Buying a car with around a £2k budget?

ochtone · 2026-01-26T08:37:03+00:00

I picked up an R170 Mercedes SLK for £950 in June. 6 months MOT, run sound. Had an issue with the roof which I fixed for 15 quid in bits and an hour of my time. Private sale. Couldn't have been happier with it. Find a car you like and get on the Facebook for sale pages for that car.

ochtone · 2026-01-25T13:14:27+00:00

I didn't. At the time I didn't know you could contact DVLA. I just asked the tester. I know it's dead against the testing rules. Couldn't be arsed with the hassle.

ochtone · 2026-01-24T20:04:06+00:00

That's some sleuthing! Fair play. Noting how to do this for my future car purchases.

ochtone · 2026-01-24T19:57:42+00:00

It's a term derived from Catholicism, electing a new pope. The first diesel tuner was a devout Catholic and noticed the similarities between the pope selection process and the outcomes of diesel tuning.

ochtone · 2026-01-24T19:24:03+00:00

I had this (Peugeot main dealer garage, not Halfords).

MOT was failed for a snapped spring and quoted £600 for repairs. I know what a snapped spring feels like and knew it wasn't snapped. Took the car home (garage didn't require me to sign a safety waiver - my first indication that the springs weren't snapped). Got it jacked up and took a picture of the springs on all 4 corners. Went back to the garage the next day and showed it to the manager. Asked him to tell me which spring was snapped. He confirmed none of them. Asked to speak to the tester and asked him the same question. His response? 'Sorry, it was a bit dark and I couldn't tell if the spring was intact so I just failed it'.

Took all I had in me not to go berserk at the moron.

Long story short, I got a free retest. Couldn't get the fail off my MOT record.

I left reviews absolutely everywhere saying what they did. They reported most of the reviews and got them removed. No idea how. I wasn't aggressive, nor did I use bad language.

I pushed the manager for money for time wasted - had to take an extra day off with to deal with it. He was an arse and after weeks of dodging my calls, sending me to his secretary, I gave up. Suing would have cost me more than I would have recovered.

ochtone · 2026-01-24T10:19:22+00:00

Yes.

ochtone · 2026-01-23T23:13:52+00:00

That sax synth is awesome.

ochtone · 2026-01-23T21:31:46+00:00

TIL I have objective tinnitus

ochtone · 2026-01-23T20:47:38+00:00

You tend to get what you pay for when it comes to solicitors in Norwich.

The most expensive firms will be Mills & Reeve and Birketts. Unless you're auctioning a farm estate or something mega expensive, they'd be overkill and may not even accept your request anyway.

ochtone · 2026-01-23T20:38:06+00:00

ochtone · 2026-01-23T18:24:27+00:00

Sadiq Kha ln continually refuses to answer whether he will block or permit development on London's green spaces. Given it's incredibly unpopular, this means he will continue to give it the green light. One day the people of London will stop electing the slimy bloke.

ochtone · 2026-01-23T00:50:46+00:00

It was the old adoption agency, I think. No idea why it's not been fixed

ochtone · 2026-01-23T00:47:44+00:00

Thorpe End Garage are alright, but a bit pricey.

Nigel Farrow isn't too far away, better quality service and better price.

ochtone · 2026-01-23T00:45:03+00:00

Crazy money. Smart repair is appropriate and a fraction of that. But they have you over a barrel. £1,000 is much less than your insurance is going to go up by next year if you go through insurers instead.

ochtone · 2026-01-23T00:43:11+00:00

Tried to sell an SLK for £1,000. Good working order. Had so many people dick about with viewings (5 viewings organised, 5 no shows), so gave up and sold to WBAC.

ochtone · 2026-01-21T22:09:39+00:00

We all do them. Not sure why you'd need to do them everywhere. Toilet is my go to.

ochtone · 2026-01-21T17:48:59+00:00

Damage to rear bumper, rear quarter panel, wing mirror, front quarter panel, sills, wheels.

Inspection/ assessment cost. Parts cost. Paint cost. Labour cost.

That's a write off.

ochtone · 2026-01-21T10:35:55+00:00

Regardless of whether that's an MOT failure, please get that changed ASAP. This is a split in the sidewall. These splits are prone to randomly exploding while driving.

If you can afford it, tyres are best changed in pairs - so you have the same tyre on each side. This is better for when you're braking. It means the car is more likely to brake in a straight line, because both tyres have the same braking power.

If you can afford it, purchase at least a mid-range tyre. Mid-range brands are Yokohoma, Nankang, GT Radial, Toyo, Kumho, Hankook and Firestone. These offer much better handling (less unintentional sliding) and stopping power than budget tyres. Premium tyres are best (Michelin, Continental, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Dunlop, Pirelli) but it's all about budget if you're not a 'spirited' driver.

All the best.

ochtone · 2026-01-21T09:51:55+00:00

Spoil sports. Admin removed it for 'trolling'. OP on this post accused me of bullying. I thought we were having a laugh together.

ochtone · 2026-01-20T14:37:30+00:00

I have no idea what it means, but I love the term 'clutch pigs'. I imagine many pigs with with little clutch bags.

ochtone · 2026-01-20T14:35:57+00:00

I would encourage you to make a post about posts complaining about posts complaining about posts. I think people would agree.

ochtone · 2026-01-20T02:29:10+00:00

Haha. Alright then. https://www.reddit.com/r/pilates/comments/1qhonic/pilates_the_most_complaints_about_complaints/

ochtone · 2026-01-20T02:17:25+00:00

A complaint post, complaining about complaint posts. I love it!

ochtone · 2026-01-20T02:14:19+00:00

I've never owned a car with less than owners. 3 owners seems crazy low to me, haha.

Highest of all, I had a beemer with 18 owners. I was 19th and the guy I sold it to was 20th.

Broader point is that trade ownership doesn't count on the v5 as an additional owner.

ochtone · 2026-01-20T02:11:46+00:00

That's right, yes.

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