35 replies to this topic

[Tfp]

I certainly wouldn't pay £10,000 for a car with no service history. If you do buy it, get the dealer to put in writing that they are happy to guarantee the mileage to be correct. Print a copy of their advert and keep it with your history file, it will be essential if you have to go back to them at a later date with a mileage issue. Vosa MOT records only go back to around 2005/2006. Try to find the supplying dealer for the car, the first owner often takes the car back to where they bought it for servicing, they will have mileage records if thats the case. Would be helpful to know how many owners the car has had, I see they have not written this in the listing so expect it to be a few. This dealer has been around for a while, looks proper in their advert, I dont think they would be warranting the mileage unless they were 95% certain its correct. Most dealers know about the pitfalls of selling a car that turns out to have been clocked, so would do their best to avoid them. May be worth just asking them how they are confident of the mileage without history, it may have been warranted by an auction.

[JamieT]

The mileage looks good according to the vosa records. Although it did fail the mot once and lots of warnings for poor tyre condition over the years. What would be a fair price for this car then?

[snoopstah]

What would be a fair price for this car then?

I'd have a really hard job parting with more than 8.5k for it absolute tops, with a service history like that.

But then there's no way I'd buy it anyway -- with bargains like this around which are owned by forum members, have full service histories, and are ready to go, I'd choose one of those any day.

Is there any reason you've latched onto this one particularly? Colour? Mileage? Location? As I said, personally I wouldn't buy a VX with 20,000 miles in 8 years -- chances are it hasn't had the original niggles fixed out of the factory, and it'll still have just as many if not more new niggles too.

If you're really set on it, ping the guy in the other thread who saw it sell at auction and see if he can remember how much the dealer paid

[JamieT]

Well I decided that as I'm going to have a silly car for a bit then I need it in an appropriate colour (hence yellow or mandarin). As I may sell it in a few years and will use it for a daily drive (10k per year) then the lower the mileage the better.

I saw the silver one and although it looks like a bargain, the colour just doesn't do it for me.

[Tfp]

As I may sell it in a few years

With no service history you may well have trouble selling it.

Remember, you will have to convince any potential buyers that the mileage is genuine, and very few car dealers will buy it with no history.

[JamieT]

The DVLA web site shows all the MOTs and the mileage checks out from 2006 but can't go back any further: Full Test History, starting with first recorded vehicle and test results Make/Model: VAUXHALL / VX220 Colour: YELLOW / BLACK Approximate date of first use: 22/03/2002 Type of fuel: Petrol Date of test: 14/07/2006 Certificate issued (Pass) Odometer reading: 4,872 Miles Test number: 292755296449 Test station name: V AND M NEWBY Test station number: 37954 Test station telephone number: 01423 889088 Test class: IV Test expiry date: 13/07/2007 Advisory Notice issued Nail in tyre Date of test: 02/08/2007 Certificate issued (Pass) Odometer reading: 9,937 Miles Test number: 873684617293 Test station name: V AND M NEWBY Test station number: 37954 Test station telephone number: 01423 889088 Test class: IV Test expiry date: 01/08/2008 No Advisory Notice issued Date of test: 18/08/2008 Certificate issue refused (Fail) Odometer reading: 14,032 Miles Test number: 573331038201 Test station name: NORTH EASTERN TYRE & AUTO CARE Test station number: V102637 Test station telephone number: 01423 799500 Test class: IV Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8) Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8) Fuel cap/sealing device sealing washer deteriorated (7.2.2c) Brake servo vacuum pipe split (3.6.C.1e) Advisory Notice issued Wiper blade starting to split Nsr handbrake binding slightly Date of test: 26/08/2008 Certificate issued (Pass) Odometer reading: 14,114 Miles Test number: 300589238440 Test station name: NORTH EASTERN TYRE & AUTO CARE Test station number: V102637 Test station telephone number: 01423 799500 Test class: IV Test expiry date: 25/08/2009 Advisory Notice issued Wiper blade starting to split Date of test: 07/08/2009 Certificate issue refused (Fail) Odometer reading: 16,751 Miles Test number: 831469819258 Test station name: NORTH EASTERN TYRE & AUTO CARE Test station number: V102637 Test station telephone number: 01423 799500 Test class: IV Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.4a) Split Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2) Advisory Notice issued Both front tyres slightly cracked Knocking noise from rear sounds like engine mount Date of test: 07/08/2009 Certificate issued (Pass) Odometer reading: 16,751 Miles Test number: 124029419277 Test station name: NORTH EASTERN TYRE & AUTO CARE Test station number: V102637 Test station telephone number: 01423 799500 Test class: IV Test expiry date: 25/08/2010 Advisory Notice issued Both front tyres slightly cracked Knocking noise from rear sounds like engine mount Date of test: 01/06/2010 Certificate issued (Pass) Odometer reading: 18,137 Miles Test number: 251312850104 Test station name: VULCAN MOTORS LTD Test station number: 7459AJ Test station telephone number: 01252870818 Test class: IV Test expiry date: 31/05/2011 Advisory Notice issued Front also corroding Brake disc(s) (3.5.1h) Rear also corroding Brake disc(s) (3.5.1h) Nearside inner Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f) Offside inner Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f) Service brake Your vehicle has only just met the required service brake efficiency. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.A.9) Some corrosion over the front and rear steering and suspension components Both front tyres perishing, splitting and wearing on the inner edge Unable to view the under bonnet fuel and brake lines fully Unable to view the front to rear fuel and brake lines fully

[slindborg]

imho VX's with low milage tend to be utter dogs (bar two exceptions on here, but even then they would start falling to bits with some milage put on them). Cars need to be used, otherwise stuff just perishes/dries out and you get MOT warnings like youve found. Seriously, look around for others... lots better out there.

[JamieT]

okay advice taken - i'll give it a wide birth. Thanks for the help.

[Munching Mike]

This car sounds very much like mine. Low mileage - recently needed new brake discs and a new steering-rack and track-rod ends (also a new battery). I would get it serviced myself, rather than allow them to do it - you will quickly build up a service history, to supplement the MoT record. I wanted a yellow car; when I saw mine, at the dealer's, I just had to buy it! I probably paid over the odds, but am now the proud possessor of a lightning yellow VX220. The locking wheel nut and the towing eye should be stored in the (front) bonnet. Does the radio work? Everything else is manual... There were six lightning yellow VX220s at last week's national meet - the colour is not as rare as mandarin but it's rare enough for me... Go for it! LY46

[southpaw]

Go for it!

Its your call so go for it if you like, but whatever you do don't pay £10k Given the lack of history and known fixes needed I'd wait and see if something better comes along

[slindborg]

imho there is a minimum of a grand needed to be spent on it, so in reality its 'worth' no more than £8.5K even with good history.


Saying that Mine has no official hisotry since I purchased it as I do all my own servicing but meh, I'm running this thing into the ground so it matters not.

[JamieT]

So as I'm new to this stuff, is there a list of known things that are likely to have needed replacing over the years? I'm roughly aware of the following but not why they need replacing: 1. Radiator 2. Engine Mounts 3. Roof Seals (replaced with turbo type) 4. Radiator Coolant Reservoir 5. Spark plugs prone to water leakage Any others? I'd appreciate the background behind the above too. Obviously if the rad has been left to leak for a while then should I be looking for usual overheating issues? (head gaskets etc.).

Edited by JamieT, 29 June 2010 - 11:03 AM.

[rsg]

Radiators - the plastic end caps start to leak Engine mounts - can split and start to knock Roof seals - become unstuck and leak, turbo ones a better design Header tank/Radiator Coolant Reservoir - can glaze over/crack others rear toe links - passenger inboard one gets cooked by the exhaust and dries up. Worst case they snap hub carrier bolts - known to snap (PM cliffe for some new ones for a crisp tenner. EGR valve - can stick causing rough running and costs loads for a new one, (PM Vocky or visit z22se.co.uk for a "cheater") to get rid of it.

Edited by rsg, 29 June 2010 - 12:45 PM.

[FLD]

Heres my twopenneth worth. Any service history should be treated with contempt (prepares for flaming). I used to work in accident repairs and I know you can buy a service history from some places. If you get one try phoning some of the servicing garages to check its accurate. The brakes think has bugged me for a while. Last year mine was flagged with corroded discs and worn pads. I'd fitted new all round a week or so earlier. These were only advisory issues. Interestingly a couple of friends asked me to check their brakes over as they'd had the same. I'm suspiscious that the DVLA insist on some advisories each year so that cars get some routine maintainance. If / when you go look at it. Look carefully at what youre getting. Ignore all the pap that the tell you, look very carefully at the car. The big question is are you prepared to pay XXX for the car? If yes then buy it if no keep looking. Once you've bought stop looking and be happy with your waggon.

[JamieT]

Well I went to see the car today and it has more in common with a Lemon than just the colour. - Car has had a bad respray (panel gaps, paint peeling, bubbling and flaking) - Interior was in a state - dirty with lots of scuffed and lose bits Massive thanks to Styles who went to see it yesterday for me and also reported suspension, brakes and engine mounts need overhauling. Be warned that the dealer plans to "rectify" the problems in their work shop. I'm still on the hunt...

Edited by JamieT, 04 July 2010 - 05:43 PM.

[FLD]

Walk away, keep looking and find the right one for you. It will come up but sometimes it takes a wee while. Good luck.