Service histories

[Narcolepsy Jones]

Hi, folks. A quick boring question to the petrolheads, which seems to be half the forum. When you go to look at a car, how important really is the service history? I went to look at one the other day and it seemed absolutely fine, the only things against it was the bloke was a total arse and there was no service history, despite it only having two owners (ladies, apparently, as if it makes much difference).

Mother suggested it had either been in a crash or was stolen, but surely if you don't want a service history to contain details of a load of work done, you can just not give it to the garage when you get it repaired? There's a ton of vehicles out there without service histories, and I find it hard to believe they're all deathtraps.

[Narcolepsy Jones]

Just seen the little discussion in the shoutbox, so thanks gentlemen. But some more words from the older, cynical people like hinch (LOL hinch wise) would be nice.

[hinch]

well it depends how genuine the seller usually is tbh.

for example my car has no service history because I lost the book after an accident with an oil tank on its 2nd service but the cars done 110k and still runs and sounds sweet.

while service histories are a good idea to prove that it has been looked after they're not really essential most modern cars can go well over their service limits and have no adverse effects. having said that rule of thumb whenever buying a 2nd hand car first thing you do is take it to a garage you trust and get a full service done on it all filters, oil and get them to check plugs and injectors and timing belt.

also when viewing cars pop the oil cap and run your finger inside around the lip on the under of the rocker cover if its had a HG failure and not been repaired properly or they've just drained oil and refilled it to get rid without fixing you'll get a milky white sludge from just behind the lip. whereas a car with no HG failure or a properly repaired one will be clean or just plain oil.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...%3DI%26otn%3D2

That car for example I know is spot on (its being sold by a friend) has been well looked after and properly repaired (he's a mechanic) but it has no history.

basically its a judgement call.

other tips when buying a car is know the car you're going to look at research known problems and issues and check for signs of them when viewing the car.

[Narcolepsy Jones]

Cool, cheers. I won't be going back to the bloke I saw yesterday on principle. He tried to convince me that he had another interested party offering the screen price, but was going to let me have it if I matched them because I'd arranged to come and see it... anyway, I offered him 150 quid below the screen price just to test the waters, he refused and then rings me about 40 minutes later saying the other party doesn't want it until the end of January. And he seemed a little too keen to try and get shot of it. Bellend, really.

Also can you start a service history from the beginning of your ownership? Because if I want to sell a car on when I'm done with it, I don't want buyers thinking I'm a fucking crook.

[grindcore]

Buying tip: this is not just about vehicles, it's about anything that's been used really. In today's market situation, if the seller goes "I've got another guy who wants it so make up your mind", they are bluffing, 100%. They're desperate to sell their shit fast, they'll try anything to make you buy it there and now without going home and thinking about the price or the goods.

Your best bet: be thorough. Be calm, take your time. They've got their cars or whatever hanging around their lot for months, probably. They're just looking for a jackass to come and agree with the price they name. In most cases, you can easily rip 10-25% off their price and it'll be fair.

But you probably knew it all already

[Narcolepsy Jones]

Yeah, this guy was taking the absolute piss though. I'm meant to believe that someone came to look at it right before me, offered the screen price because they loved it so much, AND that he didn't sell it right there and then to them. I don't think he was waiting for a 'jackass' so much as an utter fucking moron.

[hinch]

if you get it serviced regular from when you get the car you can start a history from your purchase yeah but you just have to explain when you go to sell on that nobody bothered before you but you've looked after it etc and had no problems etc

[Narcolepsy Jones]

Cheers Mr. Hinch. I doubt anything'll happen with it between now and new year, but I'll keep you kims posted.

Feel free to suggest stuff, folks. I've got a budget of ~2k for the vehicle and just want something cute and safe, preferably with an engine under 1.4 as I've not got any NCB. So along the lines of a Micra, but not ugly as sin.

[MkVenner]

Oh I love this game...

Gimmie a budget and some restrictions and I'm on Auto Trader 'till the cows come home

[MkVenner]

Oookaaaay, given your budget I'd have me an old Freelander, Capri, Golf, bigger engined Mondeo, or I found a cheeky old-style 6 series I'd take a punt on. Buuuuut, given you're restrictions, there's load of 1.25 litre Fiesta's out there, or 1 litre Polo's, I'd probably go with one of those, decently equipped, nippy, relatively good reliability, decent service costs, although if I had my brown trousers on, I'd probably go for the equivalent Ka or Micra...

[hinch]

mg zr 1.4 :)

[Kjeldoran]

Originally Posted by Narcolepsy Jones

Hi, folks. A quick boring question to the petrolheads, which seems to be half the forum. When you go to look at a car, how important really is the service history? I went to look at one the other day and it seemed absolutely fine, the only things against it was the bloke was a total arse and there was no service history, despite it only having two owners (ladies, apparently, as if it makes much difference).

Mother suggested it had either been in a crash or was stolen, but surely if you don't want a service history to contain details of a load of work done, you can just not give it to the garage when you get it repaired? There's a ton of vehicles out there without service histories, and I find it hard to believe they're all deathtraps.

Odd, over here in Belgium it's mandatory. You are not allowed to sell a car (legally) without a service history. If for what ever reason the car doesn't have one, the garage need to do a quality check and "measure" the milage and stuff like that.

[Narcolepsy Jones]

Oookaaaay, given your budget I'd have me an old Freelander, Capri, Golf, bigger engined Mondeo, or I found a cheeky old-style 6 series I'd take a punt on. Buuuuut, given you're restrictions, there's load of 1.25 litre Fiesta's out there, or 1 litre Polo's, I'd probably go with one of those, decently equipped, nippy, relatively good reliability, decent service costs, although if I had my brown trousers on, I'd probably go for the equivalent Ka or Micra...

My preference is towards VWs and Japanese cars, but if you reckon something else would hit the spot then I'm open-minded. There are a few Golfs out there with 1.4 engines, I went to see one the other week but it was a fucking mess inside and the engine had something up with her. Honestly I can't see much difference between Polos and Golfs apart from a negligible space differential, and I imagine the engines of Golfs are a little less 'economised'. But no one's really been able to tell me what differentiates them.

And what the heck are your brown trousers?

Odd, over here in Belgium it's mandatory. You are not allowed to sell a car (legally) without a service history. If for what ever reason the car doesn't have one, the garage need to do a quality check and "measure" the milage and stuff like that.

Shame that's not the case here, people might take better care of theirs. There are some cars out there which looks like two welded together at a quick glance (saw a 6 year old Golf with tinted windows on the back windscreen and rear side windows and 28k on the clock, somewhere), so there's clearly plenty of arseholes out there to go around. Then again, I suppose complaining about a used car salesman being dishonest is like sticking your head in manure and complaining it smells of shite.

[MkVenner]

Brown trousers on = being very sensible

[Narcolepsy Jones]

I'm a takin' a lookin' at a 2003 Micra (so not the ugly box-like fuckers, but still not exactly beauties) tomorrow, it looks to be in good nick, 55k on the clock and the screen price is 4 grand. But it's from a garage, so should get a decent warranty. Thoughts?

[vampire]

Nissan Micra's re solid.

if its got CVT which i doubt, if its in any way unrelaxed feeling fuck that speciific micra.

Rust obviously, japanese metal is piss prone to that, specially wheel arches.

Whether it's had enough oil changes, i know of the older ones getting in trouble if they didnt have oil changes A LOT. like every half year.

[Narcolepsy Jones]

Just to keep all y'all informed, I buyed the Micra. The bloke seemed pretty honest and the setup was professional but still quite small and cosy feeling. Servicing, valet and warranty etc. as standard.

The car drives smooth as cowshit, should have good resale value in a few years and is plenty safe, so I'm happy. It's a bit cramped, particularly the back, and it's not exactly a motorway cruiser, but then I'm hardly the kind of person who travels more than 30 miles from home in one go anyway.

[Kjeldoran]

Originally Posted by Narcolepsy Jones

Just to keep all y'all informed, I buyed the Micra. The bloke seemed pretty honest and the setup was professional but still quite small and cosy feeling. Servicing, valet and warranty etc. as standard.

The car drives smooth as cowshit, should have good resale value in a few years and is plenty safe, so I'm happy. It's a bit cramped, particularly the back, and it's not exactly a motorway cruiser, but then I'm hardly the kind of person who travels more than 30 miles from home in one go anyway.

My mum drove (and still does drive) a Nissan Micra when I still lived at home and when I had to practive for my driving license (10 years ago now) ... good memories from that car. Ugly as shit though.

[Narcolepsy Jones]

The previous generation are ugly as sin, aye. Mine looks like (a five door version of) this, though:



Not particularly sexy, but quite cute. I almost wonder if it's 'road-rage proof'. Probably not in this country. The headlights are cool, though.

[MkVenner]

They have quite impressive turning circles...practically pivot around the centre of the rear axle...

[Narcolepsy Jones]

Yeah. Keyless ignition as well, they're dead nifty little fuckers.

[Kjeldoran]

hehe yeah, the previous version is really ugly indeed. I've not seen the new Micra alot but it looks better indeed. I'm not saying it's a good looking car, but it's doable.

[Narcolepsy Jones]

Yeah, I've fucked mine three times already and it's not even mating season yet.

[Narcolepsy Jones]

This fucking thing can't do hills. I have to get into second gear to go up any incline, and into fourth or fifth just to come down most slopes. Does anyone have a 2.4+ engine I can borrow? I'm going to burn the clutch out of this fucker soon.

[MkVenner]

Turbo that puppy up