Your thoughts please?

[Ryan]

Getting about £1000 soon through a small claim I had a while back and need to get myself a new car, been looking for a while at Valvers, RSi and RT's.

Basically to cut a long story short I seen a Valver in ad-trader today and phoned the guy. I live in Scotland and he is in Perston, so its about a 400-450 mile round trip for me so therefore I dont really just want to jump in the car and go for a quick look. So I asked him if he would mind me having one of those RAC checks done (at my expense of course) and he seemed a bit nervous, so I explained to him what it was and that as I was traveling so far I wanted it done for my own piece of mind and he finally caught on to what I was saying and said it would be ok.

I then asked him a few questions about the car and he seemed to be genuine, told me there was a small bump on the rear 1/4 which had been repaired but not very well and stuff. So now Im thinking he might be ok.

Then out of the blue he goes, well if your traveling that far I will drop the price to £700? Fair enough, he might just be feeling sorry for me but I cant see it lol! Again this seemed a bit strange, for a start hes only looking £950 for it but to drop from £950 to £700 over the phone.... :S

So then I said is there anything else thats wrong with it as the RAC check will tell me as the guys will check everything about the car.

Him - "No, its a good car. Never been in any acidents or anything. But theres another guy coming to look at it tonight"

Me - "Oh right, well I..."

Him - "Its not stolen or anything"

Me - "Right ok................See how it goes with the guy tonight and I will give you a call back tomorrow and if you still have it then I might be interested"

I get the gut feeling that it might be stolen but then again he was being really genuine so I think he might be looking for a quick sale. Oh and he said he has the V5 but no service book or anything, but he bought it like that and only has the last two MOT's that have been done while he has owned it.

Totally confused so need your toughts and advice please!

 

[Ryan]

Heres the advent

RENAULT Clio 1.8 16v, N reg. 56000 miles, Williams blue, 6 months tax and MOT, very clean car, excellent runner, new brakes and discs front and back. £950. ono

 

[MikeDX]

If he's dropping the price to £700, then definitely get the RAC check done. It could be that he just wants rid. Most people when selling a car will price up the car based on haggling, and he may have just had enough of time wasters and tyre kickers.


What may bother him about the RAC check is that it takes time.

Either way you don't want to be stuck with a white elephant.

 

[Ryan]

Yea I suppose he may have priced it up but now that he knows im really serious he has just thought he will give it to me for the price he was looking for, if you know what I mean?

Even £950 is still kinda cheap for a Valver with that milage, isnt it?

Edit - Just seen how much RAC checks are and dont think I will be able to afford one, I will get a HPI check done, as I suppose my main concern is that its stolen, and see what that turns up.

 

[MikeDX]

Definitely get a HPI check, that will eliminate the nasty stuff but who is to say what the car is about once you get it home?

He may just be genuine, only a small percentage of people are scammers, we call those people politicians

 

[al]

Theres PLENTY more out there, don't make the mistake of going for the first one you find.

 

[Laura]

pm me the reg


save yourself £40 for a HPi

 

[JJsRT]

Sounds a lil bit dodgey to me 56K is nothing for a valver, fair play its not mint but surely it would be worth a lot more than that? My advice would be to steer clear, smells like a rat to me! especially as you live like a million miles away

 

[Ryan]

Taylor, when I phone him tomorrow I will do (How do you get them done? PM Me, lol)

JJ, was thinking that myself. I tought for £1000 I would get one that needed a bit of work doing to it

al, but is there many with tax and test for under £1000?

 

[Lee]

More likely it's been clocked by the sounds of that. That's why he doesn't want it checking out.

 

[Ryan]

More likely it's been clocked by the sounds of that. That's why he doesn't want it checking out.

Yea because when I said about the service books he also went a bit funny and said he only had the last two MOT's

 

[blink172]

Keep your money and look around some of the MK1 forums, you're bound to find one of better quality.

450 mile round trip to see a car that might be a stinker is an arseache.

 

[Ryan]

Just found it in autotrader as well

 

[edde]

I would say its only worth £700 if its in very good condition asking £900 is over the top.

 

[Steviant]

I'd say walk away.

Find yourself a car that you can go and check out for yourself.

I looked at a 16v at the weekend for a friend, it had 50K genuine on it, 1 owner, always garaged, looked too good to be true.

Went had a look at it, and it did look immaculate, but the guy who was selling it, never had anything done to it. It had everything original on it including the exhaust!!!!

It was a complete restoration project though. Needed Cambelt, engine rebuild, power steering, brakes, suspension. Someone bought it in the end for £1,500!!!!! You could have spent that amount on it, just getting it through an MOT.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=007&item=170004853331&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3APIC&rd=1

 

[Nyphur]

He may just be genuine, only a small percentage of people are scammers, we call those people politicians

Politicians, or Mr Um Bongo from Nigeria, whos late father was killed in Iraq along with all of his family - now h;es offering you the once in a life time opportunity to help release £14,000,000 straight into your account!

 

[cat171]

I would say its only worth £700 if its in very good condition asking £900 is over the top.

really ? decent valvers still fetch money. I sold mine last July for £2700, it was mint though with factory leather.


- Clio MK1, I wouldn't even bother going to look at it as it sound like a bit of a dog, have a look locally for one (or look in the forsale section on here)

A valver isn't a car that you can run on a budget, if the car only costs you a grand then in say two years you might spend that again in repairs (esp if nothing's been replaced on it)

To be honest i'd budget about 2k for one, that will get you a decent car with all of the important stuff, like replaced parts, big stack of history & bills etc.
In the long run - providing most parts have been done you won't go wrong

 

[Ryan]

Are those things scams?

 

[Ryan]

The thing is I only have a grand tho, its my max as banks tend not to like lending me money for a variety of reasons lol

 

[donsrno1]

TBH the prices of valvers have come rocketing down over the last few months. Generally speaking you can get one in very good condition for £1000. Personally I would stay well clear of that one if you are having doubts, or get someone local off the forum to go and have a look for you. Unless it's pretty mint though it's not worth it IMO as you will probably find one come up nearer you in equally good condition.

If you were interested mate I'll be selling my 1.4 now, not advertised it or anything yet but I've decided I'm going to sell it whether the 16v is being kept or not. Not sure on a price for it but it's on 72,000 miles lowered only mods would be lowered 35mm all round and cat back stainless steel exhaust. FSH to 56k no known problems, structurally VERY sound (I've looked at loads of clios recently and none have been better than this one) only a tiny bit of rust on the rear arch and nothing on the sills. PM me if your interested.