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[Old Sweat-RIPscoob]

 I have won a car on Ebay, and I am travelling on Friday to check it over and buy it.
It is a 2000 X reg
71,000 miles
Silver, Saloon,
MOT until March 2008,
Pictures look okay, the guy has owned it since it was six months old,

I must admit I didn't expect the bidding to stop at £1220 which is what I bidded and won.  

BUT looking around Ebay and other car sites, I think I may have got a bargain,
At least the owner has sold it, I know some owners put, buy it now prices up, and whos to know if they get any buyers at all, this car had no reserve on it.

I will check the MOT,Mileage, Log book, electrics, etc etc, I am quite confident at looking around cars, its just a slight niggle this seems to be too good a buy,
Is there anything else on this model I should look out for?
I think the guy is meeting me at the train station with the car to go for a drive, and then to a local bank to do a money transfer.

Right thats my ramblings over, any thoughts welcome guys

Kevin

[benjamind]

I am always a bit dubious about away meeting people away from their home or place of business, i would ask him to bring along some form of additional ID. So at least you can check all names at bank and what he possesse are the same. Mechanically wise i wouldnt have a clue. If it went and wasnt noisy that would do me!!! :-/

[wheelchairkid]

Hi kevin
              I just moved up from a 1995 2.5 V6 Omega CDX Estate, to a 2001 X reg Omega Elite estate 2.6 V6 with 97,000 miles on the clock with fsh. The person I had it off had it up for £2,995, so yes if you car is ok you have got a real good bargin, the main thing to check is the cooling system, make sure when it is warm let it sit to check that the fans work, and check around the rocker covers for any oil leaks, and ask when the engine breather was last changed, and when the cam belt was last done, and check the state of tghe front wish bones.
          And if it is all ok, drive it and enjoy it.
                                     Yours
                                      Jason

[Ronald_McBurger]

Big difference in the value of estates vs saloons. Does sound a good price. When meeting this guy at the station, firsly get him to drive to his house. Note the house number and street name when you get there, then check the V5 carefully and make sure it matches. If the address is different and you get the old 'oh we just moved' answer, ask him for additional ID like his licence. It is very easy to buy a car at auction, send the log book off as a change of address only and it comes back with the old owners name at your address, thus giving the impression that you have owned it for a long time and are a private seller. Of course, then you won't have a driving licence or passport in the same name. Don't acept a business card, they can be porinted for pennies.

Other than that, use EBAY's vehicle checking (£6) to HPI the car, make sure it is not a write-off or on finance.

Get a receipt with the words 'in perfect(or good) working order' rather than 'sold as seen'.

Look for:
oil leaks, oil around sump - rocker gaskets.
lack of plenum caps - lazy mechanic
oil in water tank - oil cooler
water in oil - head gasket
misfiring - DIS pack
scored disks - lack of pad changes
wrong tyre sizes
different makes of tyres on every corner - tyres only changed one by one
hand brake not working well - lack of maintenance
dirty pollen filter - same
water in water tank - should be orange antifreeze
oil spots on his driveway or road where he parks.

make sure he goes into that house at some point, not deal fromthe driveway. Had this years ago. When I went back it turned out he had just used this old couples drive!!!!

Do this BEFORE you give him the cash.

[DaveL]

Wise words.
 8-)
DaveL

[Old Sweat-RIPscoob]

Cheers Guys

I had already thought about most of the above,
I will take my log book for my 1995 omega to show I am a serious buyer to put his mind at rest, plus I'll take I.d.

He knows I am travelling from Sussex up to Leeds so that should also show him I'm serious.

I will e mail him now to request he brings the Log book (obviously), and his driving licence/passport. I also expect as he has owned the car since it was six months old he will have all the MOT/service history etc etc.

I'll let you all know what happens

Kevin  

[Markjay]

Does look like a bargain...  

Mine is a 2001, and I had it since it was around 4 months old, and next year it will be in the same age and mileage as the one you were bidding for on eBay... I just hate to think what I paid for it when it was new....  

if the car checks out OK, you've done a good deal  

[Old Sweat-RIPscoob]

Just carried out a HPI check with Autotrader completely clear, plus never been written off, so all looking good  

[benjamind]

Hope it all goes well but as the others have said, never be too trusting.

[Dave-C]

Hope it all goes well but as the others have said, never be too trusting.

It's a shame that we have to doubt people, But, we do!  The Society we live in I'm afraid...  a few sh1tes spoil it for the many good guys..........

Good Luck with the motor....

DC

[Tony H]

Hope it all goes well but as the others have said, never be too trusting.

It's a shame that we have to doubt people, But, we do!  The Society we live in I'm afraid...  a few sh1tes spoil it for the many good guys..........

Good Luck with the motor....

DC

I'll second that

[Old Sweat-RIPscoob]

Well, after a four hour train ride into Leeds train station, I met up with the seller,
Seemed a very nice guy,

I checked the Log book, The MOT runs until March 2008, He showed me id confirming the name and address on the log book, the milage was just under 71,000 miles, I even saw the original receipt when he bought it at six months old

Silver X reg, 2.2 automatic, with all the electrics, air con (worked)
The brakes are okay,not brilliant, probably have to change them over the next couple of months, but that doesn't bother me..................got my eye on some grooved/dimpled discs with red stuff pads 8-)

The only strange thing was that the tyres are all legal, but all four are a different make , got tax until the end of August.
The cambelt will need doing at 80,000 miles,
But anyway I decided to buy it at £1220 as agreed,
And drove it home 240 miles, no problems at all

I think thats it...........................so fingers crossed all is well

Kevin

[TheBoy]

Sounds good


Personally, if it were mine, I would put on GM discs/pads. I've had a lot of trouble with pattern.  Also, probably worth bleeding the brakes, but ensure you get the old fluid out of calipers (most garages don't bother)

[Bo Bo]

Sounds like a result  

[MickAP]

Good result then, hope you're happy with it.
I bought my Omega via the internet, through a caravaning forum. Didn't know the seller at all and had to go view the car in Swindon from Derbys. It turned out to be an excellent buy so far and I am really pleased with, it's just passed the MOT with no work being required. I paid £2,595 for my W plate TD estate done 92000 miles. Costs so far new exhaust and new glow plugs, runs great. Good luck with yours.

Mick