqai hold it's value better?

Thanks

MidlandsM

17k for an 09 quas is dear..........you should buy that elsewhere for 15k, and 14k in the early new year.

re; the focus.....well, its cheaper for a reason, them 1.6tdci engines are rubbish, they're not even a ford unit....i'd avoid.

pilot1087

MidlandsM wrote: »

17k for an 09 quas is dear..........you should buy that elsewhere for 15k, and 14k in the early new year.

re; the focus.....well, its cheaper for a reason, them 1.6tdci engines are rubbish, they're not even a ford unit....i'd avoid.

Thanks for the reply.

MidlandsM

pilot1087 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

no problem, and remember when buying any car from any dealer, don't mind the list price they give you for the new car or what they give you for your trade in, FOCUS on the cost to change from your own car to the new car ......this will give the real indication of the value of the deal you are getting.....

bluemoon_20

Hi. bought a car from a dealer. he said he filled out the necessary forms, gave me part C of the transfer of ownership, which i have on my windscreen to say i bought the car. he did not give me a copy of the tax book. im suspicious as the sale was made 2 weeks ago and he said he did not post it off till 8 days later. i think he is behaving rather strangely as it is an extremely straightforward thing to do-post a form off. he told me it was posted , yet he delayed so long it will most likely be delayed in the xmas post. (nightmare)in the meantime im in a sticky wicket as i cannot tax the car.
why would a dealer not post off a tax book or delay its posting?
hope someone can give me a little advice on this!

L-M

Did you check on Motortax.ie > Vehicle Transaction enquiry?

dgt

bluemoon_20 wrote: »

Hi. bought a car from a dealer. he said he filled out the necessary forms, gave me part C of the transfer of ownership, which i have on my windscreen to say i bought the car. he did not give me a copy of the tax book. im suspicious as the sale was made 2 weeks ago and he said he did not post it off till 8 days later. i think he is behaving rather strangely as it is an extremely straightforward thing to do-post a form off. he told me it was posted , yet he delayed so long it will most likely be delayed in the xmas post. (nightmare)in the meantime im in a sticky wicket as i cannot tax the car.
why would a dealer not post off a tax book or delay its posting?
hope someone can give me a little advice on this!

Brown book?

L-M

dgt wrote: »

Brown book?

No it a detachable piece at the end of actually transfer of ownership form not the logbook. On mobile so can't link. Used by Dealers

dgt

Limerick man wrote: »

No it a detachable piece at the end of actually transfer of ownership form not the logbook. On mobile so can't link. Used by Dealers

Was thinking the RF200 form myself...

bluemoon_20

Limerick man wrote: »

Did you check on Motortax.ie > Vehicle Transaction enquiry?

yes i did check.. no show....how long does it take to show up online?
im hoping that might be updated before its sent back to me , but not holding my breath!
so cheesed off as i did nothing wrong, all depends on whether a dealer prompt enough. he didnt do it online which delays things even more..

L-M

bluemoon_20 wrote: »

yes i did check.. no show....how long does it take to show up online?.

Not very long...

Willie_Power

Advice please, Looking at buying a 1.5 2004 Nissan Almera, anyone have good or bad experience of this car, its the 5 door version. Any advice or comments appreciated

MidlandsM

Willie_Power wrote: »

Advice please, Looking at buying a 1.5 2004 Nissan Almera, anyone have good or bad experience of this car, its the 5 door version. Any advice or comments appreciated

make sure the timing chain is not rattling in it, so try and start it from cold......ask the seller not to run the car before you go to view it.

then, do all the usual checks .....but (boring) a 2 b cheap motoring.

Willie_Power

Thanks for the advice Midlands, the chain was just changed on it according to the seller, any idea how many miles between chain changes?

As long as I get from A to B on time without it costing a fortune, I don't really care how boring it is to be honest

MidlandsM

good, ask the seller to see paperwork to back up his claim the chain was changed......to be honest, you could be lucky and never have to change the chain ever again.....

Gotdaforce

Hi everyone im new to all this... I just sold an audi a4 tdi imola red 2003 110k miles for €5000 which i think is a resonable price even tho most similar audis are priced at about 5500-6900. Im looking at an bmw 318ci 2004 65k miles (which seems to be very low for its age) its very clean but hes lookn for 7250 and dropped price to 6500 which i still find over priced or am i wrong?? Whats a resonable price for this car??

L-M

God no.

My cousin had an absolute mint, proper M spec with a FSH, all the bells and whilst, test tyres tax etc. And over a year ago he struggled to her just over 4k for it. It was a 03.

SRFC

Mad money for a 10 year old petrol car!



If it has good spec ie. leathers multifunction steering wheel ect then its worth about 5 to 5500 imo if even shop around hundreds of cars out there.

Gotdaforce

Thanks alot lads... I knew it was overpriced. Althought it has a really nice spec Like imola red m sport, multifuctional steering wheel bbs lm 19'' bi xenon but no leather. And mileage seems really low for an 2004....

SRFC

Gotdaforce wrote: »

Thanks alot lads... I knew it was overpriced. Althought it has a really nice spec Like imola red m sport, multifuctional steering wheel bbs lm 19'' bi xenon but no leather. And mileage seems really low for an 2004....

Could be clocked though run a check,no leather is a big haggling tool,


Get a mechanic to look at it if you decide to buy it,try even go out with cash what ever you think its worth say 5 or so and say here Ill give you the cash now or ill go elsewhere see if they take it.

Gotdaforce

SRFC wrote: »

Could be clocked though run a check,no leather is a big haggling tool,


Get a mechanic to look at it if you decide to buy it,try even go out with cash what ever you think its worth say 5 or so and say here Ill give you the cash now or ill go elsewhere see if they take it.

Was thinking that too... Where can i run a check i only know cartell.ie and i think you need to be a member for thst?!

L-M

If you type imola red into done deal there's a 2.2 with leather for 2k less and nearly the same mileage.

The replica Lms don't add 2 grand to the value of the car, although it does look nice.

Gotdaforce

Limerick man wrote: »

If you type imola red into done deal there's a 2.2 with leather for 2k less and nearly the same mileage.

The replica Lms don't add 2 grand to the value of the car, although it does look nice.

The one for 5800 with sligo reg?? True the bbs are cheap reps which ye can buy new for less than 800. Im goin to see the car tomorow and im goin to bring cash with me and ill see what he says:)