Advice Required On A Potential Purchase RED 3.0SI Coupe (Pics Inside)
- Thread starter Looney
- Start date
Looking at this car purely from the photographs I can hear alarm bells ringing. As already identified the passenger door fitment doesn't look right. The paint job on the drivers side really doesn't look that great, front bumper is a different shade and the wheels are in need of help. Given the distance I'd say let it go to auction I'm sure there are better examples out there.
Mr Tidy said:
Why comment if you haven't bothered watching thw video in the link, which quite clearly shows it has M sport seats?
It looks a great car. Everyones nit picking over little things. Shock horror it's had paint work. Duh! Of course it has, the aero skirts and front bumper weren't standard so obviously needed to be painted.
It's also a 10 year old car. Any 10 year old car (if not left in a garage all year) will pick up marks.
Op, buy it. It looks a good car for the money. Glovebox looks to be a cheap fix.
If they're going to fix the headlamp issue (probably replace the rear seal/cover and then dry it out) then I can't see much else wrong with it.
Looney said:
Surely this, along with travel costs, etc. is eating into the difference in cost between this car and the one which is available locally?
I have to agree with the comments made by Skelters regarding this dealer, they definitely apply the 'pile em high, flog em cheap' business model!
can they not bring it down to a dealer closer to you to look at - sure arnold clark advertise that??
i wouldn't commit until you have viewed it...but 400miles!!!
when i was looking for a z4 i traveled to durham (about 100miles from me)...looked great in the photos and dealer said it was good car - was a complete shed and i walked away annoyed...this is the problem with Internet buying of cars....go take a photo of tatty car and post it on ebay and look on screen - it will look good...all cars look good at 640x480 on a pc screen or phone...
i wouldn't commit until you have viewed it...but 400miles!!!
when i was looking for a z4 i traveled to durham (about 100miles from me)...looked great in the photos and dealer said it was good car - was a complete shed and i walked away annoyed...this is the problem with Internet buying of cars....go take a photo of tatty car and post it on ebay and look on screen - it will look good...all cars look good at 640x480 on a pc screen or phone...
jpvd said:can they not bring it down to a dealer closer to you to look at - sure arnold clark advertise that??
i wouldn't commit until you have viewed it...but 400miles!!!
when i was looking for a z4 i traveled to durham (about 100miles from me)...looked great in the photos and dealer said it was good car - was a complete shed and i walked away annoyed...this is the problem with Internet buying of cars....go take a photo of tatty car and post it on ebay and look on screen - it will look good...all cars look good at 640x480 on a pc screen or phone...
Very True
south yorkshire
Looney said:
Sensible option :cry these cars should be bought with heart and head- there’s 2k difference between the cars, there is nowhere near 2k of work that needs doing on the red one unless it’s a disaster when you see it. Well worth a cheep flight to look at, and a great first drive home!
paddy wright said:
Precisely , thrill of the chase & the drive home is always memorable the further you travel .
I'm really struggling to see where the negativity has any foundations ?
Ok the car isn't prepped for collection & it needs a service. Nothing new there wherever you buy from .
Glove box? That's a niggle to sort at leisure & tv with a 12 yr old car part of the ownership experience.
The shut lines ? Ignore the pics , from the video they look well within tolerance ( bonnet not latched drivers side)
The part where the roof meets trim over door ? They don't sit flush on my coupe either , they sit exactly as on the red car & as srhutch points out the vertical gap between wing & door is perfectly normal .
Spec is not basic either , heated sport memory seats , piano trim & aero bits all add kudos & frankly £9500 for 56k car is far from milking it .
Crazy days
mr wilks said:paddy wright said:
Precisely , thrill of the chase & the drive home is always memorable the further you travel .
I'm really struggling to see where the negativity has any foundations ?
Ok the car isn't prepped for collection & it needs a service. Nothing new there wherever you buy from .
Glove box? That's a niggle to sort at leisure & tv with a 12 yr old car part of the ownership experience.
The shut lines ? Ignore the pics , from the video they look well within tolerance ( bonnet not latched drivers side)
The part where the roof meets trim over door ? They don't sit flush on my coupe either , they sit exactly as on the red car & as srhutch points out the vertical gap between wing & door is perfectly normal .
Spec is not basic either , heated sport memory seats , piano trim & aero bits all add kudos & frankly £9500 for 56k car is far from milking it .
Crazy days
Simon 3.2M
Senior member
There's a good car there mate, the only real question is how much you pay for it! As long as the chassis is straight and crease free, the rest can be replaced or rebuilt. In fairness any car of that age, coupled with the OCD most of us have, would see you replacing some bushes and probably pads and discs - at some point throw a wheel refurb in too.
We all know that generally these engines are bullet proof so possibly a flush and new oil and filter is all it will need, maybe a rocker cover gasket and new plugs. If you can do the work yourself (not the wheels) then £500 will put the car where it should be, remember it hasn't got to be done straight away either. Paint may be required but most cars do but that can also wait.
So again it comes down to what you are willing to pay! Offer £8750, that covers your flight and the £500 to chuck at the car to sort it out. Drive it home and enjoy - if you think too deeply about any car you'd never buy it. I had the same with mine but ultimately I fell in love with it so followed my heart.
If you want it, can afford it and happy to travel to get it then I don't see what's holding you back.
PS Half the fun of owning any car is tinkering with it and making it your own!
We all know that generally these engines are bullet proof so possibly a flush and new oil and filter is all it will need, maybe a rocker cover gasket and new plugs. If you can do the work yourself (not the wheels) then £500 will put the car where it should be, remember it hasn't got to be done straight away either. Paint may be required but most cars do but that can also wait.
So again it comes down to what you are willing to pay! Offer £8750, that covers your flight and the £500 to chuck at the car to sort it out. Drive it home and enjoy - if you think too deeply about any car you'd never buy it. I had the same with mine but ultimately I fell in love with it so followed my heart.
If you want it, can afford it and happy to travel to get it then I don't see what's holding you back.
PS Half the fun of owning any car is tinkering with it and making it your own!
seems the brunt of it, but the owner stuck aero skirts on so he must have had a clue!?Simon 3.2M
Senior member
That's a double edged sword mate - some service history isn't worth the paper it's written on. I service my own cars i.e. all oils and fluids; diff, gbox and engine etc.
Take the car for a damn good test drive, a good 40 miles (the dealer will appreciate you need to do this) drive it like you stole it!! leave her to tick over afterwards for a good 20mins do several hot restarts, that should give you a good indication of where the car is and show up any possible problems - you can service regularly from there.
Others have suggest an RAC / AA inspection, that's good advice too and again could be factored into the price.
As I've said before it all comes down to what you are willing to pay for the car. Go in with a low offer and see what the reaction it is, play on the fact that the car once sold, is unlikely to come back to them for repairs etc.
Take the car for a damn good test drive, a good 40 miles (the dealer will appreciate you need to do this) drive it like you stole it!! leave her to tick over afterwards for a good 20mins do several hot restarts, that should give you a good indication of where the car is and show up any possible problems - you can service regularly from there.
Others have suggest an RAC / AA inspection, that's good advice too and again could be factored into the price.
As I've said before it all comes down to what you are willing to pay for the car. Go in with a low offer and see what the reaction it is, play on the fact that the car once sold, is unlikely to come back to them for repairs etc.