Gongumenn

Buying a car

General

Group: Administrator, Klikan, Regulars, Outsiders

Location: Denmark

Joined: 08.06.06

Posted on 09-08-2009 13:51

Having at long last gotten my drivers license, I have been thinking about buying a used car.

My budget is somewhere around 30-40k, and I hope that will be enough to get me a decent vehicle that wont give me too many problems the next 2-3 years.

So far, I have my eye on this one:

http://www.sel.fo/Showcar.aspx?Id=6873

If I get him to run it through "sýn", you think it's worth 40k?

Knowing nothing whatsoever about cars, I'm completely out of my depth here...any advice/mentoring is more than welcome.

You want to tempt the wrath of the whatever from high atop the thing?

RE: Buying a car

General

Group: Administrator, Klikan, Regulars, Outsiders

Location: Denmark

Joined: 08.06.06

Posted on 09-08-2009 13:55

Here's another car I've been looking at:

http://www.reyniservice.fo/Default.aspx?pageid=5688&CarID=900913

Would you give 35k for this one?

You want to tempt the wrath of the whatever from high atop the thing?

fjallsbak

RE: Buying a car

Familiar

Group: Klikan

Location: Tórshavn

Joined: 02.07.06

Posted on 09-08-2009 14:50

It is a bit of a lottery buying a used car. Especially when it has over a 100.000 km. Some work fine for years, others have problems right away.

I would ask to test drive all the cars I was looking at. When test driving the car I would bring someone that knows about cars with me. Jogvanth seems the obvious choise.

I would try and buy a car with only one previous owner if possible.

I would try to stick to a know car brand.

Ask what know problems have been in the past, and if the car has been in any accidents.

When buying from a dealership, I have heard that if they don't reduce the original list price, then you have been ripped off.

It is currently difficult to sell used cars, so the dealerships are probbaly willing to reduce the price of cars just outside your range into your price range.

And look at several cars, that way you have a better chance of avoiding the poor cars.

Roffen

RE: Buying a car

Veteran

Group: Regulars

Location: Copenhagen

Joined: 12.11.06

Posted on 09-08-2009 16:04

Tú kannst fáa bilarnar nógv bíligari, um tú fert at tosa við Wenzel (Ford).
Teir liggja inni við nógvum bilum, og teir er vistnokk eitt sindur pressaðir. Har fær tú heilt sikkurt ein bil nógv bíligari enn 'listaprís'

Men ja, royndarkoyr bilin væl og tak onkran við, sum hevur skil uppá bilar eisini at hyggja eftir honum. Tað er eisini loyvi at fara til akstovuna at sýna bilin áðrenn tú keypir hann. Tað er kanska ikki so vælsæð av forhandlaranum, men so snýtir tú ikki teg sjálvan (meira enn neyðugt!)

Í hesum døgum loysir tað seg næstan ikki at keypa bilar privat, tí forhandlarnir dumpa prísin og privat fólk vilja ikki seta prísin so langt niður.

OKJones

RE: Buying a car

Commander

Group: Klikan

Location: Argir

Joined: 12.06.06

Posted on 09-08-2009 19:05

The results show the number of failures reported for every 100 vehicles (3 -9 years-old) covered by Warranty Direct’s policies.

And just so you understand what the numbers mean: Mazda, with a score of 8.04%, would mean that nearly 92 percent of the Mazda cars covered experienced no mechanical failure of any kind ... pretty darn good.

# 1. Mazda - 8.04%
# 2. Honda - 8.90%
# 3. Toyota - 15.78%
# 4. Mitsubishi - 17.04%
# 5. Kia - 17.39%
# 6. Subaru - 18.46%
# 7. Nissan - 18.86%
# 8. Lexus - 20.05%
# 9. Mini - 21.90%
# 10. Citroen - 25.98%
# 11. Daewoo - 26.30%
# 12. Hyundai - 26.36%
# 13. Peugeot - 26.59%
# 14. Ford - 26.76%
# 15. Suzuki - 27.20%
# 16. Porsche - 27.48%
# 17. Fiat - 28.49%
# 18. BMW - 28.64%
# 19. Vauxhall - 28.77%
# 20. Mercedes-Benz - 29.90%
# 21. Rover - 30.12%
# 22. Volvo - 31.28%
# 23. Volkswagen - 31.44%
# 24. Jaguar - 32.05%
# 25. Skoda - 32.12%
# 26. Chrysler - 34.90%
# 27. Audi - 36.74%
# 28. Seat - 36.87%
# 29. Renault - 36.87%
# 30. Alfa Romeo - 39.13%
# 31. Saab - 41.59%
# 32. Land Rover - 44.21%
# 33. Jeep - 46.36%

Why would I want to end every post the same way?

Boddin

RE: Buying a car

Regular

Group: Klikan

Location: Copenhagen

Joined: 19.06.06

Posted on 09-08-2009 23:33

FDM guide

RE: Buying a car

Field Marshal

Group: Administrator, Klikan, Regulars, Outsiders

Location: Copenhagen

Joined: 09.06.06

Posted on 10-08-2009 02:27

Auto Service hevur fleiri møguleikar til tín, t.d.:

Volkswagen Polo Classic 1,9SDi frá 2001, 160.000km, listaprísur 55.000,-

Peugeot 406 STDT 2,1, frá 1998, listaprísur 27.000,-

Felags fyri allar bilsølur eru at tær geva 5-20.000kr í avsláttri um tú ikki letur nakran bil inn í býti.

The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking.
- John Kenneth Galbraith

RE: Buying a car

General

Group: Klikan

Location: Hoyvík

Joined: 08.06.06

Posted on 10-08-2009 08:23

"Auto Service - BAAAAAAD!"

No decision is so fine as to not bind us to its consequences.
No consequence is so unexpected as to absolve us of our decisions.
Not even death.
-R. Scott Bakker. 'The Prince of Nothing'

RE: Buying a car

Field Marshal

Group: Administrator, Klikan, Regulars, Outsiders

Location: Copenhagen

Joined: 09.06.06

Posted on 10-08-2009 10:02

ok, i hear they are not any worse then say ivan, johns. berg or wenzel.

As cautionary tale I offer that my mother waited 5 months on getting her car fixed at Ivan. That is she gave them the car to get fixed in the middle of july last year and it came back in late november.

I've heard somewhat similar stories of johns. berg and wenzel.

Anyhow the Peugeot 406 seems like a good buy unless there is something really wrong with it.

The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking.
- John Kenneth Galbraith

Edited by Norlander on 10-08-2009 10:20

RE: Buying a car

General

Group: Klikan

Location: Hoyvík

Joined: 08.06.06

Posted on 10-08-2009 12:53

I sold my Ford Focus way to early, because I got mad at Wenzel's chief-mechanic and his blatant arrogance towards anyone who dared to slightly question or remark his methods, prices or decisions towards mending ones car. He never kept the quoted prices or the time-frame that he promised before starting the repairs. This same person is now the chief-mechanic at Auto Service, so I am strongly thinking about selling my Peugeot in favour of another brand, from another dealership.

VA130 is a green Peugeot 406 stationcar with manual transmission, cloth seats and a HUGE diesel engine that used to be a taxi.

It was my dad's first taxi, so I know the car pretty well. I'm not sure if I really want to know the mileage on it, since it was sold in 2003 (after being used as a taxi for 5 years) to a guy living in Vágar.

Upside: It's a good car. Comfortable. Spacious in the front and booth. Good, strong engine, that should still be good, if it has been serviced properly.

Downside: It's probably been driven halfway to the moon by now (figuratively speaking). It's not that spacious in the rear seats. It has a history of problems with its radiator, fan belt, front suspension and some smaller electrical things. (Don't know if these have been fixed, or they still are problems.)

No decision is so fine as to not bind us to its consequences.
No consequence is so unexpected as to absolve us of our decisions.
Not even death.
-R. Scott Bakker. 'The Prince of Nothing'

Edited by Jogvanth on 10-08-2009 13:06

RE: Buying a car

General

Group: Administrator, Klikan, Regulars, Outsiders

Location: Denmark

Joined: 08.06.06

Posted on 10-08-2009 14:05

Thanks for the feedback everyone. That's a very nice check-list there boddin, that I'll be using for sure.

Those are some nice options Norlander. The Polo looks interesting, but I'd rather go with the Opel Astra if I can get it cheaply. Opel isn't on Okjones' list...or is it not a real brand?

I have some additional questions. I've heard people talking about some CAM-belt that has to be changed at such and such miles and costs quite a bit. I'm guessing its the same with other parts, such as the exhaust. Should I ask about the dealship about these things? what else should they tell me about the car history? having one owner is definetly a good thing as lamech mentioned.

Think I'll pass on the VA130, given Jogvanths history report.

You want to tempt the wrath of the whatever from high atop the thing?

Vuzman

RE: Buying a car

Admiral

Group: Klikan, Outsiders, Administrator, Regulars

Location: Copenhagen, DK

Joined: 10.06.06

Posted on 10-08-2009 14:49

FDM has much more on buying used cars; there's a list of the current 10 most popular used cars (PDF), good and bad, and what to look for (the Astra is on the list).

There's a guide to buying used cars, much of this is specific to DK, but browsing the guide is probably a good idea.

Of course, there's even more for members; there's the price estimator for any given car, new or used, and there's the car database with lots of valuable information. Membership is 605 kr, which really is negligible considering what you're going to spend on the car itself.

When buying a car in DK, this membership would almost be required... FDM also has a used car test which saved me a lot of money when I bought my car; as part of the deal, the seller agreed to fix any flaws found by this test.
I know that you are not in DK, but you do work on a car ferry...

When I kill her, I'll have her
Die white girls, die white girls

Edited by Vuzman on 10-08-2009 14:50

RE: Buying a car

General

Group: Klikan

Location: Hoyvík

Joined: 08.06.06

Posted on 10-08-2009 15:15

There is a specific webpage that I know some of the dealerships in FO use as a guideline for what they are willing to give for a used car. Try it, and deduct 17%-20% of the danish price, and you'll get a somewhat price to be expected in FO.

No decision is so fine as to not bind us to its consequences.
No consequence is so unexpected as to absolve us of our decisions.
Not even death.
-R. Scott Bakker. 'The Prince of Nothing'

RE: Buying a car

Field Marshal

Group: Administrator, Klikan, Regulars, Outsiders

Location: Copenhagen

Joined: 09.06.06

Posted on 10-08-2009 15:33

Vuzman wrote:
FDM has much more on buying used cars; there's a list of the current 10 most popular used cars (PDF), good and bad, and what to look for (the Astra is on the list).

There's a guide to buying used cars, much of this is specific to DK, but browsing the guide is probably a good idea.

It's always good to browse, but buying a used car in the Faroes is quite a lot cheaper than doing so in Denmark (100% vis-a-vis 180% registration fee does that). Importing a used car is not recommended unless the car is quite expensive (mostly since you always have to pay 50%+ of the original price).

Faroese cars have different aging symptoms compared to danish cars. The mileage is never driven on highways & the likelihood of rust is a lot higher to name two points.

The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking.
- John Kenneth Galbraith

RE: Buying a car

General

Group: Klikan

Location: Hoyvík

Joined: 08.06.06

Posted on 10-08-2009 16:01

The Astra in question looks very good, with just two (2) rusty spots and slight damage on the rear bumper. But, it is of a model, that has had severe engine-problems. Several owners of cars of this type, have had to buy new engines, as the old engine seem to have a defect of some sort (the engine-valves, as far as I've gathered) so it might become costly. This specific car, has NOT changed engine, so it might become a problem.

No decision is so fine as to not bind us to its consequences.
No consequence is so unexpected as to absolve us of our decisions.
Not even death.
-R. Scott Bakker. 'The Prince of Nothing'

RE: Buying a car

General

Group: Administrator, Klikan, Regulars, Outsiders

Location: Denmark

Joined: 08.06.06

Posted on 10-08-2009 18:11

Not sure if reyniservice will let me run off to dk with the car vuz

but that site is very useful all the same.

Thomsen you're scaring me with that engine stuff...is there any way we can test for that beforehand?

You want to tempt the wrath of the whatever from high atop the thing?

RE: Buying a car

General

Group: Klikan

Location: Hoyvík

Joined: 08.06.06

Posted on 10-08-2009 18:42

Nope. But the salesman at Reyni Service is my second-cousin. He says that this car has not had it's engine changed, so it's basically a crap-shoot whether or not you're gonna get any trouble because of it. On the upside, he says that this type of engine, is relatively cheap.

No decision is so fine as to not bind us to its consequences.
No consequence is so unexpected as to absolve us of our decisions.
Not even death.
-R. Scott Bakker. 'The Prince of Nothing'

RE: Buying a car

General

Group: Administrator, Klikan, Regulars, Outsiders

Location: Denmark

Joined: 08.06.06

Posted on 11-08-2009 10:47

how about this one:

http://www.reyniservice.fo/Default.aspx?pageid=5688&CarID=900440

its 2 years younger than the astra and has driven less miles. Why only 4k more? is it because hyundai is a crappier brand than opel?

You want to tempt the wrath of the whatever from high atop the thing?

RE: Buying a car

Field Marshal

Group: Administrator, Klikan, Regulars, Outsiders

Location: Copenhagen

Joined: 09.06.06

Posted on 11-08-2009 10:55

Grizlas wrote:
how about this one:

http://www.reyniservice.fo/Default.aspx?pageid=5688&CarID=900440

its 2 years younger than the astra and has driven less miles. Why only 4k more? is it because hyundai is a crappier brand than opel?

Short answer: Yes

The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking.
- John Kenneth Galbraith