Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Ken T]

My Son in law recently passed his test (scary!) and we are going to look at a T reg Corsa 1.2 as his first car. Anything we should look out for ?. Cambelt change ?. They want about £700, which sounds OK ish, or does it ?.

CHeers Ken

[FRE07962128]

My Son in law recently passed his test (scary!) and we are going to look at a T reg Corsa 1.2 as his first car. Anything we should look out for ?. Cambelt change ?. They want about £700, which sounds OK ish, or does it ?.

CHeers Ken

It all depends on the condition of the vehicle; tyres, brakes, exhaust, mileage, full service history (this should show last cam belt change), length of MOT and road tax left, etc.  

Anyway, NEVER pay the asking price, so if you are interested start offering £600, which sounds reasonable providing all the aforementioned are ok.  Corsa's are good first cars as one son and a daughter found out.  Most parts relatively cheap, and these cars can be worked on by a competent DIY person.  

Lizzie Zoom  

[Dazzler]

Good little cars, get an insurance quote tho as these are a little higher due to boy racers love them

[amigov6]

As posted these are good little cars but many of them have been hammered already. Knock the seller down if it's a 5 door, more practical but youngsters want the 3 door.

[Big Fra]

It must be an old 1.2 for a t reg, and he would be better off with a 1.0 12v as much more pokey and rev happy. (with a better sound) Plus with the 12v and dohc and I believe a cam chain, should prove a better and longer lasting prospect.

Unless it is the later 16v 1.2 4cyl, then the price seems ok, but service history and mileage is paramount.

[theowletman]

Check the front area of the chassis just below where the drivers left foot is, both sides of the chassis rails are prone to rust due to incomplete rustproofing, easy repair, it is a common MOT item. The 1.2 and 1.4 four cylinder engines are good and the best choice, I must disagree with going for a 3 cylinder 1.0 litre, in our experience this engine is a disaster, rattling cam chains, head gaskets etc. The later 1.0 litre engines, 2000 onwards have been improved slightly but still sound like a food blender. They also seem to eat handbrake cables and coil springs, other than that not a bad car and reasonably priced parts. Remember if it is a private sale do an  HPI check. If you manage to get one with power steering thats a bonus as it will make it easier to sell on, and if they have learned in a nice new driving school car the lack of power steering will be a shock!!!  Good luck.

[Ken T]

H'mm what do you think of this ? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120246485280&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=002    Guy says the engine tends to rattle, could be the oil pressure switch ?. Not sure, sounds a bit............


Ken

[Markjay]

It must be an old 1.2 for a t reg, and he would be better off with a 1.0 12v as much more pokey and rev happy. (with a better sound) Plus with the 12v and dohc and I believe a cam chain, should prove a better and longer lasting prospect.

Unless it is the later 16v 1.2 4cyl, then the price seems ok, but service history and mileage is paramount.

Do you really insist on FSH for a £700 car...?

[FRE07962128]

It must be an old 1.2 for a t reg, and he would be better off with a 1.0 12v as much more pokey and rev happy. (with a better sound) Plus with the 12v and dohc and I believe a cam chain, should prove a better and longer lasting prospect.

Unless it is the later 16v 1.2 4cyl, then the price seems ok, but service history and mileage is paramount.

Do you really insist on FSH for a £700 car...?


If you can get it, yes!  Even if it is records on what parts have been fitted (invoices, notes, etc). I am not suggesting 'full dealer service history' just some regular coherant indicator of maintenance being undertaken and new parts fitted. To some of us £700 is a lot of money, so why go out on a risk if you don't have to.  In addition of course nothing beats a visual inspection of all the key components and seeking tale tale indicators of problems.  

Lizzie Zoom



 

[dene wakefield lad]

good little cars,bought wife 1 6yr ago £500,kept it 5yr and sold for £500,

[Markjay]

It must be an old 1.2 for a t reg, and he would be better off with a 1.0 12v as much more pokey and rev happy. (with a better sound) Plus with the 12v and dohc and I believe a cam chain, should prove a better and longer lasting prospect.

Unless it is the later 16v 1.2 4cyl, then the price seems ok, but service history and mileage is paramount.

Do you really insist on FSH for a £700 car...?


If you can get it, yes!  Even if it is records on what parts have been fitted (invoices, notes, etc). I am not suggesting 'full dealer service history' just some regular coherant indicator of maintenance being undertaken and new parts fitted. To some of us £700 is a lot of money, so why go out on a risk if you don't have to.  In addition of course nothing beats a visual inspection of all the key components and seeking tale tale indicators of problems.  

Lizzie Zoom



 

Yes, £700 is a lot of money for me as well....  

I guess the point I was making is that when a car's value goes down to three digit figures you don't really expect the owner to service it properly in a garage that would actually stamp the book, but try to do this on cheap (which makes perfect sense) i.e. DIY or mobile mechanic etc.

The reason I am asking this really is because I am now fully on DIY so have no stamps for the past two years for my 7YO Omega and my wife's 10YO car. I do keep them serviced properly myself (and have invoices for the parts etc) but I can't really justify letting the Dealers service them.... so I am hoping that the potential buyer when I am ready to sell won't make a big issue out of it...?  



Ahmmm... apologies for the hijack  

[FRE07962128]

It must be an old 1.2 for a t reg, and he would be better off with a 1.0 12v as much more pokey and rev happy. (with a better sound) Plus with the 12v and dohc and I believe a cam chain, should prove a better and longer lasting prospect.

Unless it is the later 16v 1.2 4cyl, then the price seems ok, but service history and mileage is paramount.

Do you really insist on FSH for a £700 car...?


If you can get it, yes!  Even if it is records on what parts have been fitted (invoices, notes, etc). I am not suggesting 'full dealer service history' just some regular coherant indicator of maintenance being undertaken and new parts fitted. To some of us £700 is a lot of money, so why go out on a risk if you don't have to.  In addition of course nothing beats a visual inspection of all the key components and seeking tale tale indicators of problems.  

Lizzie Zoom



 

Yes, £700 is a lot of money for me as well....  

I guess the point I was making is that when a car's value goes down to three digit figures you don't really expect the owner to service it properly in a garage that would actually stamp the book, but try to do this on cheap (which makes perfect sense) i.e. DIY or mobile mechanic etc.

The reason I am asking this really is because I am now fully on DIY so have no stamps for the past two years for my 7YO Omega and my wife's 10YO car. I do keep them serviced properly myself (and have invoices for the parts etc) but I can't really justify letting the Dealers service them.... so I am hoping that the potential buyer when I am ready to sell won't make a big issue out of it...?  



Ahmmm... apologies for the hijack  

They may do as many 'experts' and lay people look for this as a means of some reassurance that maintenance has been done.  If not, as a buyer, you move on to the next car for sale.  Who wants to pick up the price of somebody else's skimpping on servicing?  Even when the car is £700, a repair bill could easily be as much again!

However, I did say that if you can see invoices for parts/repairs being regularly undertaken this should give some reassurance to any buyer.  But, still the risks will be theirs!

Lizzie Zoom  

[Kevin Wood]

I've seen plenty of FSH cars which have been suffering from lack of proper maintenance. On a relatively new car FSH still only means a service every 10 or 20,000 miles. That's neglect in my book. Best to go on the condition of the car and the feel you get from talking to the previous owner, IMHO.

Then again, the average man on the street probably isn't able to assess these things so looks for FSH.

I tend to keep cars until they are worth very little anyway, so I don't believe that maintaining a service history is necessary.

Kevin

[Marie]

MY T reg migg has 100% me service now. so i have no proof BUT.....

i keep all my reciepts and a record of what has been done where and when. so that should i ever sell my baby....( cant see it happening) i can show the potential new owner its history.

my mother looked at my car folder and was gobsmacked. she has now done the same for their 2 cars and 2 work vans.  everything is in date order and if its a reciept for parts i have annotated on the invoce the milage. or i get the VX garage to put the milage in for me when buyin spares.

[Markjay]

MY T reg migg has 100% me service now. so i have no proof BUT.....

i keep all my reciepts and a record of what has been done where and when. so that should i ever sell my baby....( cant see it happening) i can show the potential new owner its history.

my mother looked at my car folder and was gobsmacked. she has now done the same for their 2 cars and 2 work vans.  everything is in date order and if its a reciept for parts i have annotated on the invoce the milage. or i get the VX garage to put the milage in for me when buyin spares.

Problem is.... I buy 4 x 5L oil, 3 x Oil filter, 3 x Air filter, 1 x Fuel filter, 3 x Pollen filter, all in one go... so yes I have the receipt for it all dated mid last year but the actual service schedule is down to whether the buyer believes my Excel spreadsheet...