Autotrader Help please car people

[sammy13]

I know a lot of you like your cars.

Does anyone know what day the autotrader comes out please?

I don't know if it's weekly, monthly, what date?

I will be using the online version, but would like to check it when they update things - i.e the day the mag comes out.

[dalealan]

Used to always be every Thursday. Think stuff like Gumtree has had a massive effect on them though as they're free to advertise on. As usual be careful if you're buying for yourself and hpi check them/ take someone who knows brumbrums... Oh and don't put coloureds in with whites in the washing machine. There ya go they're my tips for today sammy13

[sammy13]

Oct 2, 2014 19:23:46 GMT dalealan said:

Used to always be every Thursday. Think stuff like Gumtree has had a massive effect on them though as they're free to advertise on. As usual be careful if you're buying for yourself and hpi check them/ take someone who knows brumbrums... Oh and don't put coloureds in with whites in the washing machine. There ya go they're my tips for today sammy13

I don't know anyone who knows much about them other than if they start

I do all the checks I can, but engine wise, and anything underneath well

I need something in excellent condition, cheap tax, cheap insurance, not too old and cheap as chips, it could take a while

[lairey]

I think the online one is live sammy13, ie there's no publish date, ads go up as and when people list them... I could be wrong though. I think the AA offer a vehicle check service where they come and give the car a once over for you, could be worth looking into

[dalealan]

It's definitely worth taking someone along who knows what to look for. Depending on how much you want to spend it can also make sense to get the RAC or aa or similar to run it through their checks. Pricey but it can pay for itself if it stops you buying a lemon Ask a family member or a friend if they know any mechanics who'd be willing to give it a look over before parting with any hard earned.

[sammy13]

Oct 2, 2014 19:45:21 GMT lairey said:

I think the online one is live sammy13, ie there's no publish date, ads go up as and when people list them... I could be wrong though. I think the AA offer a vehicle check service where they come and give the car a once over for you, could be worth looking into

lairey Thanks .

I used to drive nice cars ( fast ), change them regular, but there comes a stage in life when you have to stop that, well unless you have lots of money lol.

I bought my current car, a lovely little Peugeot, with a view to keeping it a few years max, she is now 15 years old.

She has the biggest heart ( engine ) that would never ever let you down, she has never once not started even when left in freezing temps and snow for 4 weeks, she started up and purred for me first time.

However the last few years she has been expensive to upkeep, just about most of her has been replaced, I keep saying well there is nothing else to go wrong, but her bodywork is showing the signs now , there is not much paint between the rust.

I have had her sanded and resprayed bit by bit, but still it happens again.

She has been vandalised 3 times and her wing mirrors don't adjust properly anymore , so I can not see fully and so I don't drive her now.

Also she has no power steering and my upper half finds it a tug.

It's time, I have been saying it for a while but it is time now.

God help me that I make the right choice though, because whatever I get will have to last me another 10 years, and I have less to spend than some people spend on a holiday.

[sammy13]

Oct 2, 2014 19:47:51 GMT dalealan said:

It's definitely worth taking someone along who knows what to look for. Depending on how much you want to spend it can also make sense to get the RAC or aa or similar to run it through their checks. Pricey but it can pay for itself if it stops you buying a lemon Ask a family member or a friend if they know any mechanics who'd be willing to give it a look over before parting with any hard earned.

I don't have family, just ronaldo my virtual bro.

I know a mechanic, believe it or not, but he will not get involved, I asked him once before, but he once lost a friendship through it, so no go

[ronaldo]

Oct 2, 2014 20:00:19 GMT sammy13 said:

Oct 2, 2014 19:47:51 GMT dalealan said:

It's definitely worth taking someone along who knows what to look for. Depending on how much you want to spend it can also make sense to get the RAC or aa or similar to run it through their checks. Pricey but it can pay for itself if it stops you buying a lemon Ask a family member or a friend if they know any mechanics who'd be willing to give it a look over before parting with any hard earned.

I don't have family, just ronaldo my virtual bro.

I know a mechanic, believe it or not, but he will not get involved, I asked him once before, but he once lost a friendship through it, so no go

when you have a bro you don't need anyone else sis we will stick together

[jed2705]

Always found WhatCar? used car reviews handy for finding out potential problems and what to check for.

[thatguy]

Brings back thoughts of my first car, a x reg (82) polo. Such a simple car with no gadgetry, but damn did it just go and go and go. So light it could be pushed by a 11 year old girl. I really miss when things were designed to be simple and functional. EMS, power steering, ABS, electric windows.....you can keep em, gimmie an old school workhorse any day of the week.

[Q]

Also check the AutoExpress website, they have used buyers guides for most cars which also give you a heads up of the most common problems to watch out for

[3liquid]

your better online anyway i think as this is updated every  day rather than a magazine..

[Bluefish]

What car are you looking for sammy? Remember a cheap car is usually more on insurance than a more modern car, due to newer cars having more safety gizmos.

[decoy]

ive just spent a small fortune on a new to me car and its ruddy scary
main things to look for is wear on the peddles you know how meny miles your car has done have a look and youll see what i meen most peps who mess with the mileage forget to change peddle rubbers and gear nobs
door and panel gaps should be even use a pound coil to check the gaps
look at the reflections in the paint to see if the panel has been repaired as well as the finish of the paint
check wear on tyers is even
look underneath to see if if there is any damage from dukes of hazzard style driving
about all i can say for the engine is make sure its cold before they start it(less reputable seller have been known to warm up the thing before peps look at them as it hides starting probs,smoke and nocking on start)

above all else trust no one who is trying to sell you something

oh and there is a hpi check you can do by text for £3 i thinks but it dont tell you much sept no pennies are owed on the car this is the minimum check that must be done in my mind

hope that helps

how badly fubared are the wing mirrors and is it a 206

[sammy13]

Oct 2, 2014 23:56:50 GMT Bluefish said:

What car are you looking for sammy? Remember a cheap car is usually more on insurance than a more modern car, due to newer cars having more safety gizmos.

Well before I started looking, I didn't have a clue really, something small, hatchback type, smallish engine, small price

I spent all afternoon trawling through the auto trader, and believe me it was hard work because my internet will not stay connected for longer than 10 minutes for some reason, so was driving me nuts.

I quickly found that when you adjust the search filter to say -

Under 7 years old

1.0-1.3 engine

under 50,000 miles

Manual

Less than £2,000

You don't exactly get many cars found

When did cars get so bloomin expensive??

So I was faced with a dilemma, something a little older, more mileage, but must be lots cheaper with a view to keeping it hopefully repair free for a couple of years

or dig deeper into the purse, and up the pennies, but then I want younger and less mileage .

Now they always throw the odd car in here and there that is totally out of price range, and what did I fall in love with????

The Peugeot 107.

Ok me thinks, view it as a car to keep for 8 years ( mine is almost 15 ) so cheaper versions look for those, beg borrow and steal to get the extra pennies needed,

searched and searched and found a 2006 model just over £2000.

Went onto the pug forum, and what do I see?

The 107 is a triplet, its siblings are the Toyota aygo and the Citroen c1. They are all made almost identical with the same parts.

The clutch on the 107 lasts 20,000 miles if you are lucky, and costs £900 to replace by pug or £500 elsewhere.

If you are lucky it may then last you another 20,000 miles.

It also leaks around just about every seal, so the floor, and boot are always full of water.

They also recalled loads of them for other issues. Brakes locking on been one of them.

So basically my heart wants it, my head is telling me to run a mile.

In 2009 they replaced the clutch with the yaris clutch which is much better, but they still leak plus the 2009 2010 versions are touching £4000.

So I am still looking .