Still Looking - Problem with Valuations

[exiles]

Right, still desperately looking for a motor. Fair few about within 40ish miles of me but the prices are really high as far as I can work out. Is there a particular website or publication that does free, or even paid valuations that you would say are reasonably accurate (with mileage adjustment option)?
Had a quick check with a few I am looking at through the Parkers guide and the For Sale  price is often around £1k higher than the Parker price, mostly dealers as not many private about. I realise it is probably not a good time to be looking as the summer is almost upon us and prices will therefore be a few hundred quid higher than say in November.
Any tips and hints gladly received, Id like one before the end of the summer!

Also as I would be looking at a totally new insurance policy, other car in my name has 20+ years NCD, am I going to get shafted. Would it be worth putting the wife down as owner and me as named driver. I am 48, no accidents or tickets, would probably go for a limited miles policy say 5-6k per year. What you reckon I would be paying fully comp, a vague approximation just to give me a clue.
Cheers all

[hamspeed]

Parkers/CAP/Glasses are relatively useless for the Roadster, market premiums are generally set by the private seller so base your search on history/condition/extras as opposed to just a basic mileage/year search. You must have a budget in mind?

Insurance can also vary wildly on factors such as your location, personal circumstances etc... Not to sound unhelpful but it's far better to just input your details onto a comparison site, it only takes a few minutes but would give you a much more accurate figure.  s:D s:D

[Tomo70]

Sorry, but I don't get what you mean by prices really high. Possibly if you are buying from a forecourt. There are a couple on here and on Facebook at good prices. Your talking to a bunch of people here who in the majority think there cars are under value.

If you want a good mint car or a modified well looked after car you pay for what you get.

I paid 2.4k 21/2 years ago that was not quite a shed but has required lots of TLC I have had cross member, radiator, engine and various others parts. The value of the car now is probably less than 2k.

Insurance wise. 46years of age, not had a private vehicle for years till I got my 2. No convictions, been named driver on works van and wife's car. Paying £280 full comp

Cheers Tom

[exiles]

Thanks for the input guys, budget £2-3k, maybe another 500 for a real cracker, yes I know its not much and I am probably hoping for more than is possible. I'd like a hard top too due to having no garage, am I asking too much here?

Get where you are coming from Tom, my concept of high price may be a mix of prices off the top of my head and dodgy valuations from parkers, along with sales I see previously of here etc. Its a niche car so valuations are, as you both say, pretty much down to private sellers care of the car, mods, condition, spec, all the little 'niggles' sorted or not. So difficult to value.

 I suppose my real problem is I am totally inept at anything mechanical and my haggling skills are pretty dam carp too At least I'll, hopefully, have me son-in-law with me when I finally view one that appears to fit the bill. I have a poor history of buying second hand, including a cut n shut and one motor that lasted a week  :-) :-) :-)

And before anyone says it, yes I should have bought Trickys    s:oops: :oops: s:oops:

[lron]

It's worth looking in a wider area if you can, I had a 3 hour train journey for mine. Talk to the seller first then go check it out and make sure its as described.

Insurance shouldn't be a problem for an unmodified car, they're quite reasonable. I'm paying £470 for full comp + legal cover and I'm only 26, been driving 4 years. I was paying £340 for a 1.3 Hyundai, for comparison.

Putting your wife down as main driver would be fraud though, unless she actually is.

[exiles]

OK insurance circa £280 fully comp 400 excess, more than I'd hoped but not too bad

[Topdownman]

Apparently the cheapest time of year to buy a convertible is january, the most expensive? february!

PS If you buy a hard top and you have no garage, where are you going to keep it in the summer?!

[exiles]

Apparently the cheapest time of year to buy a convertible is january, the most expensive? february!

PS If you buy a hard top and you have no garage, where are you going to keep it in the summer?!

In me front room, dont tell the wife

[ColinC]

Down south I would have thought you would have more choice, than where I am in Scotland. It took me a while to find one but what I found was sound, 54 K miles with hard top and bodywork in good nick so I was happy. I bought it just before Christmas a year ago and paid a good and fair price. I was lucky in that it was an ex members car so cared for and it looked honest. I travelled quite a ways for it, and would have gone to the Midlands if I had had to. I think you need to be realistic about the fact that you need to be willing to travel to get one as it opens up your options. As to price I think they go for a lot less than I think they should, but that's the market for you, win when you buy it, maybe loose if you sell.

[beavisrules]

for £3500 I'd accept nothing less than a 2005/6 in very good condition.

or a face lift with a 2zz conversion.
they a are out there and you'll have to do some (lots! of)leg work.
You would have to be realy lucky for the car you want to be 'just round the corner'

or buy the cheapest one you can and be prepared to spend on it.
Prices do seem to have gone up on the lower end of the market.
I think maybe as people are buying these up to break for parts.

[1979scotte]

Dont be scared to travel or to buy one that needs doing up.
My 06 needed new rad breaks crossmember and had only done 55k.
Was on a dealer forecourt for 5k leather ac HT. 2 years ago.

Insurance before mods was less than 200 cheaper than a mondeo 2.2 diesel.

[Tomo70]

A guy called Ian Hancock selling a red edition on Facebook MR2 Roadster UK for 3.2K looks a great car with new mohair roof. Northamptonshire.

Looks a bargain to me.

[exiles]

Cheers for the comments, more food for thought

[Mikeymead]

Yes, I've seen Ian's car in the flesh and it's very nice. He is on here as Iandh.

[SteveP]

Check out the nice looking red 06 plate from Twyford motor co only done 40K looks a nice example. Trader price £ 3790 if you are good at haggling you could get a chunk off.

[Joesson]

FD03WTZ
Is for sale on Gumtree in Worcestershire at £2,200
Silver with black leather interior.

[Iandh]

Yep my Red Edition is up for sale as I need 4 seats.
Unfortunately due to work I haven't had time to market it yet.
Heres the highlights:
Precats removed, new mohair hood june 15, clutch may15, brakes dec 15, refurbished alloys sept 14, fsh, Bluetooth stereo. Pampered car. Reluctantly would let it go for£3.25k.

[exiles]

Have had a sniff on fb Ian, one to think about indeed. May be a smidge too much for me though. More thinking

[exiles]

Check out the nice looking red 06 plate from Twyford motor co only done 40K looks a nice example. Trader price £ 3790 if you are good at haggling you could get a chunk off.

Appears to have gone

[jeffsimply]

There's loads on AT. Go and buy one.

Having a budget is one thing, but "being desperate" for a car and saying everything is overpriced is another.

[exiles]

I'll end up with a lemon if I rush it.

[1979scotte]

Bide your time but dont expect a minter to appear on your local forecourt.
If i did it again i would buy one that i knew needed some tlc because i ended up doing the most common jobs anyway.

[Eastsoutheast]

Iandh's car looks great value. You could buy cheaper and easily exceed Ian's price once you factor in some typical repairs (all done on Ian's car).m

From experience these cars really get under your skin so I would whole heartedly advise you to buy the best example you can.

[exiles]

Iandh's car looks great value. You could buy cheaper and easily exceed Ian's price once you factor in some typical repairs (all done on Ian's car).m

From experience these cars really get under your skin so I would whole heartedly advise you to buy the best example you can.

Agreed, only thing I am concerned with Ian's lovely motor is the mohair top, I have no garage so its going to be out in the elements a lot, have to read up about care  of these.

[exiles]

Bide your time but dont expect a minter to appear on your local forecourt.
If i did it again i would buy one that i knew needed some tlc because i ended up doing the most common jobs anyway.

That is a very valid point, unfortunately I am a mechanical incompetent so just about any work will be done at a garage.   s:oops: :oops: s:oops: