I am now officially boring!

Nutcase · 02-12-2012, 21:37

We have bought a family car. Aaargh

Em's car was a 3 door 2001 Micra with a whopping 1 litre engine and god-awful CVT auto transmission. With bubba on the way it was time to replace it.

Our way of picking what to look at was to see what we saw driving around. We both decided a Vauxhall meriva would be suitable (although just a tad bland from my point of view, but hey ho

). We couldn't find ANY suitable ones for sale privately.

So Saturday we went to look at one, a gold 59 plate with 26k miles on it semi-auto (Em hates manuals) for £5.5k.

When we got there, there was an old couple sitting in the office of the place and we quickly found they'd bought the one we were going to look at. Dammit.

They said they could get an identical one in in a few days, or they had a lower spec, 58 plate one with only 14k on it for £5k. What was the difference in spec? Steel wheels, no sunroof, no front fogs, no tray for the rear seats. When we looked at the one we were originally going to look it, it had lots of scratches, and the wheels were all kerbed. The older one was in much better condition (although still a couple of chips in the paint and a small scratch).

None of the extra features were of interest to us so we took the cheaper one for a test drive. Easytronic gearboxes are weird

Back in the office we decided we were interested, and asked if they'd do it for £4.5k but they said lowest was £4.6 so we said ok, but sort the stone chips out and give it a service and put 6 months tax on it. Deal done

We pick it up Sunday.

And today we put the micra on ebay - within 3 minutes of listing it, someone said they wanted to look at it, they came over, and offered the asking price. Job done

Zirax · 03-12-2012, 22:39

Thats a cracking deal. Its probably still running in! These days I go for a barge for the week and something more interesting at the weekend. For a general driving around auto >>>manual. There is no enjoyment to be had with a manual sat on a motorway or on the m25 in rush hour.

Nutcase · 13-12-2012, 20:52

There's a couple of bits and bobs I'm not overly happy about (regretting not actually giving it a GOOD look over) - all 4 tyres are scuffed at the sides from excessive kerbing - explains the brand new hubcaps, but my worry is wheel bearing damage. It only has one key. The front discs and pads are going to need doing relatively soon (so 14k of short journeys!).

Drives ok though and seems reasonably on petrol

02-12-2012, 21:37	#1
Nutcase Moonshine Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chelmsford, innit! Posts: 3,979	I am now officially boring! We have bought a family car. Aaargh Em's car was a 3 door 2001 Micra with a whopping 1 litre engine and god-awful CVT auto transmission. With bubba on the way it was time to replace it. Our way of picking what to look at was to see what we saw driving around. We both decided a Vauxhall meriva would be suitable (although just a tad bland from my point of view, but hey ho ). We couldn't find ANY suitable ones for sale privately. So Saturday we went to look at one, a gold 59 plate with 26k miles on it semi-auto (Em hates manuals) for £5.5k. When we got there, there was an old couple sitting in the office of the place and we quickly found they'd bought the one we were going to look at. Dammit. They said they could get an identical one in in a few days, or they had a lower spec, 58 plate one with only 14k on it for £5k. What was the difference in spec? Steel wheels, no sunroof, no front fogs, no tray for the rear seats. When we looked at the one we were originally going to look it, it had lots of scratches, and the wheels were all kerbed. The older one was in much better condition (although still a couple of chips in the paint and a small scratch). None of the extra features were of interest to us so we took the cheaper one for a test drive. Easytronic gearboxes are weird Back in the office we decided we were interested, and asked if they'd do it for £4.5k but they said lowest was £4.6 so we said ok, but sort the stone chips out and give it a service and put 6 months tax on it. Deal done We pick it up Sunday. And today we put the micra on ebay - within 3 minutes of listing it, someone said they wanted to look at it, they came over, and offered the asking price. Job done

03-12-2012, 22:39	#2
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Thats a cracking deal. Its probably still running in! These days I go for a barge for the week and something more interesting at the weekend. For a general driving around auto >>>manual. There is no enjoyment to be had with a manual sat on a motorway or on the m25 in rush hour.

13-12-2012, 20:52	#3
Nutcase Moonshine Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chelmsford, innit! Posts: 3,979	There's a couple of bits and bobs I'm not overly happy about (regretting not actually giving it a GOOD look over) - all 4 tyres are scuffed at the sides from excessive kerbing - explains the brand new hubcaps, but my worry is wheel bearing damage. It only has one key. The front discs and pads are going to need doing relatively soon (so 14k of short journeys!). Drives ok though and seems reasonably on petrol