Am I being too picky?

[neilneil2000]

Hi, I'm looking to buy a 172 as a track car and have recently been to see one but walked away. I wondered what your opinions would be:

W reg
73k miles
£2500 at a dealer

12 month MOT
12 month warranty
No tax

Bodywork looks good as does boot floor under carpet and no sign of any damp inside

BUT there are several things wrong which they've said they will put right before I take delivery:
Speedo doesn't work (at all)
No radio (obv don't need one as a track car!)
Rear brake sticking
Gear gaiter very loose and I had trouble getting it into 1st (maybe my fat handedness?)
Airbag light on
Serv light on

There are a few aftermarket bits and bobs on it:
Air filter - which I will remove
Rear Light clusters
Looks like different (Renault) Wheels

Another thing is that the front bumper looks non standard, or maybe has pieces added. However, this means I can't see where the headlight washers would normally be, but the lights themselves don't look like xenons. The car does have the half leather seats though so I'm pretty sure it's not a cup.

Any advice welcome!

 

[Christopher]

£2.5k for that?!

LOL. Walk away. It's worth £1,500 tops from what you've described!

 

[welshname]

Far too expensive for a W reg.

My opinion is save yourself some time and pay for membership on here. There are plenty of cars available on the for sale section.

 

[neilneil2000]

Far too expensive even when it's all fixed up you reckon yeah?

I live in Suffolk and it seems these cars are a bit slim pickings round here!

 

[Adam.]

Far too expensive for a W reg.

My opinion is save yourself some time and pay for membership on here. There are plenty of cars available on the for sale section.

You can view cars on here without a membership iirc.

W reg won't have headlight washers either I don't think.

 

[LiamR172]

Yeah i would avoid that at that price!

Are you not able to travel to pick up a decent car elsewhere?

As the serv and airbag light are on, it maybe a cup with non cup seats? altough im not sure if cups were on a W reg? was it a ph1 or 2?

 

[neilneil2000]

Phase 1 and the V5 doesn't have the word cup on it (I would expect it would maybe?)

 

[Daz_RT_04]

It wont be a cup, Ph1's arnt cups.

Have a look in the for sale section on here. Theres some tidy, reasonably priced motors to be found.

 

[ch!ppen]

W reg means it's a Ph1, never made a Cup in a Ph1. That's stupid money anyway for what sounds like a poor condition car. I agree with someone above who said £1500 tops.

 

[welshname]

For 1500 you'd expect a decent one. If it's at a dealers I'd assume it's not been to a specialist for the belts.

 

[Willliams]

As Daz has said above.. ph1's were not Cups. One spec only, except for the limited run Exclusive (Met. Green) Cups didnt come out until a 52 plate and so, in the later ph2 172.

Ph1's didnt have xenon lights either, so dont have headlight washers.

 

[pastieman]

For £2.5 you can pick up a decent ph2 172

 

[Jay.S]

Become a member there is a nice Ph1 for sale on here for £1500.

It's not mine I'm not spamming.

 

[Duffman_172]

Sounds like one to avoid to me, picked mine up for £1,600 with 76k and NOTHING wrong and it's a 2003. Can get a much better and cleaner car for that money!!

 

[imprezaworks]

Far too dear mate, keep an eye out on here would be your best bet.

 

[Stig182]

2.5k is 182 money!

http://pistonheads.com/sales/3734313.htm

 

[MartinR]

2.5k is 182 money!

http://pistonheads.com/sales/3734313.htm

^^ poor examples for 2.5k

1.5k for a decent ph1 172
2.5k for a decent ph2 172
3k for a decent 182

 

[rbrocky]

There is no way i would pay over 1.5k for a ph1. From my experience, 1.5k can get you the most MINT ph1.
most good ones that may need a touch of work you can pick up for around 1k.

As said check the FS section or pistonheads.

 

[bennno2005]

2.5k is 182 money!

http://pistonheads.com/sales/3734313.htm

CAT C that one but looks like it could be good for a track car so would suit OP! You'd make a fair bit of cash when you strip it out!

 

[neilneil2000]

Thanks to everyone for your help. Some interesting differences of opinion on price! I have had a good look through the For Sale section, living in the middle of nowhere isn't that useful for car buying apparently! Obviously I can travel, but some of the cars are 8+ hours round trip away, that's a bit of a trek! If there is anyone near Ipswich that would be prepared to show me round their (not for sale) car to show me what a good one looks like that would be great

 

[rbrocky]

EDIT: I didnt realise you wanted it for a track car - in that case you can pick a ph1 up for £800 tops then spend the rest on a decent cage and coilies and your away!!!

 

[IceBerg182]

1.5k for a decent ph1 172
2.5k for a decent ph2 172
3k for a decent 182

From what I have seen these prices are about spot on what you should be paying.

You can't just go out and buy any old 1*2 that looks alright because it will be absolute shat.

This is because there are certain parts that break on every single one of these cars that individually cost £100-£500 here and there to put right.

Any old 1*2, from any old garage will have any number of these things wrong with it (worst being cambelt not changed £500/600).

If you buy the right car now you will have a real pleasure from it.

As everyone who has responded to this thread has told you, it's far easier and cheaper to buy one from someone whos put the right oil in, changed the right parts at the right times during its life etc etc.

£12 for the membership here is some of the best money ive spent during my short time owning a 1*2.

Good luck with finding a nice one mate.

 

[IceBerg182]

Thanks to everyone for your help. Some interesting differences of opinion on price! I have had a good look through the For Sale section, living in the middle of nowhere isn't that useful for car buying apparently! Obviously I can travel, but some of the cars are 8+ hours round trip away, that's a bit of a trek! If there is anyone near Ipswich that would be prepared to show me round their (not for sale) car to show me what a good one looks like that would be great

I'm in Norfolk on holiday all easter week if your not too urgent. Your more than welcome to give my 182 a good blast round the lanes.