Buying a cheap run around

[VikashLurker]

I am in the market for a cheap run around. I only started looking about 2 weeks ago but I have been shocked to see whats out there. I was looking to spend not more than 30-40k. That turned out to be a joke. So I upped the budget to 40-45k. I thought I would just share my experience.

There is absolute JUNK out there. And I mean POS JUNK! I thought I was setting a decent budget, considering what I got on trade ins for my previous vehicles. I have always been fanatical about the care of all my cars. Washed them myself, no car wash, so paintwork was always flawless. Ensured decent bodywork repair work on the odd fender bender (probably not more than 4 times in my life). Serviced on time etc. So even at high mileage, my cars were in tip top condition.

For eg. A few years ago, I traded my 2005 E90 330i with 205k kms. Highest offer I got was R70k. Which I felt was low, however I was not prepared to go through the hassle of a pvt sale. Eeeek! is all I can say, that car, compared to what is out there was in BRAND new condition. Compared to what people are asking, I would have got 100k EASY!

I went out to see a few cheapies. Descriptions says, either good condition, or excellent condition. Pics look decent enough. But when you go out to see it in person, OMG. Panels are repainted with what looks like a paintbrush, (I'm not exaggerating). Panel gaps don't align. Colour mismatched.

I'm I asking for too much, for the spend? I think I am.

 

[UrBaN963]

What area are you living in?

 

[Mr Scratch]

Not everyone looks after their cars. What were you looking at around R45k?

 

[VikashLurker]

What area are you living in?

JHB westrand, commuting to the North.

Not everyone looks after their cars. What were you looking at around R45k?

I started out looking at Toyotas, Hondas. I've since broaden the search to Almera's as they seem value for money with good reliablity. Looking for auto preferably as I commute in standstill traffic.

Look I get that not everyone looks after their cars, I don't really hold that against them. However, when you advertise a POS as Excellent Condition, that really works me up.

 

[TheChamp]

I see a couple of almost new Tata Indicas going for less than R50k

 

[VikashLurker]

I see a couple of almost new Tata Indicas going for less than R50k

I need something to run around with from now till December. So ideally it has to be cheap, and it still needs to be desirable, so come Decemeber, I can get rid of it very quickly. So in my mind, an older Toyota or even Honda will sell really quick. This rules out allot brands, like Volvo, Tata, any Frenchie, etc.

 

[FiestaST]

Get a Getz or if not a hatch then than an Almera.

 

[VikashLurker]

Get a Getz or if not a hatch then than an Almera.

That would be perfectly fine. Don't mind a hatch vs sedan tbh. Just has to be Auto.

 

[FiestaST]

Auto Almera. Impressively solid (reliable) cars.

I vouch...

 

[TheChamp]

I need something to run around with from now till December. So ideally it has to be cheap, and it still needs to be desirable, so come Decemeber, I can get rid of it very quickly. So in my mind, an older Toyota or even Honda will sell really quick. This rules out allot brands, like Volvo, Tata, any Frenchie, etc.

Ok, I see, but you aren't going to get anything desirable with that kind of money.

 

[TheChamp]

Another thing to add, getting to December can be a lifetime if you are going to get something that is going to break every week.

 

[VikashLurker]

Ok, I see, but you aren't going to get anything desirable with that kind of money.

That is slowly setting in.

I guess I've been comparing trade in values vs retail. Ideally it would be perfect to find somebody looking at trading in something decent, pay them the cash instead.

My sister traded in a mint 96 160 GLE Corrolla about 4 years back. Again didn't want the hassle of a pvt sale. She got 28k on the trade in. These things are going for 50k on Gumtree / OLX :crylaugh:

 

[pinball wizard]

My sister traded in a mint 96 160 GLE Corrolla about 4 years back. Again didn't want the hassle of a pvt sale. She got 28k on the trade in. These things are going for 50k on Gumtree / OLX :crylaugh:

Four years is a lifetime in used car sales. You can't compare prices.

That said, it is a buyers market at the moment, so find what you want and negotiate it down.

 

[VikashLurker]

Update: I have still not found anything. That price range is a cesspool of absolute junk. I opted to raise the budget to 60k. The search results have been a bit more positive, however, the good cars seem to be snapped up quite quickly.

There are obvious scams that are going on. The simplest one is deals that are advertised that are too good to be true. The scam would be to get some sort of a deposit out the desperate bargain hunter. That seems easy enough to filter right? No car, no deposit.

Then there is another that I came across that I am not sure how it works. Car is advertised at a decent enough price. Seller welcomes test drives. When you call the number, there is a dodgy foreigner on the other line, inviting you to view the vehicle. I'm guessing the scam is you get there and are robbed of car, phone, money etc. Or worse case end up in the boot.

Any other scams that you know of?

At this point, I'm now investigating long term monthly rentals. It just seems like way too much of a hassle tbh.

 

[VikashLurker]

*Update*

So shortly after posting my update above, something popped up that I had to check out. At that point I had already given up finding something decent in my price range. I researched the option of renting for the next sort of 5-6 months and the numbers did not make it feasible. Que Wednesday last week an I came across a diamond in the rough.

2002 Honda Civic 150i. (260k on the clock) Car was neat and clean and drove like a dream. I didn't waste time and grabbed it immediately. Exterior paint needed a bit of TLC, but the bodywork was perfect. Interior was even better. So I was extremely lucky to find something of this age in this condition.

This past weekend I set about getting the paintwork to my acceptable standard, and I thought I would share it for those who may find it interesting.

Condition of car on Friday afternoon.

Paint was severely oxidized, and there was a few nicks on the back bumper. Headlight was also heavily oxidized and hazy.

I gave it a decent wash on Saturday afternoon cleaning up all nooks and crannies, the badges, wheel arches etc. I also clayed the paint and that left the paint feeling slick and smooth.

Sunday morning I got to work armed with my dual action polisher, buffing pads and compounds and polishes.

Work in progress:

^This is supposed to be 50/50 shot. I did the fender and not the door. Standing in front of it, was like a night an day difference. Yellow dull paint on the one side, clean bright white on the fender. However, it is very hard to tell from this pic.

Slowing getting there ...

Continued ...

 

[VikashLurker]

The inside was given a quick vaccum and tidy up, but there was not much work to be done here. As you can seen the interior is pretty neat for a 15 year old car.

 

[VikashLurker]

Once I completed the entire car, I polished up the headlights and even the tail lights, and then I took it out in the afternoon sun for some decent shots.

My ride for the next couple of months ...

 

[UrBaN963]

Congrats man, looks really good. Good job on the cleaning too.

 

[FiestaST]

Congrats looks really neat. What was the final price?

 

[VikashLurker]

Congrats man, looks really good. Good job on the cleaning too.

Thanks man.

Congrats looks really neat. What was the final price?

Thanks.

We settled on 50k which I think was really fair.