FabSwingers.com > Forums > The Lounge > Second hand cars
Second hand cars
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"I'm looking for a cheap second hand car. It'll be my first car. I have a question about mileage. Obviously the lower mileage the better, but is there a magic number to set my Max mileage to when searching. I'm currently looking for cars under 70000 miles, should I be looking for less, more etc? " can you wait till september i will.be having a new one  | |||
"Avoid anything French !!!!"  x infinity | |||
"Avoid anything French !!!!" hell yes
if you can afford go German or Scandinavian | |||
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"Avoid anything French !!!! hell yes
if you can afford go German or Scandinavian "Behave man !! Japanese is the way | |||
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"Avoid anything French !!!! hell yes
if you can afford go German or Scandinavian
Behave man !! Japanese is the way"
Nissan | |||
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"Avoid anything French !!!! hell yes
if you can afford go German or Scandinavian
Behave man !! Japanese is the way
Nissan"Toyota. Very reliable. | |||
"Avoid anything French !!!! hell yes
if you can afford go German or Scandinavian
Behave man !! Japanese is the way
Nissan"how about a nice seat all volkswagen parts with spanish flair i sound like an advertising executive | |||
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"My first car was a Volvo it was like a tank to drive "what did you call her | |||
"Avoid anything French !!!! hell yes
if you can afford go German or Scandinavian
Behave man !! Japanese is the way
Nissan
Toyota. Very reliable. "If you ignore the various safety recalls over the past few years then yes, very reliable. Definitely avoid anything French, they'll leave you stranded, eat your wallet and bore you to death. If you're driving less than 12,000 a year and rarely use the motorway avoid a diesel, you'll kill it. Check the service history is up to date including cam belt changes (also check that the water pump was changed at the same time). Open the bonnet and remove the oil filler cap and check for mayo-like residue and also check the expansion tank for oily scum, it's a sign of head gasket failure. Make sure the gear change is smooth and that the clutch bite isn't too high up the pedal travel. When out driving listen out for suspension knocks and squeaks and listen out for rumbling wheel bearings. Check under the wheel arches for signs of rust and get on the floor and check underneath for signs of rotting floors and crushed jacking points. Check the boot and footwells for signs of damp and also check the spare tyre. | |||
"My first car was a Volvo it was like a tank to drive
what did you call her "Mavis | |||
"My first car was a Volvo it was like a tank to drive
what did you call her
Mavis " . Class | |||
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"Keep away from vauxhall the head gasgets go at 80,to 100, .000" Never went on mine and besides head gaskets can go on any car | |||
"buying a second hand car is much like making love to a beautiful woman always check the clutch before getting in" Don't you mean body work  | |||
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"I'm looking for a cheap second hand car. It'll be my first car. I have a question about mileage. Obviously the lower mileage the better, but is there a magic number to set my Max mileage to when searching. I'm currently looking for cars under 70000 miles, should I be looking for less, more etc? " A Toyota Aygo will get 50+mpg and is verrry low insurance grp 1 I think. the model up the Yaris, if you get the diesel verision - again will get 50+mpg insurance group 4-5 You can pick an Aygo up for £3k and £4 for a yaris | |||
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"Also take a magnet to check wings sills and wheel arches. Magnets dont stick to filler! "But remember quite a few cars these days have plastic panels.... You may look a bit silly trying to get a magnet to stick to plastic... As with many things Google is your friend. Check reviews and car specs on line. That way you also have an idea if the price is right... Good luck. | |||
"Actually in a study people who drive red cars, tend to drive more aggressively. Best avoid a red car then." If people avoid them that makes them safer doesn't it? | |||
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"Check the service history is up to date including cam belt changes (also check that the water pump was changed at the same time). " (M) That's for Vauxhalls. Vauxhall use the water pump as a timing belt tensioner. Not sure about the new Vauxhalls as I gave up mechanics as a career a few years ago now. If it's not a Vauxhall, you only need to check the water pump bearing is not rumbling or leaking. If it's not, the pumps fine. | |||
"Avoid anything French !!!!" Going to have to slightly disagree with you here; I've had Citroens for the last 15 years and never had a problem. I had a Ax diesel that had 220k on the clock before someone bumped into it. It also had the greatest invention in a car; wine bottle holder in the doors | |||
"Check the service history is up to date including cam belt changes (also check that the water pump was changed at the same time). (M) That's for Vauxhalls. Vauxhall use the water pump as a timing belt tensioner. Not sure about the new Vauxhalls as I gave up mechanics as a career a few years ago now. If it's not a Vauxhall, you only need to check the water pump bearing is not rumbling or leaking. If it's not, the pumps fine." it's not just for Vauxhall's at all! it applies to loads of GM and Fiat cars ( Saab, Alfa Romeo, Vauxhall, Fiat etc). | |||
"I'm looking for a cheap second hand car. It'll be my first car. I have a question about mileage. Obviously the lower mileage the better, but is there a magic number to set my Max mileage to when searching. I'm currently looking for cars under 70000 miles, should I be looking for less, more etc? " Don't get too sucked in by the mileage issue. I drive VWs, and I would far prefer to buy one that has 100k and good service history, than one with 50k and none. Modern cars are good for 200k plus, if well maintained. | |||
"diesel VW Lupo? 60+mpg" that's what i got for my eldest plus its not too bad on insurance because its not a "cool hot hatch" | |||
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"Just thought I would give my little red Renault megane a shout out as she has been good to me over the past 5yrs! Never let me down...! Long live Betsy...!!! "Your story is unique! The Megane is the worst car I ever owned, nothing but trouble and there's thousands of similar stories. Glad you found a good one though, it's probably the only one they built!... | |||
"Just thought I would give my little red Renault megane a shout out as she has been good to me over the past 5yrs! Never let me down...! Long live Betsy...!!!
Your story is unique!
The Megane is the worst car I ever owned, nothing but trouble and there's thousands of similar stories.
Glad you found a good one though, it's probably the only one they built!... "She was originally a stop gap, but I grew to love her..!! She's knocking on a bit now, but still going strong..!! | |||
"Just thought I would give my little red Renault megane a shout out as she has been good to me over the past 5yrs! Never let me down...! Long live Betsy...!!!
Your story is unique!
The Megane is the worst car I ever owned, nothing but trouble and there's thousands of similar stories.
Glad you found a good one though, it's probably the only one they built!... "we had a megane as a gap filler kept it for 2 yrs never missed a beat no probs with it , however it was gutless and handled like crap but was reliable | |||
"Just thought I would give my little red Renault megane a shout out as she has been good to me over the past 5yrs! Never let me down...! Long live Betsy...!!!
Your story is unique!
The Megane is the worst car I ever owned, nothing but trouble and there's thousands of similar stories.
Glad you found a good one though, it's probably the only one they built!...
we had a megane as a gap filler kept it for 2 yrs never missed a beat no probs with it , however it was gutless and handled like crap but was reliable"Magane... The car that has 2 types of headlights... Halogen bulb pay Halfords £40 to fit £10 bulb Xenon bulb (Halfords wont change that) pay a Renault Dealer up to £600 to take front end of car apart to fit new bulb! 
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"Just thought I would give my little red Renault megane a shout out as she has been good to me over the past 5yrs! Never let me down...! Long live Betsy...!!!
Your story is unique!
The Megane is the worst car I ever owned, nothing but trouble and there's thousands of similar stories.
Glad you found a good one though, it's probably the only one they built!...
we had a megane as a gap filler kept it for 2 yrs never missed a beat no probs with it , however it was gutless and handled like crap but was reliable
Magane...
The car that has 2 types of headlights...
Halogen bulb pay Halfords £40 to fit £10 bulb
Xenon bulb (Halfords wont change that) pay a Renault Dealer up to £600 to take front end of car apart to fit new bulb!
"ebay £4bulb changed it myself | |||
"Just thought I would give my little red Renault megane a shout out as she has been good to me over the past 5yrs! Never let me down...! Long live Betsy...!!!
Your story is unique!
The Megane is the worst car I ever owned, nothing but trouble and there's thousands of similar stories.
Glad you found a good one though, it's probably the only one they built!...
we had a megane as a gap filler kept it for 2 yrs never missed a beat no probs with it , however it was gutless and handled like crap but was reliable
Magane...
The car that has 2 types of headlights...
Halogen bulb pay Halfords £40 to fit £10 bulb
Xenon bulb (Halfords wont change that) pay a Renault Dealer up to £600 to take front end of car apart to fit new bulb!
ebay £4bulb changed it myself"Indeed... What sort of bulb? How long did it take you? To change the xenon bulb you need to take off the front bumper and remove the radiator to get at it!  | |||
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Hope this is of real help, doubt if anyone will disagree | |||
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"My betsys not that posh...!!!! She's an old bird....!!! 13 now, bless her! None of this fancy electric start shit, good old fashioned key..!! Full electrics, alloys and 6cd player as standard though....!! Lol "No electric start??? Can just see you there with Betesy and your hand crank winding the engine up! | |||
"My betsys not that posh...!!!! She's an old bird....!!! 13 now, bless her! None of this fancy electric start shit, good old fashioned key..!! Full electrics, alloys and 6cd player as standard though....!! Lol
No electric start???
Can just see you there with Betesy and your hand crank winding the engine up!
"It's amazing what I can get going with these hands...!!! | |||
"Actually in a study people who drive red cars, tend to drive more aggressively. Best avoid a red car then." I found Red car drivers turn Pink the older they get lol  | |||
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"Will try a really helpful post... If you are looking for a really cheap car look for an old ford escort, escort estate or sierra 1600/2000 (80's) NOT hot ones! (they will have been trashed at some stage in their lives) that has good bodywork. Engines, ancillaries and gearboxes are simple and so cheap to fix and change. Also because of age are cheap to insure.
Hope this is of real help, doubt if anyone will disagree"I certainly won't. Good, simple reliable cars. Made before motors were designed to be a liability in a few years. | |||
"Just thought I would give my little red Renault megane a shout out as she has been good to me over the past 5yrs! Never let me down...! Long live Betsy...!!!
Your story is unique!
The Megane is the worst car I ever owned, nothing but trouble and there's thousands of similar stories.
Glad you found a good one though, it's probably the only one they built!...
we had a megane as a gap filler kept it for 2 yrs never missed a beat no probs with it , however it was gutless and handled like crap but was reliable
Magane...
The car that has 2 types of headlights...
Halogen bulb pay Halfords £40 to fit £10 bulb
Xenon bulb (Halfords wont change that) pay a Renault Dealer up to £600 to take front end of car apart to fit new bulb!
ebay £4bulb changed it myself
Indeed...
What sort of bulb?
How long did it take you?
To change the xenon bulb you need to take off the front bumper and remove the radiator to get at it!
"The MK2-phase1 Megane's had to have the bumper off regardless of which type of bulb was specified. The later MK2-phase2 had a couple of openings in the front wheel arch linets. It was still a bit of a sod to do though, requiring anextremely flexable wrist. I fitted the later wheel arch liners to my brothers MK2-phase1 and it worked a treat! | |||
"Check the service history is up to date including cam belt changes (also check that the water pump was changed at the same time). (M) That's for Vauxhalls. Vauxhall use the water pump as a timing belt tensioner. Not sure about the new Vauxhalls as I gave up mechanics as a career a few years ago now. If it's not a Vauxhall, you only need to check the water pump bearing is not rumbling or leaking. If it's not, the pumps fine. it's not just for Vauxhall's at all! it applies to loads of GM and Fiat cars ( Saab, Alfa Romeo, Vauxhall, Fiat etc). " On hindsight, maybe I should have put GM derived engineering. GM have their fingers in quite a few pies, even Mercedes. The older Mercs even had Vauxhall instruments & switches. GM own Vauxhall, Saab (Vectra chassis), Daewoo, Chevrolet. It's just the way you listed manufacturers & then put "etc" giving the impression to someone who knows nothing about cars that, that is the norm, but it's not. What about BMW, Ford, Peugoet, Citroen, Toyota, Nissan, VW, Lexus, Skoda, Seat, Rover, MG, Mini, etc with their M20, M52, Kent, Essex, Zetec, Valencia, A series, K series, Vtec etc, engines. How many of them use the pumps as tensioners. | |||
"My first car was a Volvo it was like a tank to drive "Volvo,s Use to have roll cages built into them Fancy going for a roll... | |||
