Styling Should I buy?

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Styling Should I buy?

Becks79

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Hello,
I’m about to buy a fiat 500 but have doubts.
The bonnet is misaligned but the dealership say it’s not a cat car.
They are brushing over it and not offering to rectify..
What should I do?
Walk away?
 

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The bonnet is misaligned but the dealership say it’s not a cat car
For future reference, just because it's not a cat car doesn't mean it's not been in an accident and repaired.

A misaligned panel is basically a marker to inspect the area around it closely for any sign of accident repair.
 
For future reference, just because it's not a cat car doesn't mean it's not been in an accident and repaired.

A misaligned panel is basically a marker to inspect the area around it closely for any sign of accident repair.
Yes I reckon it’s had a prang but no way of proving. My gut said no in the end, Thanks for the reply. 👍
 
To be fair, Rasputin has been in several wars (I think the bootlid and the roof might be original ..) and the whole front end is a bit ginger.
Having said that, the Younger Mrs S. likes it, since if she spanks it there's a high probability that it will be knocked straight again... and it was cheap.

For a run-around, some "patina" isn't all bad..

Ralf S.
 
To be fair, Rasputin has been in several wars (I think the bootlid and the roof might be original ..) and the whole front end is a bit ginger.
Having said that, the Younger Mrs S. likes it, since if she spanks it there's a high probability that it will be knocked straight again... and it was cheap.

For a run-around, some "patina" isn't all bad..

Ralf S.
Mrs J says that if someone local was to set up a "pre-scratched" used car dealership she'd be first in the queue!
 
Hello,
Stuff...
What should I do?
Walk away?
If you're askin', you're (or should be!) walkin!

Being serious, if it's a common car - and they are - there's always others, so if you're thinking you should ask for advice, then trust your instincts.

Hope you find one with a bonnet attached to the body soon! 😊
 
2012, £4495, 47,000
That's a lot of money for a 12 year old 500
Does seem a bit pricey.

Don't be too seduced by the low mileage. Could be that it's spent most of it's life toddling to the shops and back, never getting decently hot. Pop the oil filler cap off and stick a finger in, wipe it round and see what comes out. Lots of black sludge would confirm. People get very hung up on ultra low mileage cars being worth more but they can come with expensive problems caused by lots of cold running.
 
There are some benefit to low mileage, generally the interior is nicer on low mileage cars.

Do you know the model?
My point of reference is ours, 4 years ago it was 5 years old, 30k miles, S model, so alloy wheels, aircon, blue&me, nice colour lcd screen, and cost £5000. I'm guessing after 4 years the value must have increased 🤪🤪🤪
 
There are some benefit to low mileage, generally the interior is nicer on low mileage cars.

Do you know the model?
My point of reference is ours, 4 years ago it was 5 years old, 30k miles, S model, so alloy wheels, aircon, blue&me, nice colour lcd screen, and cost £5000. I'm guessing after 4 years the value must have increased 🤪🤪🤪
It’s a lounge & the interior is immaculate.
 
That's a lot of money for a 12 year old 500
Couldn't agree more. If you were selling, you'd be lucky to get half that.

& the interior is immaculate

When you're buying an older used car, what matters most is what's wrong with it, not what's right with it. Most of that won't be obvious to a non-mechanically minded buyer viewing a car on a forecourt.

On a 12 yr old vehicle, the money you'll spend on repairs going forward is what's going to determine whether you've made a good purchase, or not.
 
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What JR says 🫶🏼 a car of that age will need some attention somewhere! Personally if I were looking at a 10+ age car I’d need an hour and some knee pads!
And I’d be asking some questions like … service history… cam belt ect
Basically all the things I’ve learned on my 500 journey to date!
 
People seen the prices of used cars, nuts, saw a 12 year old Lounge £3500 up here in the north.

Any older used car, you NEED to be able to fix it yourself even basic things like brake discs and pads could be £300 at a garage, £30 to do yourself!

Its the expensive things you need to check, cam belt, clutch and its hydraulics, rear beam corrosion and no to climate control( yes to ac )

Ok it was a decade ago but my trusty Mazda 6 hatchback was £2400 6 years old and 50k what a great deal for a big car
 
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