Ok, heres the update!
I went to Manchester tonight and it was one of the worse things ive done in a long time! But not cos of the car, it was the storm. The M62 was ATTROCIOUS and we saw 2 cars written off while were on it. It was like driving on a skid pan and visibility was f**kin zero! First time i can remember being nervous when driving.
Anyway, FINALLY got there VERY late which isnt ideal as i wanted to see it in the daylight. Anyway, met him and we drove to a petrol station (he is a trader apparantly but it was like 9pm. besides, he said that he had brought the car home with him from the garage earlier - he probably owns a backstreet garage rather than a nice car-lot....). I checked the car as best as I could, asking questions. The leather trim was dark blue and very nice looking - little war that i could see. Pedals looked un-worn but not new (as I would expect of a 32,000 mile car) but the steering wheel was slightly worn in places. Gear knob looked relatively ok too. My girlfriend noticed some scratches near the boot-lock (presumeably from keys) and she saw a very small dent in the bonnet near the middle (said it looked like a small stone chip or summat). It sounded ok, but the Fan belt was squeaking (maybe just its approaching its 36,000 mile change-over? or maybe as its wet and slightly loose it makes that soft squeaking noise). Apart from that - the bodywork looked good and major electric stuff worked inside and all the VIN numbers were there. It had only 1 Service and that was at 10,000 miles at a renault dealer. the rest of the service things were blank - so NO fsh here....
I took it for a spin. It felt really nice and perky. The pedals were almost ...springy if you know what i mean? instead of the looseness you get with age. The clutch rode high though but the other 1.6 i tested the other week rode high too and my old 1.4 rt did too (is this common with renaults?).
I heard no rattling or weirdness, the engine seemed sharp and responsive too. The brakes were not brilliant but not bad at all (my old 1.4rts brakes were sh*te too despite pad and disc changes throughout its life!). I fell in love with the Leather too!
Ok so remember - this was all at NIGHT in the rain....a LOT can change in the cold light of day. Anyway, i ttok the VIN no. and Reg plate and then mentioned former keepers.....its had 2...hmmm. He said the V5 was at home and as he lived near his garage he would take me to his house and give me the former owners details from the V5 (all the way through he kept saying for me to get it HPId and an AA check before i buy if i want...which could have been bluff tactics?). Anyway, I go to his house (not the greatest upmarket abode i have ever seen...did nothing to allay my fears - though the missus seemed okay and he was quite a jolly fellow too - though bos-eyed?!). Ahemm... well i went in his kitchen. he had a folder full of car details...he mentioned all the cars he owned for the garage and i noticed V5 forms in the transaparant plastic sleeves. Anyway, he got the one i wanted and he had the V5 document and the small green retainer bit (blank) which he said was so he could tax it (which hed just done). I wrote down the former keepers and checked the MOT certificate (of March this year) then went on my way.
So guys.....I came hoem full of skeptical thoughts about HIM and the situation (meeting at night etc - which to be fair was MY fault) but good thoughts about the car.
I got home and did an HPI check which showed no problems on their database regarding anything. Though I forgot to get the MOT certificate number so i will update that later and check it (to see if its a stolen MOT i presume?). My fears about the car are allayed a little bit but after trying directory enquiries for the 2 former keepers I found that one is ex-directory and the other cant be found (so maybe the phone isn;t in his name or hes moved?). So no joy there for verifying the history. The guy I saw tonight said that he bought it as part of a lot from CD Bramall and the good stuff they stick in Autotrader etc - which this one was. WOuld CD Bramall have a record of it you think??
Now im left with a BIG dilemna!!! WHAT DO I DO?!
I loved the car but feel its risky (am i being TOO paranoid?). I have nobody to go with me who knows a lot about cars - except my dad whos an ex-mechanic but hes on holiday at the minute! I feel that I could go back Saturday to clinch the deal and end up paying the best part of £4000 for something dodgy!
Some of u experts tell me what to do!
Cheers,
Daz
