New to the forum and just after some advice on a used Corsa I am interested in purchasing.
Its got 122k on the clock. I was ideally looking for something with lower mileage but I am being swayed as its just what I'm looking for in my budget (800-1000). Should I let this put me off, or does it depend on how well it's been looked after? 2004 model 1.2 sxi
Thanks in advance!
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At that age, price bracket and mileage, condition is everything. Which means look at it all. Does it look like it's been cared for, cleaned, washed occasionally. Are the seats in good nick, no rips and burns, are the tyres of a reasonable make and (hopefully) all the same make (especially on the same axle). Is there service history (preferably in the form of a pile of receipts), is there a pile of the old MOT certificates (even though MOT history is all online now)
Things like that show a car has been looked after. That the owner actually did more than just drive it, they looked after it, and had the money to spend on keeping it in decent condition.
None of that ? You might as well buy a car down the auction.
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Thanks for the advice, I will take all of that on board as I am going to look at it tonight and it's good to know what I should be looking for. It does seem in very good condition and I have been informed that the previous owner really looked after it and kept it well maintained. I will ask to see receipts etc.
There is also a Micra a couple of years older with much lower mileage, so I am torn between them both!
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I have been informed that the previous owner really looked after it and kept it well maintained.
To paraphrase Mandy Rice-Davies: "He would say that, wouldn't he?"
I guess you're buying from a dealer/salesman. Ignore every word of what they tell you and form your own opinion. Don't believe a word they say, unless they put it in writing and sign it!
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<< I guess you're buying from a dealer/salesman. Ignore every word of what they tell you and form your own opinion. Don't believe a word they say, unless they put it in writing and sign it! >>
If a 'dealer/salesman' is selling a car in that price range, definitely take everything with a pinch of salt. If it's a private seller, judge his character from his surroundings - you may get a bargain. Ask for all paperwork, especially servicing history. If it's all been binned, maybe look elsewhere. If there are few owners that may mean the car is reliable enough; if many, no-one wants to keep it for long.
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At that age, price bracket and mileage, condition is everything.
Totally agree.
Someone with more knowledge of these cars will no doubt be along in a moment but aren't these cars well known to suffer from problems with the camshaft coming lose and shearing in half rendering the engine useless? Something to do with some bolts that need to be checked regularly.
I've not read the car by car guide myself but there will be one on this site and they are usually very good at listing known problems.
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I think you will find the camshaft bolt issue only affects 2005 twin-port models.The op lists the car as a 2004 .Should be fine.
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There is also a Micra a couple of years older with much lower mileage, so I am torn between them both!
Remember : really low mileage is your enemy, especially so on a 10+ year old car !
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Unfortunately an old Micra can be just as much bother as a old Corsa-shouldn't be but they are.
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There is also a Micra a couple of years older with much lower mileage, so I am torn between them both!
Remember : really low mileage is your enemy, especially so on a 10+ year old car !
Ok I need to be aware of that obviously..... Is there an average I should use as a benchmark? The Micra for instance is 2002 with 55k on the clock, would you be wary?
It's a minefield!
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I never take mileage into account when buying an old car, I always go by sound ie no rattles cam knock squeeks and squeels /tappets ok ,condition ie looks clean not been cleaned or jetwashed just normal dirt/dust under bonnet no oil leaks, some oil seepage is acceptable as long as its not dripping.
and sounds quiet, as long as oil/filter has been changed on a regular basis there is no reason a low mileage will be any worse than a high one, Though I dont agree with anyone getting a low cc engine, anything over 1.3 in my opinion should last, below that I think are a waste of space economy and power wise but as I said thats my opinion
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I would go for the Corsa, I have seen plenty go on for over 150,000 miles and its a lot more spacious and potentially cheaper to insure than the micra.
A 2002 micra could be the Renault parts micra (Mark 3) which eats timing chains amongst many other electrical gremlins, if its the older Nissan micra (Mark 2) then it's worthy of consideration as they can go on for ever if the engine gets serviced at the correct intervals.
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In my mis-spent youth, I regularly used to remove up to 50% of Vauxhall mileages and even so-called "experts" couldn't tell, indeed thought the cars were in excellent condition so I've never believed any car mileage unless it's my own car bought from new.
I've reformed of course but I doubt others have!
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A lot harder these days, with the MOT database online and easily checkable. With a couple of minutes of work you've got the mileage at every single MOT since 2005.
So to be on a con, the owner would need to be 'adjusting' the mileage every year, before the MOT was carried out. In the case of a car this old, not very likely.
I'd be far more concerned about that happening with ex-lease cars. People have been known to take out a low-mileage limit lease, but do a lot of mileage, and get the mileage dropped back down using the mileage 'correction' services, before handing the cars back at the end of the lease.
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