General M.o.t failure - how much to fix?

[robspink]

Hi, im looking at getting my first car and have found a decent looking punto for £300, the owner is friends with the local mechanic and got him to give it a once over before he sells it, so he can let people know what there expecting once it goes in for its M.O.T..

It Needs 1 New Tire

Screen Washers

Dip Headlights


How much would you say roughly it will cost to get it through the M.O.T with the above problems, its a mk1 punto if that makes any difference.

Let me know if i've said anything stupid, im new to all this lol

Thanks, Rob

 

[corky]

get to your local scrapyard cost you next to nothing... a 2nd hand tyre with good tread on it for a punto about £15, headlights about £20, your wiper washers few quid from local car accessory shop

 

[cosmos1989]

Hi, im looking at getting my first car and have found a decent looking punto for £300, the owner is friends with the local mechanic and got him to give it a once over before he sells it, so he can let people know what there expecting once it goes in for its M.O.T..

It Needs 1 New Tire

Screen Washers

Dip Headlights


How much would you say roughly it will cost to get it through the M.O.T with the above problems, its a mk1 punto if that makes any difference.

Let me know if i've said anything stupid, im new to all this lol

Thanks, Rob

I'd be a little worried about a "Once over" unless your friendly mechanic literally gave it an MOT he can't say what it will fail on for sure.

It could easily fail on emissions or brakes, something you can't tell from just looking at it.

By all means have ago and purchase the vehicle. But just saying unless he has given it the MOT test you can never be 100%.

 

[DaveMcT]

A car costing £300 is likely to cost well over £1000 by the time its had everything fixed. That's not counting the breakdown/repair costs.

If you cant check it out yourself and/or cant do the work yourself please walk away.

If really is that good, why isn't the mechanic buying it.

 

[sixpotman]

Why didn't he put it in for an mot? for what it costs.

The faults noted are minimum and for someone with
mechanical knowlege and with 12months mot the car
gains considerable value on the £300 anyway.

John

 

[MadMan0]

Well, the list of parts you've put up, brand NEW would cost upto £50, though you can get these for under £30 depending on location, where you go etc etc

 

[simondhopkins]

A car costing £300 is likely to cost well over £1000 by the time its had everything fixed. That's not counting the breakdown/repair costs.

If you cant check it out yourself and/or cant do the work yourself please walk away.

If really is that good, why isn't the mechanic buying it.

Not true, bought a mk1 punto for £280 with stuff all wrong with it. Had full service history from dealer since new, all reciepts and not a speck of rust on it.

 

[simondhopkins]

Not true, bought a mk1 punto for £280 with stuff all wrong with it. Had full service history from dealer since new, all reciepts and not a speck of rust on it.

And sold it yesterday for £400 lol.

 

[m20b25]

That mechanic should check for play in the bushes and ball joints, then check the suspension all round, is it very bouncy etc. Give it a test drive, how does it feel, any vibrations, does it pull to one side while driving or braking? And be on the look out for odours while the car is running. You dont want to end up with a lemmon that you cant sell when it all goes wrong

£400 isnt a bad price Id try to knock a bit more off that but I bought my daily driver for €400 and ended up replacing almost every part you can think of on it (thankfully I had most of the parts needed anyway) a classic case of "Buyer Beware"

As for pricing, those parts should cost no more than £50 for 2nd hand lights and a decent tyre from the scrappie. Get the washers from the nearest Fiat dealer, theyre only about £2 anyway and are new

 

[DaveMcT]

Not true, bought a mk1 punto for £280 with stuff all wrong with it. Had full service history from dealer since new, all reciepts and not a speck of rust on it.

Lucky you.

If the OP has the skills to take the risk then certainly go ahead. If not walk away or get simondhopkins to buy it.