Section : Advice for Buyers / New Owners

help pls

Posted By : Huw Harrison, 24-Nov-2003, 08:24am

• help pls

  Posted By : John Fannon, 24-Nov-2003, 10:04am

  £4K Sounds a lot to me given that the vendor probably wants to get rid of it before winter. I bought a saloon recently for £2250 in good nick, and this came with a folder full of history (old MOTs, receipts, photos of rebuild etc etc). If it doesn't come with history I would be very wary of spending £4k. One or two odd jobs could turn into more than that on investigation....if it needs things doing I would definately offer less. Not even seeing the car, I would offer £3500 at the most, there can't be too many other buyers around at this time of year.
  
  John

• help pls

  Posted By : Gary Wallis, 25-Nov-2003, 10:06pm

  My advice is be very careful. My own very recent experience is in purchasing a 2L Mk11 where the windcreen wipers had a "Loose connection" (read: new wiper motor) "needs a run to charge the Battery" (read: new generator and new battery) "needs a new speedo cable" (read: Re-build or replace speedo and sender) "not sure if these carbs are original but work ok" (read; wrong sized carbs, 10 mpg and impossible to balance.)
  
  So make sure that those few weekend jobs are what they appear to be. I spent 2.5 k on what seemed an original car and ended up spending another 1K and more than a few weekends, around 60 hours.
  
  But we all love it anyway!!
  
  regards
  
  
  Gary wallis

• help pls

  Posted By : Ian Aston, 26-Nov-2003, 09:19pm

  Huw
  
  My only advice would be to look at a few!
  
  I decided a while back that I wanted a Vitesse and quickly narrowed that down to a MKII convertible.
  
  I liked the first one I saw - I could have had it for £3k but it had been resprayed and I wanted one in the original colour.
  
  The next one I saw had been "garaged all its life". Unfortunately the inside of the garage its spent the last few years in was wetter than the car deck of the Titanic. I drove 150 miles to view what sounded like a great car (should have guessed I suppose for £1,500!) but knew the second I saw it that it wasn't for me (MKI bonnet on MKII car didn't help on first assessment!!)
  
  Fortunately I was able to view a peach at short notice on the way home and 8 days later I was the proud owner of the best one I'd seen - and I was probably lucky to find one I wanted after only seeing 3.
  
  Don't rush, and remember that a chunk of £4k can buy quite a lot of work - check out eBay, view a few and even better try and take a club member along to view with you.
  
  Good luck!
  
  Ian
  

  • help pls - sorted

    Posted By : Huw Harrison, 27-Nov-2003, 06:13pm

    Cheers chaps
    
    Decided against original car £3,750 was just a bit too much....Have bought a MK II convertable 1971 White with Black interior OD etc etc....Needs a bit of TLC but is legal looks quite good runs like a dream looking forward to getting fingers dirty...And was a bit more in budget wife is very happy!!! Thanks for all the advice feel very happy with purchase and am still in the smiling stage whenever I think about it ....
    
    
    Huw

    • help pls - sorted

      Posted By : David Bowers, 10-Dec-2003, 02:27pm

      Hi Huw
      
      Is your Vitesse a 1971 built car? i.e. does it have an ignition lock? Have you also filled in your IVR yet?
      
      Cheers
      David

      • help pls - sorted

        Posted By : Huw Harrison, 10-Dec-2003, 04:46pm

        Hi David
        
        No it must be a 1970 as the first reg date is 01/01/1971....Must of been a keen dealer ??
        
        The IVR is part filled in just awaiting the Doc's to come back form DVLC and will fill in the remaining gaps, and send of with some piccies...
        
        Huw