Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 25 April 2018, 10:00:41

Title: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 25 April 2018, 10:00:41
An elderly friend of mine has a 2010 Punto, which has recently had 4 new Pirellis and new battery fitted. He wants rid of it and is asking £250 for it.
My initial thoughts were its a bargain, snap it up. However there are three issues which are making me think again.
1. ABS ecu probably needs replacing. used ones available on ebay for around £70.
2. Electronic steering is playing up, and this is often not easy to cure without a rebuilt steering column from BBA. Cost £lots.
3. The biggest problem. It has done over 160,000 miles. I cant see it being worth much all fixed up, with those miles on the clock.
I'm thinking its probably best avoided ?
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Viral_Jim on 25 April 2018, 10:31:23
I'm thinking its probably best avoided ?

I would say so.  :y
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: aaronjb on 25 April 2018, 11:04:39
How quickly should you walk away?

This quickly: https://media.giphy.com/media/l2Sqc3POpzkj5r8SQ/giphy-tumblr.gif
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Nick W on 25 April 2018, 11:08:01
£250 would probably be a reasonable price for the car without the faults(which are common Punto ones).
With them? He should pay you to take it away.
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: biggriffin on 25 April 2018, 11:24:34
What would it break for.
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 25 April 2018, 12:07:01
I'm sure I could make money from breaking it, but those days are over for me. Too old and knackered.  ;D
I might have a chance to buy a cheap 02 Impreza turbo soon in that nice metallic blue colour. Low miles, nice condition, but has an undiagnosed "limp home" problem.  :)
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 25 April 2018, 12:33:08
I'm sure I could make money from breaking it, but those days are over for me. Too old and knackered.  ;D
I might have a chance to buy a cheap 02 Impreza turbo soon in that nice metallic blue colour. Low miles, nice condition, but has an undiagnosed "limp home" problem.  :)

Stop kidding yourself. You know nothing less than a V8 Mercedes will do. :)


Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 25 April 2018, 12:38:59
A V8 Merc is the planned replacement for the Omega when the time comes. The Scooby would be bought to fix & sell (after a sound thrashing around the local lanes).  ;)
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 25 April 2018, 13:37:45
A V8 Merc is the planned replacement for the Omega when the time comes. The Scooby would be bought to fix & sell (after a sound thrashing around the local lanes).  ;)

Omega last forever. :)

By the time your car is cubed you'll be wearing terylene slacks with a permanent yellow stain around the fly.......much like dear old STMO today. :)
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: zirk on 25 April 2018, 14:57:59
Stick to what you know Albs, The Punto sounds like its got Money Pit written all over it the minute you put on the Drive.  ;)
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 25 April 2018, 15:04:12
I know the car and its owner well and think I could probably fix the problems.  he has had it from new, and Ive serviced it etc. for him in the past. Thing is, with that mileage it isn't going to be worth much even if fixed up.
If the mileage was a lot lower, I would snap it up tbh.
If I can get hold of the Scooby, that would be a different proposition though. At the moment, the owner and I are too far apart on price, but the longer it stands on his drive, annoying his Mrs............ ::) ;)
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: STEMO on 25 April 2018, 15:06:16
A V8 Merc is the planned replacement for the Omega when the time comes. The Scooby would be bought to fix & sell (after a sound thrashing around the local lanes).  ;)

Omega last forever. :)

By the time your car is cubed you'll be wearing terylene slacks with a permanent yellow stain around the fly.......much like dear old STMO today. :)
Crimplene with an elasticated waistband  :y
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 25 April 2018, 15:10:58
A V8 Merc is the planned replacement for the Omega when the time comes. The Scooby would be bought to fix & sell (after a sound thrashing around the local lanes).  ;)

Omega last forever. :)

By the time your car is cubed you'll be wearing terylene slacks with a permanent yellow stain around the fly.......much like dear old STMO today. :)
Crimplene with inbuilt elasticated incontinence pants  :y

Comes to us all eventually.  :y
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: STEMO on 25 April 2018, 15:13:18
A V8 Merc is the planned replacement for the Omega when the time comes. The Scooby would be bought to fix & sell (after a sound thrashing around the local lanes).  ;)

Omega last forever. :)

By the time your car is cubed you'll be wearing terylene slacks with a permanent yellow stain around the fly.......much like dear old STMO today. :)
Crimplene with inbuilt elasticated incontinence pants  :y

Comes to us all eventually.  :y
No wetness from car washing though.  ::)
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 25 April 2018, 15:20:07
A V8 Merc is the planned replacement for the Omega when the time comes. The Scooby would be bought to fix & sell (after a sound thrashing around the local lanes).  ;)

Omega last forever. :)

By the time your car is cubed you'll be wearing terylene slacks with a permanent yellow stain around the fly.......much like dear old STMO today. :)
Crimplene with an elasticated waistband :y

I think I have trouser envy. ;D
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: STEMO on 25 April 2018, 15:21:17
A V8 Merc is the planned replacement for the Omega when the time comes. The Scooby would be bought to fix & sell (after a sound thrashing around the local lanes).  ;)

Omega last forever. :)

By the time your car is cubed you'll be wearing terylene slacks with a permanent yellow stain around the fly.......much like dear old STMO today. :)
Crimplene with an elasticated waistband :y

I think I have trouser envy. ;D
They make the snake look less conspicuous.  ;D
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: TD on 25 April 2018, 16:38:57
I'm sure I could make money from breaking it, but those days are over for me. Too old and knackered.  ;D
I might have a chance to buy a cheap 02 Impreza turbo soon in that nice metallic blue colour. Low miles, nice condition, but has an undiagnosed "limp home" problem.  :)

That could be expensive if its a problem with the turbo (I'm not sure how much a turbo is for an impreza but Id bet you wouldn't see much change if any from £1k!)
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: aaronjb on 25 April 2018, 17:11:04
I'm sure I could make money from breaking it, but those days are over for me. Too old and knackered.  ;D
I might have a chance to buy a cheap 02 Impreza turbo soon in that nice metallic blue colour. Low miles, nice condition, but has an undiagnosed "limp home" problem.  :)

That could be expensive if its a problem with the turbo (I'm not sure how much a turbo is for an impreza but Id bet you wouldn't see much change if any from £1k!)

Genuine, about that price; but a rebuild by someone like Turbo Technics would be a lot less.

Limp home sounds electrical to me, although I know nothing of Scoobaroos.
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 25 April 2018, 18:09:48
Not the Turbo, or anything mechanical. It goes like a stabbed rat when it runs ok, but then randomly throws a fault code and plays up.
I suspect its a dodgy sensor or similar, but with a bit of luck, I might get the chance to find out.
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: ronnyd on 25 April 2018, 19:44:03
You only listed 3 reasons. No.4, it,s a bloody Fiat, nuff said. ;D
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Nick W on 25 April 2018, 20:02:10
Mileage on a £250 car is irrelevant. Buying one with existing expensive faults, especially when the value of one without them isn't much higher, is retarded.
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 25 April 2018, 20:39:35
A 2010 Punto without serious faults and average mileage is worth a lot more than £250.
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: ronnyd on 25 April 2018, 20:57:16
What is classed as average mileage these days?
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: BazaJT on 25 April 2018, 22:04:39
12,000mls a year was last figure I heard quoted.
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 25 April 2018, 22:16:07
The owner of the punto does 20,000 per year. He is 77 years old.
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: STEMO on 25 April 2018, 22:21:59
Parker's quotes 10,000 miles pa as average now. But, as we all know there is no such thing as average.



In Vatican City, there are an average of 2.4 popes per square mile.  ;D
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: BazaJT on 25 April 2018, 22:25:35
This is the problem with averages isn't it?Punto owner is 77 and does 20,000 I'm coming up 65 and do less than 4,000 spread across 2 cars[the Omega does less than 1,000 of those].
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: TheBoy on 26 April 2018, 18:09:39
A 2010 Punto without serious faults and average mileage is worth a lot more than £250.
I would agree, possibly double or treble.

But I'm guessing you're considering as a money making scheme, and I think walking away is the better option, as unless your incredible lucky that they're cheap fixes, its effort and probably financial loss.
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 26 April 2018, 19:01:21
I think I have a good chance of fixing the faults without spending a fortune, although the electric PAS can be tricky.Thing is, with 160k on the clock, there,s no point, as it would be (as you surmised) to fix up and sell on.
I cant even find one for sale with anything like that mileage to get an idea of what it would be worth, but its safe to assume three fifths of far call.  :)
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: 2boxerdogs on 27 April 2018, 10:49:39
Can't go wrong with replacing the Omega with a V8 Merc just as comfortable with a bit more performance, ticks all the boxes.
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 27 April 2018, 13:32:59
Can't go wrong with replacing the Omega with a V8 Merc just as comfortable with a bit more performance, ticks all the boxes.

Too tight to put his hand in his pocket, Mr Tilbo. ::) ::) ;)
Title: Re: Been offered a cheap car.
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 27 April 2018, 16:48:32
Ive spent a lot of time and money getting my current Omega almost to just how I want it. I want to enjoy it for a while, before I have to flog it for a fraction of what it owes me.
When the time comes, my current plan is to replace it with a CL500.
Having said that, the way my back and legs feel today, my next car might be an Invacar.  ::)