Buying a (2nd) Car Privately. Sorted

Alan Clogwyn said:
Yes, and a former MX5 owner and forum member. (not mk3 though I have worked on one) It's compiled from hearsay, urban myths and plain engineering fallacy. Some of it may be true (like the reclining seats having nowhere to go!), but there's so much tosh in there I'd disregard anything technical. For example...

"6-speed box of 2009 upgrade can transmit 'chattering' noises to the cabin due to a lighter flywheel having been fitted to make the car more responsive. There is a modification to new boxes which improves but does not cure the problem."

Pure bull. If a flywheel is making noise, then you have a very serious and expensive problem very close at hand!
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But it doesn't say the flywheel is making the noise, but the gearbox is.
 
He's not owned one but is a member on the forum where people have.

People tend to go onto forums and post about issues, not many regularly post about how great the car is, hence the car has known issues... but usually it's a small fraction of the ownership.

I had a Mk1 Eunos, 7 years old when imported and I had it for nearly 10 years. never touched it other than the odd service and consumables. I changed out the rear exhaust in the last year. Current MX-5 hasn't been touched apart from going to the dealer for it's service interval, so reliable and we've done almost 50K miles in it over 5 years. Second car so sometimes it just gets left for a week, or just a single local journey. Never fails.

Part of the reason I bought a Mazda 6
 
DorsetDude said:
Yes this is the one I viewed. Is the hardtop worth £500 extra on an 8 yo car is the question? If I could get them to £6k I think Id go for it. Still £500 over the odds compared to a soft top of similar vintage and spec I think , but with the hard top, low mileage, the good s/history and liking the colour and the condition, worth it I think.

Cheers
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Offer them £5.5k and see what they say. They might say £6k, then you could offer to meet them half way at £5750
I don't see the point in offering them over the odds, as you will find another.
 
Mrs Nod's was completely reliable until we were going up to see its replacement! Broke down on the M4 and had to be AAd to the services where it started behaving itself again... Carried on to the dealership with no problems, told them about the problem and set off home. Same again - ground to a halt! This time, it wouldn't restart so we got trucked home. Turned out to be a sensor (camshaft position IIRC) so changed that and for the next few days (until we did the swap) appeared to be cured. The actual job took about 2 minutes (if that) but had to order the part and collect which took 2 days! Y plate series 2.5 1800.
 
Never pay the asking price on a used car privately.
I've only ever bought used and private and have always paid at least £500 less than they asked for.

My last car I bought in October I paid via bank transfer in thier house, she sat there on her,online banking until the money showed up. Usually I pay with cash though.

Don't forget you'll also need to tax it before you drive it away
 
Well I rang last night for a wee chat but before I could get started - "Its sold"

So flabbergasted I never thought to ask if she would say how much she got for it.

Doh!
 
DorsetDude said:
Well I rang last night for a wee chat but before I could get started - "Its sold"

So flabbergasted I never thought to ask if she would say how much she got for it.

Doh!
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Hell mend you for mucking about on here for half the week instead of buying it:rolleyes:
 
We too have been looking for a Hard-top MX5 since the end of last year................ albeit the much rarer Automatic version:(

- as typically of the 1,000 MX5's on sale at any one time, 10 % are Coupes (2-3% Auto's), factor in Private sales, price and distance and you could be chasing one of only half a dozen cars and as said above now the weather has improved prices will firm.

For us, we found that we are looking at Dealership cars and because of the "rarity" factor asking prices have been well over and above what the pricing guides indicate is a reasonable price, which in turn percolates down to what Private sellers are asking. Unfortunately there is always someone with more disposable income who is prepared to pay the inflated (Imho) asking prices. :)

Did you see the one advertised on Autotrader - 2007/57 Reg 1 owner 24k miles £5,995 - Metallic Grey - looks to be in the Bristol area?
Although may not be the right specification for you.
 
lostsoulal2 said:
Did you see the one advertised on Autotrader - 2007/57 Reg 1 owner 24k miles £5,995 - Metallic Grey - looks to be in the Bristol area?
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Thanks, I probably missed it and its a bit far really and I'm not keen on grey! Fussy bu99er. I think I'll probably give up on trying to get one now. Im not paying over the odds for one. Few £100 yes, £1000, no.
I'll nip off and see if I can find the bristol one now.
It is a good price for the age and mileage I must admit and only the one owner too.
 
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Shame you missed the other one, perhaps it wasn't meant to be :).
Have you tried speaking with local dealers to see if they've got anything - there might be trade ins present / due in ? No harm in asking and you never know ...
 
If they are rare, dealer price and private price are selling at that price, how then is it inflated or overpriced? That's free market forces, the rare cars will always attract a higher price.

Not sure what you mean by Coupe? Do you mean the one with the folding hardtop?

There's 30 Auto's on Autocar, not sure what your price range is but they do tend to keep their prices well, because they are quite simply the best, affordable, all round two seater sports car.
A 4-5 year old one will be around half it's original purchase price of £25k, so in the £10-12.5k range depending on condition and mileage. Most MX-5's tend to have a lower mileage than normal as they are second cars, so that affects price also.

tried some of the MX-5 specialists? Prestige? http://pvctrading.co.uk/wp/
 
Keith, may I also suggest that your comments on this thread and others would indicate you don't necessarily have a 'natural affinity' about a whether a car is good/bad, and/or worth it. That isn't meant to be insulting btw, but anyone that did have that ability and experience probably wouldn't be too worried about buying privately, about getting it checked by a mechanic, etc, they would simply do a quick HPI and make an appropriate offer.

So as I see it you have 2 options, either be prepared for the fact you may well get 'gazumped' whilst doing those things that will help you have confidence in the purchase and grin and bear it, in the search for your perfect car at a price you are willing to pay or, pay a little over the odds, wait for a dealer to have what you want and know you have far greater legal redress should the car turn back into a pumpkin after midnight.
 
Byker28i said:
If they are rare, dealer price and private price are selling at that price, how then is it inflated or overpriced? That's free market forces, the rare cars will always attract a higher price.

Not sure what you mean by Coupe? Do you mean the one with the folding hardtop?
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I concur on 'free market' pricing, but some of the cars that were on sale last November/December are still for sale at the same asking price, unfortunately they are either in the wrong colour or when we have inspected them there is too much wear / paint damage - the frontal area seems to be very prone to stone chipping - soft paint or being driven too close to the car in front?

Yes, Coupe is the body type used by Autotrader to differentiate between the convertible and the folding hardtop version.
Mazda call this version "The Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe"
 
Yv said:
your comments on this thread and others would indicate you don't necessarily have a 'natural affinity' about a whether a car is good/bad, and/or worth it
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Definitely. Although I did "feel" the blue one was straight, what with the service history records. Just price I wasnt sure about. With hindsight I might have offered 5900 and come up to 6100 and hoped that would have been enough. Hey ho.
 
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Full service history and a recent MOT would be enough for me to know it was half decent mechanically. A cursory glance and a test drive would tell me everything else I need to know.. I learnt the hard way. If you fanny about, you'll loose the car.
Ive only ever bought one dud car out of about 10, and even that was only a cheap fix, but I just over looked it. I did knock £1100 off the asking price though, so can't complain really. I fixed it, kept it for a year and sold it on for more than I paid.
 
I'm not sure about newer MX-5's but I had a mark 1 Eunos Roadster 15 years ago and the spec was better than the UK version. Rear spoiler, chrome kick plates, chrome speaker surrounds on the doors and bloody good Sony CD player with a mini disk player.
I also upgraded the speakers in door which was an easy job to as well.
The only problem I had was that the power streering belt broke and the AA blokey quickly sorted that out.
Could be worth comparing the spec of the imported version against the UK one, just a thought.
 
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More thinking out loud...
Found a soft top 59 reg today, 56000 on it and 1 owner. Options pack whatever that is.
Price £6500 which I think is a steal for the year
Got there and first thing I saw was near side arch scratched badly. Not dented I don't think but ideally need re spraying. Also surprised no air con or climate control.
Without those things I'd have offered 6200 I think but now not so sure. Without knowing how much a wing spray might cost I can't really factor that in. And no air con. Oh dear. Shame as a nice car otherwise I think
Cheers all
 
DorsetDude said:
More thinking out loud...
Found a soft top 59 reg today, 56000 on it and 1 owner. Options pack whatever that is.
Price £6500 which I think is a steal for the year
Got there and first thing I saw was near side arch scratched badly. Not dented I don't think but ideally need re spraying. Also surprised no air con or climate control.
Without those things I'd have offered 6200 I think but now not so sure. Without knowing how much a wing spray might cost I can't really factor that in. And no air con. Oh dear. Shame as a nice car otherwise I think
Cheers all
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If it's hot enough to need air con, you'd have the roof down.
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
If it's hot enough to need air con, you'd have the roof down.
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that - these are meant to be driven top down (I drove ours top down all the time unless it was p***ing down even in the winter) , climate control is for wusses.

I'm actually thinking of getting another one, but mine will be in the £750-£1000 mark and my intention is to eventually bin the body shell and put a MEV kit car on it (the one that resembles the Caterham). so i'm in the very different market to keith and my expectations are a lot lower.

In the price range i'm looking at if its got an MOT and it seems alright on the test drive (and comes up as HPI clear and not stolen) I shall buy it without further ado - I'd be a bit more cautious if i was putting out 6k but not by much MOT, sevice history, drives nicely, seems to be in good nick, HPI clear ... bought and driven away no messing ( I wouldnt even worry about scratches - its going to get more than that once ive thrown it arround a bit anyway)
 
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Another bump and question.

If buying privately, how do I sort out the car tax before I drive away? direct.gov.uk not much help and my google fu a bit poor.

Does anyone know?

Thanks
 
Either do the tax online if the reference number on the V5 (?) is 12 digits long or in person at a Post Office as long as it's in office hours.
 
Cheers Nod.

Another query.. What's the safest/best/easiest way to pay the private seller? Subject to an mot and quick once over by same garage tomorrow I'm ready to lash out on one I found. Thanks all.
 
Whatever means both parties agree on! Easiest is probably a cheque but they might want it to clear before you leave with the car. Depending on the amount, cash could be an option but can be awkward with regard to money laundering laws.

Enjoy the car - we did ours!
 
Aircon? The only thing you need is a decent heater when youve got the roof down!
 
DorsetDude said:
Cheers Nod.

Another query.. What's the safest/best/easiest way to pay the private seller? Subject to an mot and quick once over by same garage tomorrow I'm ready to lash out on one I found. Thanks all.
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bankers draft - if they'll accept one , otherwise go with them to a branch and make a bank transfer , or do it electronically from your phone after inspecting the car

theres no way they'll accept a cheque or paypal if they've got any sense

that said all the cars I've bought privately I've paid cash - but they were all in the sub 1k category
 
Panicking now a tad. New mot on today and inspection all ok. I tried to pay by BT but because it was such a large amount I had to confirm via a text message. Did that and then got a message saying funds will clear in one working day. Meanwhile seller still has the car as no money in his account yet. I'm now worried that it'll clear tomorrow and I'll go to collect the car and he'll be long gone or something. Trying to ring Barclays, waste of time been on hold for half an hour already.
Gulp.
 
When we bought ours we arranged a bank transfer but it had to be done in a certain 30 min period. Didn't have any issues though
 
it should be fine ,most people are relatively honest, and even those that arent , arent that likely to uproot their whole lives for the sake of 6 grand -
 
Money still in my account this morning. Waiting game now.
 
Job done. Money transferred about 12. Text arrived from seller 'car's yours!' Been for a spin and its now sat in drive. Would put a pic up but iCloud lost it somehow.
Cheers all for the input.
Here's a pic off auto trader of it
View attachment 36809

Needs 4 new tyres, could do with a 2 for 1 deal!
 
DorsetDude said:
Job done. Money transferred about 12. Text arrived from seller 'car's yours!' Been for a spin and its now sat in drive. Would put a pic up but iCloud lost it somehow.
Cheers all for the input.
Here's a pic off auto trader of it
View attachment 36809

Needs 4 new tyres, could do with a 2 for 1 deal!
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Is it an off roader? It seems to be sitting very high on it's suspension.
 
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