After spending all day today going from dealer to dealer, I found two cars

Noccy_Mondy

Bear in mind as well that if you did buy it some (not sure if all) insurance companies will refuse to insure it because of the fact it was a Cat C write off. Same problem myself, and whatever companies I rang wouldn't insure me for that reason.

toyotaavensis

Also if you do get insured and it is written off again you will get very little for it as it has already been written off.

OP does it definitely have to be a mini or a golf?

If you are buying second hand look for something like
http://www.jerryoconnorcars.com/view_details.php?carID=86
maybe.
I have never bought a car from the lad but he sorted out a little bit of gearbox trouble I had recently and advertises his cars with a 12 month warranty which would give you some peace of mind.

Danger781

Thanks for the advice lads. No, it doesn't need to be a MINI or a Golf but they'd be my top two choices definitely. I'd pretty much consider any hatchback whatsoever, but a Corolla, Focus, or Polo would probably be my next choice. Like I said, I'd consider anything.

I gave Motorcheck a ring and the woman I was speaking to on the phone said that the only thing she could see was damage to the front middle panel, and the back middle panel. It's almost as if someone rear ended the car, it went forward and hit something else. She also said it sounded like it was only increased to a cat C due to the year of the car. She did say the car passed a safety inspection in August of 2013 and was declared road legal and safe to drive, etc. This would correspond with the December import date. So my next step is to give Liberty a ring to see if they will insure me on it. I realise I'm probably wasting my time but no harm in checking anyway.

At this stage I'm almost tempted to buy a Bangernomics car for the mean time and spend the next few months looking for something perfect. Almost seems like the best solution at this stage, or at least until I get my test over and done with in about 2 months from now.

toyotaavensis

If it was hit at both ends then thats not a good thing.

toyotaavensis

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-3-nct-06-15/7208693
or
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/car/7188982

might be nice stop gap measures for you. The corolla would be easy to get rid of after a while.

Danger781

Thanks Toyota. I've always liked those Corollas so that's a possibility.

I rang Liberty out of curiosity and the gent on the phone told me there should be no problems as long as it has an Irish Plate and a current NCT. I know I'm probably making a terrible mistake by pursuing the car at all, but I'm going to pop over to the Mini specialist tomorrow and ask him if he would mind taking a look, or even to ask advice about it. If I can get it for about 50% value (~€2500) after clearing it with a specialist then am I still mad for pursuing it? I know re-selling it won't be easy, but other than that.

Noccy_Mondy

You really want it don't you!!

Is there any other mini similar to that one around?

Danger781

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

You really want it don't you!!

Is there any other mini similar to that one around?

I realise I seem very determined I just don't want to walk away unless I need to. Unless I'm screwing myself over. Especially if it could potentially be gotten for a fraction of the cost.

This one is much nicer but is in Meath. I'd really like not to travel that far.

Danger781

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/vw-golf-1-4-petrol-2950-last-price/7330228
VW Golf 1.4
NCT 10/14
Tax 07/14
€2950

Seems fairly lowly priced. I assume due to short dated NCT.

I also despise the colour...

toyotaavensis

I think that might be the golf with the 16v engine which likes giving trouble.

You sound set on the mini you have seen. If it is what you really want then go for it.
You have been warned however.

I doubt the seller will take the price down by 50%. Most likely he will wait for the next victim, who wont check it out.

Danger781

toyotaavensis wrote: »

I doubt the seller will take the price down by 50%. Most likely he will wait for the next victim, who wont check it out.

If that's the case I won't be going near it. If this Mini doesn't work out I'm probably going to buy a stopgap and then worry about a new car in a few months.

I feel like a broken record here, but the fact that it has an NCT, plus having a Mini specialist give it a good inspection - Is it a relatively safe buy in that case?

toyotaavensis

The NCT is not a guarantee by any means. It is a minimum standard the car must pass to be certified. Like the driving test it is a minimum standard - passing the test doesnt mean you are any good just that your not desperate.

Since you seem keen I think you should have a chat with the owner and tell him what you have learned. If he doubts you tell him ring motorcheck. Tell him you would only be interested in the car if the price was €x and that would be subject to a mechanics inspection.

But again I highlight that this is a car I would run from as it is potentially a disaster.

Moneymaker

Seriously. Listen to what you're being told.

Don't do it.

Bigus

Danger781 wrote: »

If that's the case I won't be going near it. If this Mini doesn't work out I'm probably going to buy a stopgap and then worry about a new car in a few months.

I feel like a broken record here, but the fact that it has an NCT, plus having a Mini specialist give it a good inspection - Is it a relatively safe buy in that case?

If it can be insured and gotten for serious discount I'd consider the mini still,

I was suspicious why it was for sale for so long (29 days when posted first)on donedeal, always a bad sign, but also a sign vendor is stuck with it

50% discount would be nice.

Noccy_Mondy

That car has been there a while, it's been re-advertised a few times I'd say, judging by the background them pics were taken before leaves came on the trees. At the end of the day it's your choice what you do.

Danger781

Hey guys, I don't know if ye're all sick of me at this stage or what, but I popped over to the Mini specialist today and I'm happy I did. I told him what I was looking at and he told me he would almost guarantee structural damage if it was a Cat C. He couldn't say for sure if it was best to walk away or not without seeing it first, but from the way he explained things I decided it was definitely in my best interest to not even bother pursuing it further (Where have I heard that before..). He even showed underneath the bumper on the front of a cooper and showed how much force would be required to do damage to it.

He has two cars for sale that are within my price range. Any car I buy from him will go through his garage to ensure it absolutely perfect before he hands the keys over to me, and it will come with a proper 6 month warranty.

2003 Red & Black (Cooper)
~160,000 miles but he said it has been really well maintained and feels like it only has 50k miles. Pretty sure he also said the gearbox has been recently changed and will still come with a 6 month warranty despite the miles / age.
€4250

2005 Electric Blue (Mini One)
Believe he said it has about 100k km on it. Can't remember anything else.
€5750

He said we can sit down and talk about a price that is fair for the both of us. This is really promising.

The blue one seems like a better buy but the colour just seems slightly girly. Now I haven't seen it in person just yet as I'm viewing it tomorrow so can't say that for sure.

bazz26

Electric Blue would be like this one:

Danger781

I know, but you know yourself it's different in person. I just remembered he also said it was the facelift model with the chilli pack. Or was it the red one.. Pretty sure it was the blue..

toyotaavensis

I suggest you say what the name of the garage is as others may have dealt with him previously.
Out of the two of those the 05 with lower milage for not much more money would seem like a better option

Danger781

toyotaavensis wrote: »

I suggest you say what the name of the garage is as others may have dealt with him previously.
Out of the two of those the 05 with lower milage for not much more money would seem like a better option

Definitely seems like the better option alright. Especially if it does have the Chilli pack. The mini specialist is well known. I've read and heard about people driving from counties all over Ireland just to come down to him. O'Leary is his second name.

toyotaavensis

I thought that was the lad your talking about. A friend of mine who has a mini swears by him. And he drives is an hour away from him.

Danger781

toyotaavensis wrote: »

I thought that was the lad your talking about. A friend of mine who has a mini swears by him. And he drives is an hour away from him.

He has people coming down from Dublin over the weekend to get him to have a look. Highly convenient for me as I'm almost around the corner.

toyotaavensis

This sounds like a much better option than what you were planning previously.
I am going to say one thing. The corolla and focus will be more reliable but since you seem set on the mini I think you should go for one.
Best of luck with it and post a few snaps here when you get it.

Danger781

This is her! Mr. O'Leary agreed to drop the price by €500 bringing it down to €5250. She'll be ready by Friday but I might potentially need to wait until middle of next week. Either way, excitement!

Noccy_Mondy

Well wear!! Best of luck with it.

Danger781

Thanks! Already have some plans for a few months down the line.. Hoping to end up with something similar to this without being as jazzy





As you can see, quite the difference. I plan on dechroming everything and replacing it with black borders, and then look into wrapping / plasti-dipping the white roof and wing mirrors. Alloys will either be chrome or black, haven't decided. Then as a final touch I'd like to look into getting the vent on the bonnet. All just plans for now of course.. Could easily completely change my mind in a few weeks!

Moneymaker

I'd just leave it as it is tbh.

New alloys maybe, but that's it.

You don't want to be in the 'Skangermobile' thread do you? :pac:

Danger781

Moneymaker wrote: »

I'd just leave it as it is tbh.

New alloys maybe, but that's it.

You don't want to be in the 'Skangermobile' thread do you? :pac:

Hah trust me any modifications will be minimal changes, unless I do plan on changing the roof to black.. That would be the biggest change

Danger781

I got bored Looks well, reckon I'll go with this. For some reason I really don't like the chrome! :P

MidlandsM

Good for you, now off you go and do a data check on it, just to be sure.....don't take his word for it, cover yourself.

Best of Luck