Wanted Buying a working, legal, partially presentable car for under a ton?

[New POD]

Depends where you live. If it’s a rural area or there’s no competition in the local area they can offer you a pittance as you’ve no choice. Similarly other factors come into it like how far away the breakers is from the main metals recycling plant as well.

If you are near a port where the piles of scrap are higher than the skyscrapers you are quids in

[Demio]

Working, Legal, presentable.

 

Pick any two.

 

Hence the "partially" qualifier on the last item.

 

I can pull dents, I can replace panels and glass, I can patch rust and duff paint, and I can write about all of these things (so it's actually preferable to be scratty, as freelancers get paid per word)... but it's not economically viable to start unbending crashed cars or welding up giant chunks of chassis. I'm specifically looking for cars that are as working and presentable as possible, but sufficiently poor in either or both categories to put sensible people off, thus the price. Road legal is the sole non-moveable point because I need to drive it home.

 

@lesapandre Good stuff! I've caught some of these myself too, and I've fired bids in. You're right on the bidders too, and I'll have to try that tactic. I've seen more than a few coming back up after selling with bitching about non-payers. There's a 240k Avensis on there like that which looks tempting.

[lesapandre]

Keep going Demio. There will be something out there I have two £50 cars in my possession. Early Clio's look pretty unloved..

[cort16]

£100 Renault Migrane, mot September. Dents, scratches and broken exhaust 

 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/266240034108712/

[sierraman]

Once you’ve bought this car for a hundred quid what’s your plans after that?

[Demio]

Once you’ve bought this car for a hundred quid what’s your plans after that?

Sort out the issues with it (because there will be issues), run it for a while, sell it for hopefully more than it owes me, lather, rinse, repeat. Create content (there may be video, but I seriously question who would want to look at me) based on all of the above.

 

Budget Brewer, with added honesty. And less budget.

[sierraman]

If you are starting up trading cars I’d avoid the £500 market, 90% of the buyers will be absolute nut jobs. Depends as well what your skill level is, are you capable of doing jobs yourself, if it means paying a man then it’s going to cost you.

 

Take for example last October I bought a 98 Mondeo Saloon, still with test on for £180. On the face of it it wanted 4 tyres to see another test plus the airbag light extinguished. Financially it wasn’t worth putting back onto the road to sell on, probably worth it to use but certainly not to sell on. Assuming I did though and spent a few hundred tidying it up I’d then be faced with dealing with the ‘pik up tonite’ merchants.

[lesapandre]

MG saloon something in Whittle-le-Woods...£99 currently. Whittle an MoT? Virtually worth it to say you got your car in Whittle-le-Woods...presumably between Knotty Ash and Greendale.

 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F143220106519

[Demio]

If you are starting up trading cars

Honestly, that thought had occurred and maybe that's something for down the line. I'll bear what you say in mind too.

Depends as well what your skill level is, are you capable of doing jobs yourself, if it means paying a man then it’s going to cost you.

I'm no engineer, and I definitely can't create anything, but almost anything else is fair game - so long as it's economically viable. I've got no problem doing an engine swap, but there comes a point where the car simply owes more than its value. Some work, like that, might even harm the value... my first question when I see a car that's had an engine swap is "Why?" and my second question is "If you've fucked the engine, what else is fucked?". Of course there are genuine reasons for engines fucking themselves - a colleague had an Alfa 166 which mayonnaised itself one lunchtime, thanks to a cambelt failure on a belt that had half its scheduled life left - but it's something that might put people off in an advert.

Take for example last October I bought a 98 Mondeo Saloon, still with test on for £180. On the face of it it wanted 4 tyres to see another test plus the airbag light extinguished. Financially it wasn’t worth putting back onto the road to sell on, probably worth it to use but certainly not to sell on. Assuming I did though and spent a few hundred tidying it up I’d then be faced with dealing with the ‘pik up tonite’ merchants.

Yeah, that's absolutely something I'm keeping in mind. I'm assessing every lead for potential value and potential costs, and if they're getting too close to each other - or the balance heads towards costs - I'm not pursuing it any further.

[Iamgroot]

I know. But it's in the context of him clearing out his mum's house to sell it - she has dementia and has been put in a home.

 

Realistically he needs to be ruthless about the process otherwise he'll probably lose his marbles too.

 

Besides, London property being what it is, this very modest house is on the market for roughly three quarters of a million pounds. A neglected Vectra sat on the drive isn't going to help it sell, and the £150 or so it's worth in scrap is neither here nor there in the grand scheme of things, especially as most of the money is likely to get pissed away over the next few years paying for her care.

 

Mad world innit?

 

Did I go OT? Sorry OP.

 

 

 

Hopefully.

Ah ok, in context it makes a lot more sense, your dad has a lot more on his mind, sorry to hear that.

 

Bloody care prices, I'm going to just kill somebody nobody likes if I get old and infirm to get free care facilities in a prison.

[eddyramrod]

MG saloon something in Whittle-le-Woods...£99 currently. Whittle an MoT? Virtually worth it to say you got your car in Whittle-le-Woods...presumably between Knotty Ash and Greendale.

 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F143220106519

Amazingly it is!  Knotty Ash is a genuine district of Liverpool; Whittle-le-Woods is a genuine district of Chorley, a little bit north in Lancashire.  Greendale, though fictional, is normally thought to represent either Kendal or Grange-over-Sands (or some point in between), both at the southern rim of the Lake District.  So literally, WLW is between those points!

[dieselassist]

Hence the "partially" qualifier on the last item.

 

I can pull dents, I can replace panels and glass, I can patch rust and duff paint, and I can write about all of these things (so it's actually preferable to be scratty, as freelancers get paid per word)... but it's not economically viable to start unbending crashed cars or welding up giant chunks of chassis. I'm specifically looking for cars that are as working and presentable as possible, but sufficiently poor in either or both categories to put sensible people off, thus the price. Road legal is the sole non-moveable point because I need to drive it home.

 

 

Sort out the issues with it (because there will be issues), run it for a while, sell it for hopefully more than it owes me, lather, rinse, repeat. Create content (there may be video, but I seriously question who would want to look at me) based on all of the above.

 

Budget Brewer, with added honesty. And less budget.

 

....whatever can be said about Brewer; when pressed - like on his WD 'on the road'  series he might actually do some spannering; maybe change the odd component or spruce the car up to sell on... 

 

...it seems you want the best, most working car that has nearest to zero faults, is road legal, is presentable ; then you do some minor fixes n maybe some cosmetics on it   n it later returns a profit on when you decide to sell it - in the interim you 'drive the car about'...

 

...I can't see how you'll get any interesting content, or motoring readable content out of it; folk just wont be interested at all in that, if its just padded out waffle; thers already lots of you-tube n fettling threads - '£100 car is still working well, as I bought so well / was so discerning from the outset... tune in again, to see if its still doing car like things like going to and from the shops without incident (which it probably will)... or if I decide to sell it'

 

....doesn't sound like an attention grabber to me; if your not a car person, it might be of minimal viewing interest; " I was able to buy and run a £100 car for X months n still was up a few quid profit wise selling it after clocking up the miles..." 

these same non car folk probably have Nissan duke's on PCP or whatever so I can see the vid going viral or getting many likes...

[BavarianRetro]

Is this series of articles already commissioned or are you hoping to write and tout them?

 

The difficulties of finding one car which meets your criteria suggest that it could take some considerable time to pen a series.

[sierraman]

Old Top Gear magazine did an article years ago about someone going from Lands End to John o Groats in a £100 Avenger Estate. That sort of thing is interesting, probably less so a story about you buying a £100 Focus, finding out it’s a bag of shit then selling for a massive loss, apart from on here to oddballs like me.

[Saabnut]

Sort out the issues with it (because there will be issues), run it for a while, sell it for hopefully more than it owes me, lather, rinse, repeat. Create content (there may be video, but I seriously question who would want to look at me) based on all of the above.

 

Budget Brewer, with added honesty. And less budget.

 

And there lies the biggest problem with this idea. You state that the plan is to buy cheap and make a profit. That, makes you a trader in the eyes of the law. That means you need trade insurance, books, taxman looking over your shoulder, and most importantly, the 100 quid banger you are now selling has the same legal liabilities as the 9 month old Fiat being sold by Arnold Shark. The fact you plan you plan to publish the details will make it hard to deny when it comes to court.

 

I would seriously suggest a rethink on what you are planning, I can not see it ending well.

[SiC]

And there lies the biggest problem with this idea. You state that the plan is to buy cheap and make a profit. That, makes you a trader in the eyes of the law.

 

Citation please.

 

That means you need trade insurance, books, taxman looking over your shoulder,

 

As a freelance writer he probably already has trade insurance or similar and no doubt does his own tax return. Nothing to stop him acting as a sole trader if its the odd vehicle sold for a modest profit. This will reduce the burden of paperwork.

 

Plus if you're making small amounts of profit (forget how much - iirc £1k) you don't need to declare it anyway.

 

and most importantly, the 100 quid banger you are now selling has the same legal liabilities as the 9 month old Fiat being sold by Arnold Shark.

Law has changed since. Yes if a trade seller then it will be subject to more but at this price level, any dispute by a court will take into account the price and age or the vehicle.

 

Anyway others on here do this (see modern thread) and do it just fine.

 

There is nothing to say that after purchase cost and part costs this will only make a small profit. By the time you've added labour at minimum wage, a loss.

[lesapandre]

And add in cost of travel to vehicle if some distance away...rail fares can be crazy, a tyre or two, petrol cost in returning the car home, MoT, possibly an oil change and a few parts or a battery. There is no profit in this just enought capital generated to move on to the next banger?

[Saabnut]

Definition of a trader - Buying with the intention of selling for a profit. Poor net connection here so I cannot do the search, but it is out there and what I was told when I was a motor trader. If you buy to use but then sell on at a profit, then that is different. Trader status comes from buying to sell for a profit, which is trade.

 

Agree about the price/age being taken into account in court these days. You may well win the case. I am sure the time spent on defence/court/time will be well worth it when some numpty decides to test the system. We have all had the half wits who buy a cheap car and expect new, and if it is from a trader "it has a warrenty mate, sale of goods act, put it right at your cost" will surely come. I had it a few times with customers who expected fair wear and tear items replacing FOC on an 80 year old car, because that is why he bought from a dealer as he knew* everything would be put right!

 

At the end of the day, it is the OPs choice and if he wants to do it, that is fine. I just suggested he might want to rethink as I foresee a world of hassle going this route.

[Demio]

Many thanks for all your concerns over the legalities and value/publication of the content. I'll assure you that you don't need to be worried about these things, but it is nice to see people willing to give such advice.

[Steve79]

Old Top Gear magazine did an article years ago about someone going from Lands End to John o Groats in a £100 Avenger Estate. That sort of thing is interesting, probably less so a story about you buying a £100 Focus, finding out it’s a bag of shit then selling for a massive loss, apart from on here to oddballs like me.

 

I remember that article, it was a Hillman Avenger estate in a fetching faded pale yellow which cost the guy £50 with a small amount of MOT left on it. Pretty sure he slept in it as well. Made it to John o Groats ok but he did have to do a fair amount of bodgery with the exhaust due to fumes gassing him! 

[purplebargeken]

I remember that article, it was a Hillman Avenger estate in a fetching faded pale yellow which cost the guy £50 with a small amount of MOT left on it. Pretty sure he slept in it as well. Made it to John o Groats ok but he did have to do a fair amount of bodgery with the exhaust due to fumes gassing him! 

 

^^ Why is he not an honorary AS god?

[Lacquer Peel]

I remember that article, it was a Hillman Avenger estate in a fetching faded pale yellow which cost the guy £50 with a small amount of MOT left on it. Pretty sure he slept in it as well. Made it to John o Groats ok but he did have to do a fair amount of bodgery with the exhaust due to fumes gassing him!

 

^^ Why is he not an honorary AS god?

Maybe because that's motoring life for the people of Autoshite, not just content for an article or two.

[Jim Bell]

Sort out the issues with it (because there will be issues), run it for a while, sell it for hopefully more than it owes me, lather, rinse, repeat. Create content (there may be video, but I seriously question who would want to look at me) based on all of the above.

 

Budget Brewer, with added honesty. And less budget.

I think most of us have tried this to some extent and to some degree. I would reckon the consensus would probably be that it doesn't work as a money making enterprise. You can create interesting content but that usually costs money. If it was possible, or even plausible, everyone would be doing it. Most folk here do what you describe bit without the selling at a profit bit. It's nice when you can, bit if that's the plan, you might be setting yourself up for a disappointment.

 

Be interesting to watch though anyway.

 

Best of luck.

 

 

Ps. I sold a focus estate to Barmatt about a week ago for £130. That had plenty of mot and got him home from Durham to Norfolk fine. So it's possible. You just need to find a community minded nice cunt to kick start you.

[gadgetgricey]

Wat I would like to k ow is where are all tbese scrap values of 150 or 200 coming from? The highest bid I have had for my xantia td is £80.

 

It depends on location.

 

Just found this sold ebay auction for a Xantia TD. Sold in Edinburgh for £175.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-Xantia-1-9-Turbo-Diesel-SX-/223419216451?hash=item3404d2b243%3Ag%3AvJcAAOSwotlccpuM&nma=true&si=9YQ18QGjW4EfPwq53Ql5n2RPNLY%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

www.removemycar.co.uk   give £184 if you use postcode b32 1an in quinton.

[Demio]

I think most of us have tried this to some extent and to some degree. I would reckon the consensus would probably be that it doesn't work as a money making enterprise. You can create interesting content but that usually costs money. If it was possible, or even plausible, everyone would be doing it. Most folk here do what you describe bit without the selling at a profit bit. It's nice when you can, bit if that's the plan, you might be setting yourself up for a disappointment.

Oh, without doubt - hence the "hopefully" part! A lot of this is really reaching at the limits and no small amount of hope. Losing money on the car(s) isn't an innate problem (it's no less of a tale), because even if I lose all of a £100 car (which shouldn't be possible, because scrap and insurance) I'll still make money on writing about it. That's the day job after all!

Be interesting to watch though anyway.

 

Best of luck.

 

Ps. I sold a focus estate to Barmatt about a week ago for £130. That had plenty of mot and got him home from Durham to Norfolk fine. So it's possible. You just need to find a community minded nice cunt to kick start you.

Cheers. For the most part, the response here has been more on the nice side of the equation than the cunt side. I've had a bunch of suggestions for sourcing cars, and loads of nice people chucking links up.

 

I'll make the project an AS community thread before I write anything about it properly anyway - you guys will have been instrumental in getting the car(s), and there's plenty of vehicle life stories - from collection to sending off - on here from members, so it should slot right in. Just with a dumber budget.

[lesapandre]

And the chase itself will make a good story...I have bought cars on Dartmoor, in the Welsh hills, on the Pennines and from some really nice and not so nice people - but plenty of characters. Never not got home though. Often the story is more about the journey and the  people not just the car.

 

If you are a writer/journalist you may have read this - all about the chase for the life story of the elusive  Baron Corvo. If you have not read it - worth tracking down -written in the 30's but republished many times so loads of cheap copies on the web. It's a piece of great writing.

[Pete-M]

So far, I've had a freebie Mk2 Golf 1.8 Driver (lots of MOT, polished it up and sold for £700), a free Peugeot 405 GED (lots of mot, some tax, had to go to London for it, sold for £650 after fixing leak and a day polishing and valeting), a freebie Escort 55 1.8d van (lots of mot, leaky fuel pipe, fixed leak, sold for £400) and a freebie 56 plate Focus 1.8 TDCi 'Sport' estate on a 56 plate (coil spring snapped, passed MOT once fixed, sold for £1550).

[SiC]

You might get a few bargains around London soon after people panic selling due to ULEZ.

[fairkens]

Many thanks for all your concerns over the legalities and value/publication of the content. I'll assure you that you don't need to be worried about these things, but it is nice to see people willing to give such advice.

Sarcasm noted

[HMC]

Me, today.

 

 

Opportunistic buy it now- not £100 but basically scrap money for a (supposedly) running driving car with mot to Jan 2020.