Wots it worth??

[jl]

A really nice axample of a hgt on auto trader, but hasnt got a red key or hstory or a cam belt change, what kind of price do you think it should go for?

2000 v reg, 68k miles on the clock, orange, just been mot'd


*edit: title added*

 

[Sabre 23]

Just been MOT'd, but at 68k is on original cambelt. Also, no red key OR history.

My advice....AVOID!!!

Mark.
Council estate lad.
And proud of it!
A battle of wits with the unarmed is no fun!

Member of the Guild of Experienced Motorists. Lapsed.

 

[Wimmy]

All depends on what you are willing to pay. The red key isn't an issue unless you need it. The cambelt will need to be done.
Have a look on the average price of a Bravo then knock him down a few quid with the red key issue and take into account what you will need to pay out for a cambelt change (and associated tensioners and all other aux belts)

 

[jl]

it was advertised at 2000 once i brought the relevant issues forward he willl happily go down to 1500 but do you think it should be lower?

cheers

 

[Anonymous]

YES!! a lot lower,with the view of buying and keeping it and getting it up to scratch.

I wouldn't give him any more than £600 and im not joking.

As above give it a wide birth,and find one with none of these problems and pay about £1400?1600 for a proper minter.

The hard looking will pay off eventually.

Scotty

 

[jl]

i've just found a 98 reg coupe with 59k on the clock, silver, cam belt changed at 45k, red key present, looks lovely but up for 2500, i think that is over priced, i would be more willing to pay 2000, what you reckon?

 

[Matt]

The important thing is when was the last belt change in time rather than miles, for all we know 45k was 5 years ago. A '98 should be on it's 4th belt by now.

 

[Sabre 23]

That's just being paranoid!
My 119,000 September '98 1.6 SX will get her third at the next service.

Mark.
Council estate lad.
And proud of it!
A battle of wits with the unarmed is no fun!

Member of the Guild of Experienced Motorists. Lapsed.

 

[Matt]

Paranoid?? The belts on my '99 1.6 Bravo went at less than 3 years/30,000 miles, it's a common problem. On a 10 year old car you'd expect it to be on it's 4th belt going by Fiats own guidelines.

Better safe than sorry.

 

[Sabre 23]

Fiat's guidelines being 72k or 5 years.
How do you work out 4th cambelt?

At 10 years old, going by Fiats recommendation it should only be on its THIRD, not fourth. The fourth should be fitted at 15 years.

Or:

Going by Fiat's recommendation the fourth cambelt ought to be fitted at 216k.

Whichever comes first.

Methinks your calculator needs a new battery.

Like I said, paranoid.

Mark.
Council estate lad.
And proud of it!
A battle of wits with the unarmed is no fun!

Member of the Guild of Experienced Motorists. Lapsed.

 

[Matt]

It was 72,000/5 years in the manual but they had to change it later on due to the high number of belt failures before the book time. Same thing with the Alfa engines.

As I've stated above, I've been stung by this and so have many people on this site. Ignore it at your own risk as far as I'm concerned.

My calculator works just fine

 

[Wimmy]

Matt - I dont think Fiat officially changed theirs. although we on here know a little better than to wait 72k. Alfa did indeed change theirs to 36k or 3 years.

 

[Chris]

Here's a question:-

If you buy a HGT worth around the £1000 mark, should you bother changing the cambelt even if it's due a change?

If you are building a show car or wanting a car that will last many years then the answer is yes.

However, the majority of people buying such a car will want something quick and fun that they can enjoy for a year or two then move on to something else. As a (average) £1000 HGT is going to be worth less than £500 in a couple of years time, is there much point spending big money on the engine-out cambelt change? I personally would take a chance. (although admittedly i've never had a car where the belt has snapped)

I'm not advocating careless or negligent car ownership. My point is that 5 years ago a good HGT was worth £3-5k or more and it was therefore worth being extra cautious with the cambelt as the car represented a big chunk of cash. Now, with HGTs being worth substantially less there is perhaps no longer a need to be as paranoid.

Just my opinion. I don't expect everyone to agree.

 

[Buzz]

Chris, what you are descibing is bangernomics. The idea that you buy a really really cheap car, and just drive it till something breaks, scrap it, then get a new one. However, if you are buying a performance car, then chances are, you'll want to enjoy it for more than a single summer. Regardless of age, i dont think cars should be scrapped unless they require work that costs more than its worth. My first car was a nissan micra, and every MOT csts me £200-£300 but then that was all it needed for a year. Apart from an oil and filter change which i did myself every summer, nothing else was spent on it. It was always running well until i crashed it. lol. If i hadn't it'd STILL be going, and still likely be costing just 200-300 a year

Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4
& now ex owner of a Bravo 1.8

 

[Lee]

no red key, no buy! thats my advice and £2000 seems steep especially with no service history and in need of a new cam belt, but thats my opinion.

you could get one with a new cam belt, fsh and a red key for that i'm sure. don't jump in feet first and regret it later....