Well Ive been longing for an Imola Blue Cinq. Sporting for months now with none to be found.A while ago my 1997/51k Yellow Sporting Cinq. was tailended by a Transit .Ive now got a 1200 euro(£GB800) settlement and I get to keep the "Salvage"-a perfect driving Sporting with only a cracked bumper (still basically intact,could probably glue /tape/screw it back together)I got a new tail light for 45 euro)
So Ive been kinda thinking Id flog my old one and buy a new better one with the settlement....(even though mine has tax and test for a while to come)I had my eye on a red 98 with 25k for 1750 euro....then a couple of nights ago I saw this
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=385981
Well it was love at first sight -a 97 Imola with 18k on the clock!!!!?????I rung the morning after ...the junior sales man told me a story about the owner being a teacher who changed jopbs and could then walk to work....he put me on to the senior sales man who explained it was his own personal car -he'd bought it for his kids to go to college in but changed his mind .He constantly told me as I enquired about the car "Its a 2 grand car -what do you expect for 2 grand?!" .I enquired about the mismatched rear lights and he assured me it had not been painted-just a cracked light replaced .....I decided to have a look that afternoon....
I arrived and the rear bumper was not attached properly ...it had obviously been repaired/painted.....Battery flat.....Wiper on back gone...Nice new Goodyears (expect perhaps original tyres at least on rear on a car with that mileage?)Dash screws had been out at some stage....It was lashing rain so I couldnt really see how good the paintwork was but it appeared great.I told him Id take it on the spot if he reduced price a bit .He didnt budge so i said Id have to come back and see it in better weather and drive it when traffic was lighter.All the while he was dismissive and impatient ...I had a bad feeling about the whole thing...
I turned up for my spin this morning and immediately noticed lacquer cracking under the left side rear window.Now the car had got new tail light(s),bumper,and half the left side painted.In fairness it wasnt the worst job -it looked generally like a tidy car still ....But my dream was turning a bit sour.
The sales man was clearly telling porkies about the damage ,ownership (his story about the 'careful (!) lady owner' was different to the other guys!)and service (filthy air filter!!!) so I wasnt happy to trust the mileage....The testdrive was uninspiring-it had to be jumped again -I was concerned there was a battery draining issue-it certainly needed a new battery at least)
There was a terrible noise from the front left shock as if the wheel was hitting the arch liner over bumps.It felt no better to drive than my car.Brakes spongy?Gearbox a bit worn?All in all I was not inclined to spend 2000 euro(£GB 1325) to change colour AND have to get NCT/MOT and tax.
I know I would only have had to put 2 or 3 hundred more to my settlement /'salvage' value but I decided to walk away almost as much to spite the pushy sales man as due to the car.Im glad I have not got "buyers remorse" now-feel quite relieved about the whole thing ...
MORAL
ont be afraid to go through a car with a fine tooth comb and NEVER EVER buy a car in the rain.I remember I almost bought a lovely driving Punto GT on a dry Summer's night once .It was black and brought new meaning to "Orange peel" very low quality respray.I 100% would have bought that car if it was raining and it would have been unsellable after.
CONCLUSION:I love my Cinqs but as a cheap and very cheerful car....when the prices creep up (towards Punto Sporting/106 GTi or even MX5 money) they make less sense.
So Ive been kinda thinking Id flog my old one and buy a new better one with the settlement....(even though mine has tax and test for a while to come)I had my eye on a red 98 with 25k for 1750 euro....then a couple of nights ago I saw this
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=385981
Well it was love at first sight -a 97 Imola with 18k on the clock!!!!?????I rung the morning after ...the junior sales man told me a story about the owner being a teacher who changed jopbs and could then walk to work....he put me on to the senior sales man who explained it was his own personal car -he'd bought it for his kids to go to college in but changed his mind .He constantly told me as I enquired about the car "Its a 2 grand car -what do you expect for 2 grand?!" .I enquired about the mismatched rear lights and he assured me it had not been painted-just a cracked light replaced .....I decided to have a look that afternoon....
I arrived and the rear bumper was not attached properly ...it had obviously been repaired/painted.....Battery flat.....Wiper on back gone...Nice new Goodyears (expect perhaps original tyres at least on rear on a car with that mileage?)Dash screws had been out at some stage....It was lashing rain so I couldnt really see how good the paintwork was but it appeared great.I told him Id take it on the spot if he reduced price a bit .He didnt budge so i said Id have to come back and see it in better weather and drive it when traffic was lighter.All the while he was dismissive and impatient ...I had a bad feeling about the whole thing...
I turned up for my spin this morning and immediately noticed lacquer cracking under the left side rear window.Now the car had got new tail light(s),bumper,and half the left side painted.In fairness it wasnt the worst job -it looked generally like a tidy car still ....But my dream was turning a bit sour.
The sales man was clearly telling porkies about the damage ,ownership (his story about the 'careful (!) lady owner' was different to the other guys!)and service (filthy air filter!!!) so I wasnt happy to trust the mileage....The testdrive was uninspiring-it had to be jumped again -I was concerned there was a battery draining issue-it certainly needed a new battery at least)
There was a terrible noise from the front left shock as if the wheel was hitting the arch liner over bumps.It felt no better to drive than my car.Brakes spongy?Gearbox a bit worn?All in all I was not inclined to spend 2000 euro(£GB 1325) to change colour AND have to get NCT/MOT and tax.
I know I would only have had to put 2 or 3 hundred more to my settlement /'salvage' value but I decided to walk away almost as much to spite the pushy sales man as due to the car.Im glad I have not got "buyers remorse" now-feel quite relieved about the whole thing ...
MORAL
ont be afraid to go through a car with a fine tooth comb and NEVER EVER buy a car in the rain.I remember I almost bought a lovely driving Punto GT on a dry Summer's night once .It was black and brought new meaning to "Orange peel" very low quality respray.I 100% would have bought that car if it was raining and it would have been unsellable after.CONCLUSION:I love my Cinqs but as a cheap and very cheerful car....when the prices creep up (towards Punto Sporting/106 GTi or even MX5 money) they make less sense.
