buying a 2nd hand car

[p cooper]

after the discussion when my old corsa was totalled, Im looking at a replacement. As far as haggling is concerned whats the usual markup these guys start at.?

Ive also seen the old car - it looks like the impact was in the rear part of the passengers door. The whole passengers doors side has been pushed in about a foot. The gap that existed between the drivers and passengers seat doesnt exist any more and the floor in the rear passenger space is buckled. Still no useful pointers to guessing impact speed from the other guy ? As soon as adolescent teenager gets up & sorts his camera out I can upload some pictures smewhere.

[:::Jerry::::]

That sort of damage can be done with a speed less than 30mph, the side of a car is not that strong (compared to the front and rear), the damage that you describe sounds like it's reparable if the cars market value made repair economic - what I would really like to know is what the door gaps [1] are like on the other side, this will tell far more about the structure of the car, rather than what the bent bits look like [2].

[1] the gap between front wing and the gap between the door / rear quarter panel. [2] panel work is designed to bend in an accident, the damage often looks worse than it really is.

[Peter Andrews]

And, as I understand it, if it was entirely the other persons fault you are entitled to have your car repaired even if the cost of the repair exceeds it's value. Which can be a useful bargaining position when negotiating the write off value.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

No. This would be patently ridiculous.

You certainly shouldn't accept the first offer, as this will be based on the lowest trade price. And if an older car, the condition makes a big difference, so one much better than average will be worth more. Some evidence - like adverts from Auto Trader etc - might help and show you mean business on rejecting their first offer.

[Jimmy]

I wonder. I'm amazed at how used car prices have inflated over the past 15 years. I remember that in 1995, you could easily find 10-year old cars with less than 90,000 miles for about £300. Nowadays you are hard-preesed to find them for less than £1500. What is going on? After all, new cars haven't gone up 500% over the past 15 years, have they?

J

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Dunno where you've been looking - high street garage perhaps? The auctions are awash with bargain price 'recent' cars.

[sPONiX]

On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 12:56:39 GMT, "Peter Andrews" wrote: at a

Nope. The MAXIMUM amount you are entitled to is the "Current market value" (Which the insurance company decide) plus expenses.

If the repair costs are anywhere near the market value the insurance company will make you an offer for writing off the vehicle.

sPoNiX

[Dave Plowman (News)]

As I said, the insurance company may *try* and decide the value, but you're under no obligation to accept it. Most will increase their offer if you argue - preferably with evidence to back up your claim.

[:::Jerry::::]

No you are not, you may take salvage (and who is at fault doesn't matter) but the settlement will be market value minus salvage value.

[Owain]

"Jimmy" wrote | I wonder. I'm amazed at how used car prices have inflated over | the past 15 years. I remember that in 1995, you could easily | find 10-year old cars with less than 90,000 miles for about £300. | Nowadays you are hard-preesed to find them for less than £1500. | What is going on?

Increased costs for small garages, especially insurance and waste/scrap disposal.

Owain

[robert]

I agree. I received an offer from a company and rejected it and sent cuttings from local paper showing that similar cars in my area were valued higher. They made an increased offer which I accepted. Moral is, if you don't ask you don't get.

[Jimmy]

I dare say, but would you buy a car from an auction? I only ever did it once. Never again will I buy a car without being able to drive and test before I buy.

J

[jacob]

Car buying advice here:

at your comments re prices - I think 2nd prices are lower than they've ever been in real terms taking inflation into account. People are even giving away old bangers with a bit of MOT left - my daughter has been driving a free VW golf for 2 years - it got a 2nd MOT but has just failed so is now scrap. I was given a Saab 99 with 10 months MOT a few years ago - scruffy but quite driveable for 2 years.

1500 quid nowadays will get you a pretty good car with 4 years or more life left. Or 500 quid for petrol engined. And they are better quality then they ever were - a deisel can do 250000 miles and still be OK.

Jacob

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Yes - I've bought several. It can be risky, of course, but some auctions are much better than others. Some of the rougher ones seem to specialise in selling worn out mini-cabs to unsuspecting punters. The trick is to know what you're looking for.

Well, you pay dearly for this. Most secondhand dealers source their cars from auctions and put them straight on the forecourt with nothing more than a clean. And a large markup.

[raden]

In message , Jimmy writes

You are joking, aren't you

2nd hand prices are rock bottom ATM

[Jimmy]

I'm sure it depends a lot on the auction, as you said. Last time I went to our local one it struck me as a bit of a joke people (including me, I confess) were paying about the same prices as they would have from private newspaper ads, but without the opportunity to try first. Yes, there certainly is risk involved. I never was much of a gambler.

Interesting point, assuming that;s correct. But of course, they are in a better position to get things fixed cheaply if an auction asquisition turns out to have a najor problem, I suspect. Or perhaps they just shove it back in the same auction and let the next sucker deal with it.

J

[IMM]

Most auctions, you can return the car within hours and get your money back. A pro will know if a car is fine by looking under the bonnet, a walk around and driving it.

[:::Jerry::::]

I beg to differ, as one who has had to put right cars that traders has done the above on...

[The Natural Philosopher]

# Actually I think tis is completely wrong.

You can still geta heap of junk suvb 400 quid, but cars last longer, and a 90000 mile ten year old is acvtually a very decent and useable animal.

Which in the case of e.g. a morris oxford of my era, it would never have been.

[Huge]

Me too. Used cars are *way* cheap. Auto Trader is chocker with what appear to be perfectly good sub-£500 cars.

This is worth reading, too;