Potential New Car, but... possibly now written off!
We are in the market for a new (well, new to us) motor. Decided on an Astra, again.Anyway, We have a budget and an idea on age and mileage. But we were thrown a curveball today.
Stumbled across a 1.6 Elite but it is a bit older than what we were after. it is a 2015 (but a 64 plate) but only has 11,000 miles on the clock. Ex mobility so full Vauxhall service history.
It is in a bit of a state at the moment. Dings around the drivers door frame (possibly off sticks / crutches) but the garage assures up they'll have been addressed before we pick it up. Likewise a scratch on the 'chrome' trim around the back window (scratch follows through into the glass). I'm a bit dubious as I suspect they'll have to fork out a fair bit to fix everything.
Also, it is covered in white dust, like they've raced home from the Crematorium with the windows down and no lid on the urn! Guy said it is polish as it has probably been sitting in a Mobility garage while cars around it have been getting machine polished.
Am I right to be sceptical about the repairs? And does that sound right about the dust? From experience, they'll do there best & if you're not happy, walk away. My neighbour has a Motability car and I know they're very well maintained - always serviced by local main dealer (Ford, in his case). When they change cars, they get something like £250 back if it's in good cosmetic order (which "your" Astra sounds like it isn't so the previous owner presumably forfeited).
One of my neighbour's previous cars was bought from Motability by another neighbour - he's probably had it 6 years, so it's probably 8-9 years old) and still going strong.
Assuming it hasn't been modified in any way, I'd be giving it serious consideration.
I would guess the dealer would prepare it like any other used car so, when you (or someone else) buys it it'll be in as good a condition as possible.
Why not tell them your reservations about its appearance, offer to put a deposit on on the proviso you can walk away if you're not happy when they've done the work? My guess is that they will try and clean it up as cheaply as possible, I can’t imagine they will get all the scratches and dings fixed properly because it will cost them too much.
This is the sort of thing we experienced when looking at cars for my son (we were looking for nearly new in immaculate condition) - so when we spotted some kerb rash in a car that had been described as sporless we were told “yes don’t worry that will all be fixed as good as new by the time you pick it up” - sounds great, but I pushed a little more about how they were going to fix it, and they had to admit that they were just going to use touch up paint - so the scrape would still be there just harder to spot.
So if there are scratches on the body I suspect they intend to touch up with a paint stick rather a full or partial panel respray.
Find out how commited you once you have signed - can you walk away, get your deposit back if it isn’t to your liking.As direct questions about how they are going to address each fault in such a way that they can’t give vague answers.And record (wriiten) what they are going to do.Even write in on the agreement that you sign.
Cheers,
Nigel Ref deposit & walk away, get it in writing from the main manager. Otherwise, you won't get it back. Great suggestions, some handy stuff there. I asked about the dings in the door frame and they said they would be using a panel puller then respraying the area. I'm assuming a touch-up.
My main concern is the scratch on the chrome window trim and rear window. That'll cost me a fair bit if they don't sort it.
As for the powder, I've read everything from AC compressor going to airbag deployment.
Going back for a test drive today, but at the moment there are too many questions.
Thanks guys! If it "smells wrong" I'd walk away, you'll never shake the feeling that there's something up with it.
There are a lot of Astras to choose from data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 Probably will need a clutch. Based on? An assumption of a motility driver riding the clutch? ie with no basis whatsoever data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7