Buying a Roadster without MOT

[wafers]

I'm new to this place, but thought I'd ask for help, in the hope my decision can be aided!
I would like a Roadster, but don't want to drive silly distances to view and buy one. I've managed to find one for sale about 40 miles away, which is really convenient for me. It's a 2001 car with 92k on the clock, a recent roof, lots of history and looks to be in good condition. It looks really clean and has clean black leather as well. The owner has owned it for a number of years, too.
The bad bits are no MOT, tyres needing replacement and the clutch starting to slip. They're after 1k.
I'm not worried about the clutch - I have a garage locally that can do the work for peanuts, so that's not a problem for me. Tyres aren't expensive either, so not really a worry.
My biggest issue is whether there's something major that'll rear its ugly head when I take it for MOT. It's been off the road in the owners garage for 18 months, and they maintain that it was because the clutch was starting to slip. I'm more worried that it could be burning oil, or have really high emissions for example.
Any thoughts or suggestions? I realise there are plenty of tidy cars out there with decent mot and decent clutches, but this one is silver, localish, has a new roof, black leather and generally looks very clean. Tidy MR2's normally seem to be located at the other end of the country!
Thanks in advance...   s:D s:D

[Topdownman]

Hi,

£1000 seems high for what is effectively a "non runner". Storing/not using  a car for 18 months because of the clutch starting to slip does sound a bit odd to me. I wouldnt really be keen on buying a car I hadnt driven either.

Having said that, if the seller looks trustworthy and it looks like they havent skimped on the maintenance previously it may work out OK if you are prepared to throw some money at it.

Have you considered asking them to take it for an MOT? If it just fails on the tyres then you could buy and return for the retest with your new tyres. If it fails on anything else then you can walk away or price up the work and haggle. At least then you may feel happier about less chance for nasty surprises. If you could be there for the MOT you could have a look under it too maybe?

If they dont want to do that then you could be suspicious, or offer them £500 if you think they are just lazy!

Good luck!

[Bernie]

Wouldn't touch it without an MOT after being off the road for that long as Topdownman says get them to put it through an MOT on the proviso you will pay for the tyres excellent proposition if not taken up leave well alone

[4dvti]

Get them to do the MOT for you, even at your expense. If it fails then you will at least know if there are any inconspicuous issues with the car and perhaps how best to address them. This will give you an idea of how much work and money will be required to get the car back on the road and ultimately whether it is worth purchasing.

[cabbydave]

Offer them £600 for it as you could need handbrake cables and calipers plus odds on the engine is well on its way for new rings with that mileage on it

[Anonymous]

Logically worst case on the mr2 could be rear sub frame, calipers and hand brake cables.
As said go in low and see what you can get it for.

Being stored in a garage for 18 months isn't a bad thing - they obviously cared or it would have been outside. If the garage was dry it shouldn't be a problem at all.

I bought a mk3 golf vr6 that had been parked outside for 5 years, under a tarp....took it for mot to see what was needed and it passed first time !

As said above, ask the to take it for mot - halfords do the for £25 so it wouldn't cost a lot!

[phaeton]

I paid £900 for mine without MOT but it did have a hardtop (worth £400 - £500 but not this time of year) but it did come with a fail sheet, needed caliper resetting & a power steering pump, once fitted it passed, but what the MOT tester didn't see because of the nappy was a hole in the subform. I personally think unless it's mint then it's too much £600 is a more realistic price.

[wafers]

Thanks all for the advice. I very much doubt the seller will drop the price - the advert states 'no offers' and there's mention of the car being worth 1k for spares alone. It doesn't quite tally with someone who has owned the car for seven years - maybe they have received 'selling advice' from a friend or family member or something.
I'll buzz the owner tomorrow and mention putting it in for MOT, but won't be holding my breath. If not a possibility, I'll step away, as advised.

[phaeton]

What a car is worth to an owner & what a car is worth to somebody wanting to buy are often 2 different things, they are probably thinking about how much they paid for it 7 years ago & how much they are going to effectively lose, although that is not a true value as they have had use of it. I'm currently trying to buy an Auris to use as a daily, top book of the car for the year/mileage of the car is £3800 which I offered the seller, but he wants £4200 & is not moving, because he bought it 6 months ago for £5500 from a dealer.

[mikey P]

Without an MOT this car sounds like its worth £500, as at this price you could safely get out of it by breaking if the worse came to the worse in terms of a MOT pass. A car that's been sat could easily need a rear sub frame, hand brake cables, tyres, complete service (including brake fluids etc) add in cost of a clutch and I can see the best part of £1k could be spent if you have to include labour, the MOTed car will be worth more but I'm still not sure its worth the risk/hassle, compared to travelling a bit further and buying a good one.

[Eastsoutheast]

Can only agree with everyone else on here. A slipping clutch will not fail the MOT so if everything else is in order the only failure should be the tyres. If this is the case you could purchase fairly safely. Also if the seller is willing to do this you would gain confidence in them. Many places offer half price MOT's so even if you pay for the tat it will be money very well spent.

[wafers]

Cheers all. I ended up avoiding the car mentioned above, and spotted a 2003 facelift Roadster on tinternet last night. Cue a 100 mile round trip earlier, deposit paid and I'm collecting on Thursday - there's a quick result! I'll start a thread for it in a mo...
*Edit - which section do people use for build threads? Can't see an obvious one?

[wafers]

Bump - where on the forum is the best place for build threads?

[StuC]

Can depend on what you are doing.
Is it a performance related or appearance related? Could be put in either of those sub forums.
Alternatively, start an intro thread in the newbie section.
I still have mine running 3 years on.  :-) :-) :-)

[wafers]

Can depend on what you are doing.
Is it a performance related or appearance related? Could be put in either of those sub forums.
Alternatively, start an intro thread in the newbie section.
I still have mine running 3 years on.  :-) :-) :-)

Will go with your final suggestion - have just updated my intro thread   s:D s:D

[princess gaynor]

I have an MR2 2000 Roadster that I'm thinking of getting rid of and it has no MOT. It's low mileage and has only done 200miles since the last MOT so would only be expecting around £500 for it. MOT are a mine field and with it's age and the fact I don't use it anymore (hence the 200miles) I wouldn't expect much more,

[JoeCool]

I have an MR2 2000 Roadster that I'm thinking of getting rid of and it has no MOT. It's low mileage and has only done 200miles since the last MOT so would only be expecting around £500 for it. MOT are a mine field and with it's age and the fact I don't use it anymore (hence the 200miles) I wouldn't expect much more,

Think is, it totally limits the market you're selling to.

If you think it's mechanically sound and will pass an MOT, then get it one. Even if it isn't, then a fail sheet with 'Rear left handbrake innop..' is MUCH more reassuring than a complete unknown car. MOT's aren't a mine field. They're just a basic check that the car is mechanically 'safe' and serviceable on that particular day.

For the sake of £50 MOT, You'll make £500 - A car with an MOT for a year is worth at least £999 (IMO). A Car with no MOT will hang around at £500 and only people with time, mechanical knowledge, and possibly a trailer will consider buying it. So it'll be hanging around much longer.

[jeffsimply]

As others have said, MOT essentially guarantees you a sale.

Even if it doesn't pass, I'd sooner buy a project where the owner had at least been upfront about the barriers to MOT than saying "Yeah it'll probably pass/fail on this". That said, what can you expect for £500...

[1979scotte]

As above get an MOT if it passes your quids in if it fails it informs a prospective buyer as to how the car can be made road worthy.