S7EV3N

I currently own a Leon Cupra but my mate will be taking it of my hands in the next few days. Yipee !!!! Means that i can now buy my 1st scoobie now that i can cover the insurance. Need your expert advice on the what i should pay for a Scoobie. The one im after is in a main dealer and is as follows

99S Impreza Turbo Wagon, Silver with silver wheels, one owner (the dealer that has it just now, sold it originally and done all servicing) FMDSH, 61,000 miles immaculate condition inside and out apart from very slight scuffing on wheels. It has an electric sunroof (dealer fitted) and a Clifford Cat 1 alarm, even the engine bay is spotless, brakes and tyres all seem good. Its up for £8995. Does this sound like a fair price.



If i do get it is there anything i need to look out for on a car of this age and mileage? Timing belt was done at 45,000 i think.

micared

Doesn't hurt to bid him in the bollocks, so to speak....find something it hasn't got, to use as a lever on the price ( like aircon? ) and make a song and dance about how much you like the car, and that you'd buy it if it only had aircon....then point out that you know it costs a grand to retrofit...let him think you'll bring it back to have it fitted by them, shortly after purchase, or better still , don't tell him you know the price of it and go to the parts counter with him.....when the parts guy tells him, in front of you, how much it is, you'll feel justified in getting mucked into him, pricewise....the other ploy is to disarmingly tell him that you think the car is worth every penny of the asking price, but that all you have is ( insert any figure representing much less than they want ), you'd be surprised at how often this works. Work on the basis that a main dealer will almost certainly have a car of that price up for £1500 more than he paid for it. You should look to get a grand off.
At that mileage, check the history to see if the clutch has been replaced, if not, can you make it slip, does the pedal feel heavy? Clutch judder is common when cold, if it's not excessive, and goes away when warm, probably O.K....nevertheless, tell the salesman you're aware of it, see what he's prepared to do about it. If the brakes don't feel great, again, probably nothing to worry about as, well, they're just not great. However, it should pull up square, obviously.
The main reason to purchase from a main dealer, imo, is to get a decent warranty....a MY99 on an 'S' isn't likely to have much, if any, of it's original manufacturers warranty left, even if it was extended....I only paid £9300 for my MY00 ( was originally up for £12500, amongst other things, I used the aircon ploy ) on an "X", with 40k and fsh, and that was 15 months ago! Admittedly, it's an EU import, and it was a private sale, without any meaningful warranty, but it gives you some insight into what's available, if you broaden your sights. Good luck, don't buy the first one you see, there's loads out there....buying a " known " car from the for sale section on here might be another wise consideration!

S7EV3N

Good advice. Much appreciated. Ive managed to look at a couple but this one seems best for me.

I went to glass's guide and paid for a valuation in the hope that this would show a lower value for the Impreza and give me the upper hand. It appears to worth £9,700 retail. Just to make things a little harder, the sale of the car i took as trade in for the cupra fell through. Cash would put me in a much better position with the dealer.

Anyone intersted in buying a 52 plate Astra SXi, 3 door, nice blue colour with 16,000miles. FMDSH. One owner nice condition. Its the newer model with silver dash and gearknob. Books at about £7790 retail, but £6500ish would do for me.

Im in the west of scotland. Might as well show it in here before the autotrader.

S7EV3N

Forgot to say.....If anyone sees this and is selling a nice Impreza Turbo for a similar price then let me know. Must be pretty much standard, nice condition and lowish miles. Also not too far from west of scotland.

micared

That glass price seems very strong....I appreciate that's for a dealer car, but you'll get a much more realistic impression of values by looking at prices of cars for sale on here, tbh. The dealer already clearly accepts that the guide price isn't significant, as he's advertising the car for less. If you pursue a car of that age through a main dealer, put pressure on them to give you a proper warranty, if they won't, you may as well buy one privately, and save what I would expect to be a significant amount. Also, wagons seem to sell for less than saloons, or so it would seem on here.
Might be worth putting an ad in the for sale section on here for the astra....people here are always on about buying another car for their other half, etc.
Happy selling/buying!

Edited to remove inaccuracy!

yorkmeister

sold mine for £7500 - keep your eyes open and you can get them for a bargain price!

http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=304896

davegtt

sounds steep to me for an S plater, think you should be looking between 7-8k tbh8k should get u an immaculate S plate there are loads for sale, if u check out the classifieds on here you'll see how every1 seems to be struggling to sell at the mo so you shoul dhave the pic of the bunch

IN THE STICKS

Seems a bit on the high side , but I guess main dealers do tend to be top price .For that money you could get a fine 99 model , with the minor updates they got back then . Check out here http://www.sidc.co.uk/faq.htm to see about model history if you haven't done so already .

S7EV3N

Went back today and had a test drive. Didnt get to drive it too fast due to traffic, but very impressed. The guy offered me 5750 for the astra therefor 3250 to change. Told him no chance.....i was thinking the astra plus no more than 2500. Cash price for the car would be 8600. Again....a bit too much if u ask me........so still on the look out. Any nice standard Turbo's for sale preferably in Scotland then let me know. I could manage a private buy if the right one came up as my dad could lend me the cash till the astra was gone.

S7EV3N

Final instalment........just bought a Impreza Wagon tonight. I collect on sunday. Private deal........immaculate car with fsh for £7700.

chris's scooby

Then may i be the 1st to welcome u as a scooby owner!!!

Many happy hours of standing at the petrol pumps await you as do trying to find cheap tyres- but seriously, just enjoy, you'll have a lot of fun.

Chris's scooby.

Terzo 333

It isn't a Wagon, but let me know if you are interested in mine. I could maybe meet you half way between Harrogate and Scotland if you are interested...

http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=327161

Matt

S7EV3N

Sorry mate just bought one privately. If it falls through then Ill let you know.
Appreciate the offer anyway. Looks like a nice motor

micared

Well done, that didn't take long.
What year and mileage did you end up with?

S7EV3N

Once i found out the insurance was possible i knew i would have one within weeks. Bought one from a friend of a friend, so know where its been for about 18 months. Its a 99T plate wagon, 77,000miles, FSH, (main dealer then specialist) dark blue, silver alloys x 7, cat 1 alarm, newer model with momo steering wheel and wood dash(thought that was a bit strange in a rally car), immaculate condition apart from one ding on the drivers door(will be fixed by me) totally standard. As i said before, im paying £7700 collect on sunday.

So sale of the Astra is now even more important.