Tell me your bargain car find stories.

[stevepeanut]

I'm interested to know people's stories where they have found bargain cars.

I've just started an adult apprenticeship at 40 years old, I have money coming in, but not loads. I'm planning to get a car for the gathering, and I got thinking, rather than gumtree, eBay and the usual, where instead could I find a bit of a bargain?

I've had a couple of amazing motorbike deals. Once I was on a Capri forum and one of the lads knew I was into bikes, his best mate had bought a brand new bike and had asked him to get rid of the old one, he wasn't bothered about big money for it. I scored a nice Honda ntv650 for £150. Another one I found on pre loved, a Yamaha xt350, maybe worth £800, it was up for £300 for a very quick sale. I went straight to view it, it had a reg plate and keys but no docs, but the lad paid for a hpi check to show it wasn't stolen. I bought it and as I was going he mentioned he'd been riding it without a licence and needed rid ASAP before he got caught with it. I applied for the v5 and all was ok, it turned out a great bike and a bargain.

With cars, just the one for me. In the early 90s when I learned to drive, my dad told my nana that I was learning. She by chance mentioned it to her friend, and the friend had an old Triumph Acclaim. It was sat not being used and was given to me.

So, has anyone got any good tales where they found a bargain car? or has anyone got any ideas for places to look for a bargain? places I wouldn't normally think to look.

[quasimoto]

Once got a Datsun 120 y from a Somerset character who run a small farm which i didnt really want for reams of photocopying that really cost me very little. Years on the Datsun 120 y is worth more than it was in 1994 but in 40 odd years around cars apart from a good Ford 100e for a fiver in 1970 not had any bargain cars nor ever made a profit but had lots of enjoyment along the way

[conrad]

Bought a volvo 940 TD in november 2012 for €400 because it had heated seats, was RWD and had 4 months tax and test so i could drive it through the cold winter we were set to have. Still have it now. Lent it to my father for 2 years he did a lot of towing with it. Aside from tax, diesel and servicing spend under €200 on it in that time and it's still running and solid now but its turbo went after passing its test last april and havnt got round to fixing it yet.

[peewee]

had many bargains
205 gti got for free as the previous owners had builders coming in so wanted it gone
vw caddy pick upbought from my old workplace for a £1 otherwise they would of scrapped it
just bouht a caddy van from a friend for £50 as well

[Paul Y]

Mk2 escort van. New engine, gearbox, tyres and freshly painted. Fitted a front sub frame in return and then used it for 3 years/50k miles until a meals on wheels wagon drove into it.

Awesome car.

P.

[mgmrw]

In terms of hard cash, my 220 GTI is my best. £150, of which 6 months RFL was £130+.


But I also handed over a knackered mk3 Mondeo. And it cost me £100+ in juice to get the Mondeo there. Then the GTI home.

Then add in that I've stuck £2000+ into "lightly improving" the GTI condition...

My only other was a mk2 1600tdci focus estate.

Bought at 3 year old with 77k on it for £3500. Sold 11 months later with an extra 50k on the clock for £3200 trade in value. Complete with newly stoved in drivers door, 2 months ticket and about 5 fluid leaks.

I call that bargain motoring at £300 depreciation for 50k miles of hard use.

[SmokeEm]

Feb 3, 2016 17:54:50 GMT stevepeanut said:

I've had a couple of amazing motorbike deals. Once I was on a Capri forum and one of the lads knew I was into bikes, his best mate had bought a brand new bike and had asked him to get rid of the old one, he wasn't bothered about big money for it. I scored a nice Honda ntv650 for £150.

That was from me..

We didn't meet as I was busy but you collected from my Dad.

[mk14dr]

I've had a couple of bargains over the years, £450 BA3 Prelude, £150 K10 Micra, £600 Chrysler New Yorker, even my £750 Mk2 Golf GTI was a lot of bang for my buck.
I think the biggest of the lot is my 940. £450 4years ago and on it soldiers, granted it's had a headgasket, steering rack, panhard rod, full brake rebuild and more recently an engine, clutch and gearbox. But not a single one of those parts has cost more than a ton. That's good going in my opinion, especially knowing how heavy my right foot is.

[lusciousthelock]

I've had a few Ebay bargains-

A 1985 Toyota Camry 2.0l fully equipped with digital everything. No tax or Mot, bought for 11 quid and went straight through it's MOT. Sold it for 300 six months later (Bought it back after its next MOT for 500 pounds after a respray then sold it again for a grand on ebay).

1990 Nissan bluebird 1.8 LX bought for 33 pounds from a posh car dealer in Brighton- Was so mint I gave it to my mother in law (Who traded it in for a Cmax Yuk!).

1977 Allegro. Had been used as an extra when they filmed Ashes to Ashes. One side was mint and polished, the other had been badly damaged in a fire. I paid 60 pounds, tidied it up and sold it for 500.

1983 Maestro, think it was a City. Was very clean and tidy for 15 pounds with six months t+t. Gave the wife lessons to drive in it. It went straight through its next MOT but then got wiped out by a Lorry 

Must be five years since I've last had a bargain. Prices do seem to have skyrocketed.

[surprisingskoda]

A few years ago my local ATS depot manager called me and said "you like Skodas right?" Another customer of his had tried to get her Felicia through the MOT and it kept failing so she had bought a Clio. I was given her number, went round, she said I could have the car if I looked after it but it had half a tank of juice in it. I gave her £17.01, the contents of my pockets, and drove it home.
MOT said the rear wheel bearing was done, had that replaced and it went through.
£30.50+£18.50 MOT fees + £17 + bearing + fitting = Car with years test for under £100.
Sold it two weeks later to a mate for £200 and regretted it since, as it was a clean low miler with no issues at all.

Plenty of others (and a few free) but that's one of the fondest I remember.

[Dave Dorson]

Most the bargains I've had are moderntoss.

I've picked up a few £50 cars with decent ticket on that have needed nothing more than some tyres discs and pads to see another 12 months of service.

[d28]

Best deal I had was a BMW 328 that I bought for £300 about 2 years ago. I got it, tidied it up a bit and sold it for £800ish. I always look out for cheap stuff to try to earn some extra dosh

[sasquar]

I do fairly well with rent-a-wrecks.....

Had a rover 100 (metro with a k series) from my cousin for scrap money, £50 with a few months mot and tax on it as she needed it out of the way (the downside being it was in biggleswade, and i live in dorset). I actually did quite a bit of 'work' to that, albiet mostly filler, and it ended up looking reasonably tidy, and drove it while i was at uni, probably clocked up 20k miles with the only essential expenditure being tyres and an exhaust backbox. Sold it to a guy who latterly bumped in to me halfway up a italian mountain in a snowstorm, but thats another story......

That was replaced with a mk3 astra estate, cost £55, had about 6 moths tax and test on it, only three correct wheels, the other having completely the wrong pcd and some VERY scary bolts holding it on. Really liked that one, although eventually i ended up putting it in the naughty corner after the central locking played up, I covered a TON of miles in this car (easily 50k, quite possibly a lot more), did a far bit of work to it, although nothing expensive ever went wrong, and it never failed to get me home (in fact NONE of my wrecks have ever failed to get me home). Most amusing one with that car was the rear shock mount snapping on the way up to see my better half in somerset...... I found a nice high curb, bumped it up and preceded to use the wheel brace to remove the shock and carry on my journey...... Things i think that car had while i owned it in no particulr order, 2 rear arches, colour coded bumpers, 2 cambelts, hydraulic tappets, water pump, starter motor, backbox and a leather interior out of a calibra..... eventually got broken up and scrapped

At the same time as the above astra, I got offered a top spec rover 216 (bubble shape) which was on its way to the scrappy. The car had been owned by a lovely young lady who was perhaps a little friendlier than she should have been with someone elses other half, and the car got covered in paint stripper one night. Once all the insurance was settled, her neighbour who happened to be a very good friend of mine ended up with it, driving it as it was, black/paint strippered/rusty as he was car less at the time. It evetually ended up with another mate who painted it with blackboard paint and finally ended up with me as my missus became car-less just as he needed it out of the way. We had it for 3-4 years probably, chucked another set of wheels and tyres on and a pair of front shocks and it was good as gold. My better half really liked it so we borrowed the works paint booth to repaint it one weekend, but despite the primer going on perfectly, the top coat reacted terribly, so it ended up 'shiney black snakeskin look' which wasnt ideal. This one eventually got scrapped after the alternator died. I got another one, but didnt get round to fitting it and during that time we hadnt used the car at all, or missed it, and the inside had gone mouldy and neither my better half or i fancied cleaning it, so it got broken up and scrapped.....

Got a mk3 astra hatch 1.4mpi that my folks had actually bought brand new some 15yrs previously offered to me, from the people that had bought it off my parents when they were offered £100 trade in (i think, it might actually have been £120) so decided that as id known it since the day it hit the road, it would be a reasonable bet. Chucked a second hand set of alloys with tyres (cheaper than i could find just tyres?!?!) on and put another 20k miles or so on it, before a mate needed a car more than i did, so sold it to him. It evetually got scrapped after his ownership, (although he did offer it back to me) 150k miles on its original clutch, don't think it did too bad really!!

My mums friend had just bought a new car and was looking to get rid of the old one, and wanted to know how she should go around scrapping it as it was more than a bit beat up (she freely admits to having 'spacial awareness issues') 'We buy any car' had offered her a couple of hundred quid for it, but shes not stupid, and figured they would knock her on the price as soon as they saw it, so thought it easier to just weigh in. I enquired as to what vehicle it was, as you do (or i do anyway) thinking it might be worth breaking for a few quid or something interesting etc, to be told its a petrol mondeo estate automatic. what engine size? no idea...... seriously!?!? Anyway, my way of thinking, petrol mondeo = zetec = good kit car engine (id just, the same day been offered a kit car, which ill cover in a minute). Got my ma to speak to her, and said that if she was alright with it, i would collect it and nick the engine before scrapping the rest and would pay her the full bridge price. She gets it gone, i get a cheap, low stressed engine...... Arranged that i would collect on the tuesday, got a phone call on the sunday, saying, can she just drop it at my work so the new car can have its space on the drive tomorrow morning? Its still taxed and insured, so we'll drive it down there..... ok, fair enough, but I'm away, frantic phone call to my old man, who offers to meet her at work when she drops it off and give her a lift home.....
Couple of hours later, phone rings, its my dad.... errr Pete, what do you know about this car? not much, auto mondeo, petrol, tatty, thats about it...... how old do you think it is? dunno really, Sally wasnt exactly specefic about it, I'm assuming 95-6ish?? Nope, its on a 51 plate..... also its a 2l, goes like hell.... I'm thinking, damn, not a zetec then, thats a shame..... wait, that means its a duratec, even better!!!
I got back late sunday, and had a look round it, 4 brand new tyres, interior perfect, engine on about 80k with a full ford service history, and a dent/scratch on every panel except the roof and the tailgate.....
I couldnt decide whether to break it or drive it, so spoke nicely to my neighbours at work who do mots and got them to test it for me.... it failed, aparently the headlights were out of adjustment. what else.... nothing, no advisories, its mint, other than the outside, never wanted for anything..... I ended up taking sally the weighbridge money (£150, - scrap was v high) and a bottle of wine, and she was delighted that i was going to drive it!! I actually still have this, although its no longer on the road, currently doing shed duty out the back of work. After putting 40k on the clock (during which time it had a new front spring and strut) it needed top mounts and a set of rear brake pads, but it also got me a nasty bill after i got a bit carried away on the way home one day and got zapped by a laser by the old bill. couple that with 25mpg at best, and a new rent a wreck arriving, meant that it was mothballed until i can get the engine out.

The same day as the above, i got offered a kit car by a chap i know through work, part built, unknown, but the welding was good. The story went, that he was building two for a bloke, this one and another one, got the chassis finished and the guy sort of run out of money. Lee arranged with him, that rather than fall out, he would take one of them to cover the money owing and they would part as friends. Fast forward a few years, and Lees just bought another mk5 cortina, but has no space left, so one of the other cars has got to go (he had quite a few). 'let me know if you know anyone that wants one of them, ill do a decent deal, i need the space'.... I asked about the kit car (lotus 7 style) that i knew he had..... If its for you he says, ill do you a killer deal, Ill give it too you, but theres two conditions...... 1, you have to take EVERYTHING thats with it, and 2 i need it gone pdq, two weeks max. I probably should mention at this point, that Lee lives in coventry and I live in dorset. As luck would have it, we were planning to visit some friends to help them move house that weekend in manchester (as you do) so rather than go in the car, i hired a lwb transit and moved our friends a little quicker than planned, and colletced the kit car on the way back......

Just before the mondeo was due its mot (which i knew it would need some bits for) i got offered my old mans old mk3 astra estate (1.6 16v) for much cheapness.... it had been sold to a friend, who ran it for 5 years or so, but had been offered pennies for it on a trade in.... think i might have given £50 for it, chucked a spare coil pack on it, as it had a slight missfire, and drove it for a year or two until something 'better' came along.....

Better being a relative term, last jan, one of the guys walks into work after xmas and says, do you know anyone that wants a cheap focus, done quite a lot of miles, no mot, but nothing wrong with it. The women in the flat above him had got a insurance payout for something or other and treated herself to a new car. If no one wants it, shes going to scrap it...... Gave £100 for it, which was bridge price this time last year (how things change) chucking it in for a mot, failed. Polished the headlights, and it passed, no advisories. Done 10k in it in the last year, no problems, just passed the mot again, although this time i got an advisory as its nearly due front pads (i knew this, nearly due is not the same as due....) 1.6, 16v petrol, not exiting in any way, but the missus runs it as her everyday car. Just remmbered, i also splashed out on this one, and it got a 'new' wing mirror too, so it might actually owe me £120 now......

I *may* have writted a tad more than I planned, but you did ask, and i have had a lot of curse word cars...... These are just the ones ive had on the road!!

In terms of finding bargains, its really a case of being in the right place at the right time, and with the cash, available space, and ability to move stuff. Although as i appear to have demonstrated, once people know you like a bargain, these things have a way of finding you..... A car trailer and a friendly farmer help out the latter two, and only buying cheap curse word helps the cash one, the rest is luck!!

[sasquar]

Also just thought, my mini found me when i was 13 (£115), and my renault master camper also found me via a freind, but i appear to have already written an essay and a half, so less about these the better.....

[feeenix14]

I think proper bargains are had through word of mouth, ebay isn't the same anymore - i think cos everyones searching for a bargain.

I do have a tale of a bargain that i was told about through word of mouth, but it just didnt work out, the day of buying it was an absolute debacle and i walked away in the end, its definitely the one that got away that i do regret regularly.

My brother told me of a gunmetal grey 205 gti - 1.9 with the leather and everything, lad was going to Uni on the monday so needed it gone that weekend - he had recently reversed it into a post or something so the tailgate was damaged. Happy days, back then tailgates were picked up for peanuts. It was about a 50 minute drive so i talked a mate of mine to drive over on the sunday. So we turn up on this lads doorstep, his Dad answers in a bad mood with the lad because hes left literally everything til the last minute before he disappears to uni but happy we were getting rid of this eyesore on his driveway, good i thought - hes going to force this kid to get rid no matter what i pay.
The young lad comes down and is fine so we go and look at the car, first thing i notice - no leather seats. apparently they were at his mates - ok then ring him and send him over with them so i can take them all in one go (his mate was a half hour drive away)
Second thing - no tax, not a big deal but i was told it was mot'd and taxed so i could drive away, now i couldnt but still not a deal breaker.
Third thing - the tailgate was mullered - to a point it wouldnt click shut, it just flapped around - again i just kept saying to myself "stick with it, its a good car and you'll get i t for peanuts" all the time I'm having to go over to my mate saying - we might have to wait a bit . . we might have to go post office . . we might have to tow it
Fourth thing - we take it for a test drive, he lives in a village and as usual theres a nice private type country lane thing which he drives it to and i take over - at which point it dies. no petrol. Again i keep repeating my "stick with it" mantra. wheres the nearest petrol station mate ? not too far ? ok then. i ask my mate to take us to this "nearby" petrol station which is about a 25 minute drive just to get to!! Again I'm whispering in my mates ear "sorry pal, ill give you some more petrol money"
Fifth thing - and the deal breaker - we take 50 minutes to get petrol and get back to the stranded car, so me and this lad are walking up to the car, he strolls around to the petrol cap and just facepalms and starts apologising to me. the petrol cap key is on the other set. which is at another mates house even further away.
It was at this point i just chuckled and said "you know what buddy, i think i'll leave it, you want a lift home?"
So wo get in my mates car and this lad is sat on the back seat nearly in tears. I reckon if id just said heres £50 give me what youve got and ill sort it he would have said yes at that point. We both actually felt bad for him but jeezus christ it was a frikkin nightmare. But i reckon that car would have been mint with a few bits on it. I considered going back a week later while the lad was at Uni and just dealing with his old man but just could'nt face it again.

[stevepeanut]

Feb 4, 2016 8:49:03 GMT SmokeEm said:

Feb 3, 2016 17:54:50 GMT stevepeanut said:

I've had a couple of amazing motorbike deals. Once I was on a Capri forum and one of the lads knew I was into bikes, his best mate had bought a brand new bike and had asked him to get rid of the old one, he wasn't bothered about big money for it. I scored a nice Honda ntv650 for £150.

That was from me..

We didn't meet as I was busy but you collected from my Dad.

Cool, I didn't realise you were on here!

[Davey]

Free k11 Micra with a years ticket.
Which I swapped for a mk6 escorts estate which I sold for £600
Free seat marbella that was as clean as anything.
£200 mk3 astra in Vauxhall racing pink with a years test.
£300 for the cleanest b5 passat I've ever seen.

Don't think I've ever paid more that £1000 for a car including my BMW 328 and my lexus gs300...

Think I do quite well.

[dodgerover]

Since the road tax rules changed plus not being on anybody's traders policy anymore I haven't bothered with cars at all, too much hard work for too little return. I got offered t&t modern stuff regularly at what the frag yard would pay.

Obviously this would go out of the window if someone offered me something I really wanted and I'm sure I could convince myself it was a bargain whatever the price:)

[highvoltage]

Had a few but not recently sadly..
Mk2 XR2 with a years ticket for £200
Super solid MK1 Polo in yellow with seized brakes for £50,freed em off and got a years test on it easily.
Yamaha RS100 non runner for £30 that just needed a new spark plug.

Free 5 year old Renault 5 Extra van that also came with a free Mk3 Escort estate.The Escort had a dead oil pump and was bridged.The Renault i ran around in for a while before swapping it for a very tidy Volvo 245 estate plus cash my way.Ran the Volvo a while then moved that on to an antique dealer for a decent sum.

[Rebuilda]

£50 from exchange and mart as a non runner, had been standing for five years...
It needed the low tension wire on the dizzy, plug in the hole in the fuel tank and a bit of brake adjustment to get a ticket. Never looked back and still have it, all be it with a new body in 2007...


I miss the exchange and mart site.. or is it still going