First, assume this :
Any 'executive' car that is for sale at this sort of price needs money spending on it. That is why it is for sale. If it's a private seller, then they're just wanting to get shut of it before the MOT comes round. If it's a trader, then they've bought it for £500 FROM a private seller who was desperate to get shot of it, or from the auctions where it had been dumped.
So, if you have £1200 to spend on a car, then you need to have another £1000 or so for the inevitable bill for something serious in the next few months.
That 'serious' thing might not be a failure. It might be the routine cambelt and waterpump on the 1.9 Tdi engined cars (£300 or so). Or it might be terminal.
Of course, you can skip the cambelt change. But they're a bit notorious for failure, and if they go, the car is scrap.
Buying a car such as this, at that price bracket, is a recipe for disaster.
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