Which would you buy?

[Luke20]

Ok im not sure if im going against any forum rules here,if i am im sure a mod will let me know!

If you were saving to get a 172 and had about £2700 to spend which of these would you go for...just your gut instinct.

Ok in the red corner we have this....

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1209682.htm

A private seller(member on here maybe?)an hour or so drive from me and average mileage for the year.Not sure if its had the belts done but i have emailed and asked.Low price means id have a bit of money left over to do anything i want to do with it or go towards petrol for some B-road action.

Or in the blue corner....

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1383982.htm

Low mileage for the year,right at the top of my budget but in a dealers so id get a small warranty,its also a good few hours drive from me in blackpool.

So choose your weapon folks!

 

[calum001]

red corner has it for me, seems like a nice unabused example (on paper so to speak)

blue corner seems like it could have been owned by a local chav thats got a bit more cash now

just gut feeling

 

[Jamie]

You'll be able to tell alot from driving them so I'd start there.

 

[Austin-182]

second one looks shite, its low mileage but the interior luks like its done 100000 miles?

 

[Matt@Stealthsport]

Neither I'd wait for a black one as they look so much better.

 

[TimR26]

First one because it looks standard but I'd want to see more pictures before viewing. Second one has awful aftermarket wheels, and steering wheel looks worn as well.

 

[mat-nos]

that 1st one, standard car, mod it yourself so you know no corners have been cut.
dont like the zorst/wheels on the 2nd one.

or even better that manaco ph2 if you can get some coin off, keep it in the club.........

 

[Luke20]

Cheers folks,id get rid of the wheels on the second one but like you say,it does seem to suggest its been ragged.

Just got more info on the first one via email.How does this sound to everyone?

Thanks for your interest in the car. The belts have been changed, however this was done as a foreigner by a mechanic friend of mine as a result i do not have a garage receipt for this. This tends to put most people off the car but any inspection is more than welcome. The belts were done at 68k miles and the car is now just passed 79k, the car is VERY clean, has had all new discs and pads on all 4 corners, new rear shocks, new spark plugs and all fluids replaced. The interior is also in amazing condition, the steering wheel has virtually no decay on it, which is a very common issue on these cars.

The only modifications the car has got is a de-cat pipe with a silenced mid-rear performance exhaust (This also still passes the MOT). and has silver vision bulbs & clear side repeaters. It is Taxed until April 2010, and MOT'd until March 2010.

I have the car advertised for £2400 and wasnt open to offers, however my gf has been driving the car and a couple of days ago clipped the drivers side wing mirror on another car, the damage isnt immense, the glass has a hairline crack down it, and the colour coded shield is also cracked slightly. so i am willing to move to £2300 however apart from that drop of £100 the price is non negotiable.

I have attached a few more pictures of the car for you to look at im afraid i dont have any interior pictures on this computer as im at work, however should you require them i am more than happy to send you some once i am able to.

The only reason i am selling the car is because i have just started a new job and have to travel about x4 further than i did previously and am looking for something more economical (a diesel) and my gf has a sunflower 172 so i still get to drive one of these cars! So it is being sold for a genuine reason and is a genuine car. I have had alot of people phoning about the car but most have appeared to be timewasters as they havent turned up having made arrangements to. Or have called up only to make silly offers for the car over the phone.

 

[Jasey]

The guy sounds genuine - although I'd be wary of buying a car from someone who lets his girlfriend drive it .

1st one sounds they way to go !

 

[DannoTheGreat]

1st one, then if its not as good go see the second

 

[Luke20]

Cheers fellas,is there anyway of telling if the belts have been done?

 

[cat171]

I'd go see the first one first then go from there.

Both ad's aren't the greatest though.
Imo you'd easliy get the stealers one for 2.5k anyway if you asked them.
Going in person is better than dealing over email etc - just make sure that the car sounds worth seeing !

 

[jaysjetski]

in all fairness, the 172 is a car that no matter who has driven it, someone will have given it a good going(rant it!!!)

just ask about the service history. thats your answer. the more the better.

 

[TimR26]

Cheers fellas,is there anyway of telling if the belts have been done?

Ask if he's got a receipt for the aux and cam belts as he must of bought them. Apart from that sounds like it is a genuine car.

 

[Luke20]

Hes since sent interior photos and everything looks in good nick!Ive asked about the belt reciepts too now cheers.

 

[Paul.M]

where abouts in blackpool are you from fella?
the top one seems like it could be a nice genuine buy, whichever you go for you'll enjoy it though

 

[Luke20]

Up in thornton mate,near the estuary!Im just waiting on confirmation he has receipts for the belts he should have bought then ill go and see it.

 

[Chris205]

go up pretend your interested in the silver one then offer to buy the sunflower instead awesome colour

IIRC there was one for sale on here not so long ago with low'ish miles

 

[Paul.M]

Up in thornton mate,near the estuary!Im just waiting on confirmation he has receipts for the belts he should have bought then ill go and see it.

ahh nice one
im just off northumberland other side of amounderness way
when you get hold of one give us a shout will keep an eye out

 

[Rocky_24]

first one although really really check to see if the damage he said has just happend is not that bad, and if your worried about what he said about the cambelt, the money left over, just put it towards that, but the first one seems slightly better to me, private seller but he does seem to know what hes talking about, buts its easy to sound convincing with emails.

 

[Luke20]

Well i just got a reply from him,no reciept for the cambelt itself,not sure what to do now.

 

[m4rkie23]

from those 2 sales ads, the first.

 

[Revels]

Neither of them TBH.

There's plenty of Clio's about. Don't settle for one that you're not 100% sure on. The belts might have been done or he might be spinning you a line because he can't be arsed. Sounds genuine and are genuine are totally different things.

Keep your eyes peeled and you'll find one that fits all your criteria without having to compromise.

 

[Edd]

As said above, neither of those. Just take your time, something better will crop up.

I bought the below 2001 Yreg 172 just over a week ago. It was advertised for £2000, so there was a bit of movement on that. Its done 59k, fsh, new toyos all round, cambelt kit and auxbelt done 08/08, gear box oil changed earlier this year. It needed a good clean, a stereo and I had a full aux belt kit fitted this weekend. Still to do is a fog light, an arch liner and the wheels need a bit of attention.

But I am very happy with my purchase, should have it all sorted and will owe me around £2000, so I'd just keep looking mate.

 

[Luke20]

Cheers folks,

Ill keep hunting,theres another ive seen now so ill give the seller a call today.

 

[mat-nos]

yeah keep looking if your unsure.
people spend months looking for the right car, easy to get blind with the excitment of getting a new motor, keep your wits about you and always try to drive the car yourself.

 

[cat171]

Yep keep looking. No receipt for the belt etc lol. Yeah like it's been done, nonsense tbh.

I reckon you could get an exclusive for the money tbh, nice colour that.

 

[Luke20]

Well ive kept in touch with the seller of the first one and he seems to really know his stuff to be honest and has had a fair few 172s so im going to go and take a look at it.

Im thinking if its nice ill get it then in a month when i can afford to get the belts done and maybe a couple of other jobs ill take it to NW performance and get a full service done.

 

[cat171]

Well ive kept in touch with the seller of the first one and he seems to really know his stuff to be honest and has had a fair few 172s so im going to go and take a look at it.

Im thinking if its nice ill get it then in a month when i can afford to get the belts done and maybe a couple of other jobs ill take it to NW performance and get a full service done.

I'd be so wary !! If he's had a few & knows them then he should know that anyone clued up will ask about the belts etc, yet he has nothing to show for them being done :S Mickey Mouse if you ask me.

There are a lot of cars out there. Unless he's going to knock the money off for a belt change (both belts) I'd not buy it.
I'd certainly not want to buy it & then pay for them myself, tbh you might not even get kt home as they might go.

 

[Luke20]

well at the price hes selling it if i added £455 for a belts change then itd owe me £2755,which seems reasonable?

 

[cat171]

The fig of £2700 you've mentioned will get you a minter staight off that wants for nothing. It might take a bit to get it, but it'll happen, there are aso tone of 172's out there.

To me, it seems like you're not finding much out there, so are settling for this one. As I said i'd not be wanting to risk it.

 

[Luke20]

Would an RAC inspection show whether the belts been done or not?Other than the lack of receipt the car looks immaculate on all the detailed pictures and videos hes sent and has just had all new pads,disks,fluids,rear shocks,spark plugs etc.