Anyone tried to buy a cheap car latley?

[DaiRees]

I think the best way to buy a car is to make it known to your friends / relatives that you're on the lookout and see what comes up (often at "trade in" prices), generally I prefer a car that I know the background of. Like the wife's Focus, that would have been ideal for you Sam, her cousin is kicking himself because he'd bought one just a few weeks earlier. Most of mine (I think all of them up to the last 2) came from friends or family so the history could be traced way back.

[Bailes1992]

If I knew that the KA was getting so bad then I would have had your Focus off you in a heartbeat!


Anyway, I seem to have bought a bit of a gem. It had a full engine rebuild April 2014, new front lower arms, new shocks and new wheel bearings.

[lozz]

sounds like you got a bargain. get some pics up

what engine is in it? TU/kfu 8valve/16valve?

[Bailes1992]

It's a 1.4 8v TU engine.





Seats need a bloody good wet vac, drivers seat could do with being replaced but other than that it's immaculate!

[Welly]

Gear knobage aside that looks very tidy, someone has obvs looked after it.

[Bailes1992]

Gear knobage aside that looks very tidy, someone has obvs looked after it.

That's the OEM gearknob.

[lozz]

It looks a smart little car,

drivers seat dont look to bad from the pic.

[Welly]

Gear knobage aside that looks very tidy, someone has obvs looked after it.

That's the OEM gearknob.

What? it doesn't really 'go' with anything else. Can't you get a leather one? that blue one must feel horrible and cold.

[Bailes1992]

Gear knobage aside that looks very tidy, someone has obvs looked after it.

That's the OEM gearknob.

What? it doesn't really 'go' with anything else. Can't you get a leather one? that blue one must feel horrible and cold.

It is horrible. Going to try get one from a C5 or something.

[steve_earwig]

Are there holes in the driver's seat or is it just filthy?

Blue knob does indeed look terrible, madly Citroen Service says there are 6 gear knobs in 3 groups (C3 II BE4R), black cornelie or dark silver grey leather/ blue, cristallo or ruby/ grey. Cornetto ones are about 18 quid, leather about 30 (grey has no price). Or you could try getting one off in the breaker's and risk giving yourself a black eye...

[Welly]

KNOB jokes available, apply within.

[Bailes1992]

Just had a good nose over the car and there's a few things wrong with it that I'm a bit dissapointed about. Unfortunatley the car was a trade sale at £1,200 as I got it down from £2,000.
The rocker cover gasket and the sump gasket are weeping.
The back box has a very slight blow.
And the clutch release bearing squeeks when it's cold.

Nothing major really. Less than £300 to put everything right including sticking it into a garage for a new clutch so I'm still quite happy.

[dirtydirtydiesel]

If I knew that the KA was getting so bad then I would have had your Focus off you in a heartbeat!


Anyway, I seem to have bought a bit of a gem. It had a full engine rebuild April 2014, new front lower arms, new shocks and new wheel bearings.

A full engine rebuild on a 06 car a year ago ( which is now showing 111k ) must have been looked after then & then they part chop it
must be a quality engine rebuild ,I do hope it wasn't the bloke that fitted the D.M.F in your old Mondy .

Reading further post's, i can see it was a quality rebuild ( rocker & sump gaskets weeping )

[lozz]

every TU powerd car ive had or seen as had an oil leak of some sort,
its pretty common with them,

To have to spend less than £300 on it isn't to bad idont think.
Imho cars that have 'small engines normaly live an hard life,

[Welly]

Bailes I would not do anything to the car until you've had it for several weeks and got to know it better, if there were other things you weren't happy about you have the option of moving it on and not be out of pocket. You've probably already polished extra money into it with the detailing etc so it should be easy enough to sell again.

I did this with a BMW 3 series once; it was a nice car on first impression and I knew the previous keeper (an accountant) but week by week I discovered small things I didn't like and after 3 months I sold it on (and made £50.00 ).