Was this a good buy?

[AlecBarnes]

Hi all, i am so glad I found this forum, loads of useful stuff and questions answered just by searching through topics.

I have just bought a 2003 Jazz,  from the Vin GD175 I think is a MK1, It has a separate mirror heater switch, electric sunroof etc.

It's done 97K and has a full service history up to 90k and is nice and clean inside with no damage to trim or seats and the engine purrs with no strange noises.

I paid £284 at auction as the mot has expired.
 
It's got a brake leak somewhere as the pedal drops to the floor and there's no fluid left in the tank, top it up and pump for a while and they last for an hour or so.

The question, bargain or bag of spanners ? As I've seen various prices on Ebay ranging from £450 to £1500 for similar looking cars.

Cheers
Alec

[Jocko]

Welcome Alec. I would have bitten the auctioneers arm off at that price.
Assuming the worst, and sometimes soon it need the gearbox bearing replaced, I had new seals and bearings fitted by a specialist gearbox refurbisher for £324 all told. Even adding that to your purchase price and to still have a massive bargain. I paid £1795 for a 2006 with 90K miles.

[olduser1]

They next step is to ask your local mechanic to complete a pre mot test that will give you an idea along with looking through the govt website MOT history for is life before you paid £.
NB this forum is a great source of info - here's a free online manual for your spec Jazz>
http://www.hondafitjazz.com/manual.html

Good Luck

[Rory]

The question, bargain or bag of spanners ?

Who knows?  I guess the trick is not to throw to much money at it.

Aside from the gearbox issue already mentioned, have a look and see if the spare wheel well is wet.  The only other common thing I can think of is the a/c condensor failing - either corrosion or getting a hole in it.

[Jocko]

Aside from the gearbox issue already mentioned, have a look and see if the spare wheel well is wet.  The only other common thing I can think of is the a/c condensor failing - either corrosion or getting a hole in it.

For £284 who cares if it has air con or not. Mine doesn't. And water in the spare wheel well is normally an easy fix.
I have spent years buying cheap cars and running them into the ground. The criteria for a £284 car and a car 10 times that price is as different as chalk and cheese. At £284 all you want it to do is go and stop. Back in the 70's I had a car I had to drive with bicycle clips on, to keep my flairs out of the water on the floor! I have had cars with no heating (once an option on a new car) but it was still better than waiting on a bus.

[AlecBarnes]

Here's the car in all it's glory https://vehicles.johnpye.co.uk/auction-018/itemDetails/608/102575


I've just checked the wheel well and yes it has water in it! common problem ? What's the fix?

As for the manual it has a complete book (more like an encyclopedia) and the service book fully stamped up to 90K, am I correct as it now has 97K on the clock it needs oil change n filter ?

Thanks all
Alec

[Jocko]

I always change the oil and filter as soon as I buy a car. It is relatively cheap to do and removes any doubt. Water in the boot is usually water leaking in past the trim rails on the roof. Plenty here about fixing it with fresh mastic/sealer.

MOT fail says Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))
I bought a middle box, from a local motor factor, for £30. Kwik Fit quoted me £80, fitted.

MOT history quite good, but brake pipes been advisory for a spell.

https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history


It will cost £35 to hire a Jazz for a day, so get 8 days out of it and you are ahead! Not really, but you get my drift.

[Rory]

At £284 all you want it to do is go and stop.

In that case he overpaid - it doesn't stop at the moment!

[sparky Paul]

The rusty pipes on the rear suspension arms is a common issue, a few pounds to fix yourself or shouldn't cost much at a garage. Hopefully, that's where the leak will be, into the crud that collects around the pipes.

It's a cheap car, in fact scrap price if you sell the cat seperately, so you can't lose. If you can arrest the subframe mounting corrosion, there could be a good few years left in it.

[Jocko]

In that case he overpaid - it doesn't stop at the moment!

It stops for the first hour! 

[madasafish]

Get it MOT's sell it ion ebay for £1250.. it's still cheap then...
Reinvest the money and do it again.