I drive a 2001 Omega and a 1997 Frontera.
I ended up a Frontera owner as got backed into a corner with the car I had before. I had a fairly good Focus TDDi Estate and Swapped it for a 2000 X Reg Vauxhall Vectra SRi 2.2 Estate from a car dealer in Ore, Hastings called Jules Torr, My mistake was not doing any additional checks as 2 weeks after I got the Vectra I checked on the DVLA website to see how much the tax was and it stated on there it needed a VIC test. So I booked the VIC test and paid for it in advance, that was just the beginning of the problems! Then the coil pack died. So got a used one and fitted it (This was the week before the VIC test was due) Taxed the car day before the coil pack being fitted too! And then 30 minutes after the coil pack was fitted the engine went BANG!!! I had a wonderful company called ELVA recover it to a garage late saturday morning called Vicary's in Battle, East Sussex, who were so kind to me and helpful they have now gained me as a long term customer.
They stripped the engine down and told me that the bottom chain had snapped, the top chain had jumped several teeth, the power steering pump seized, valves were bent etc... and it would cost over £1k to fix. This was told to me on my wedding anniversary! So I walked away and spent a couple of days thinking about weather to repair it by credit card or to sell it. I decided to sell as I would never be able to trust the car again, let alone afford the additional monthly premium on the card.
So stuck it on Gumtree at midnight on the 15th and at 7.30am on the 16th I had a text from a company who eventually agreed to give me £220 for it and collect it from the garage where it was to save me bringing it home. And by 10.30am on the 16th it was gone. and looking through Gumtree the only decent motor with long MOT and Tax was this Frontera that looked spotless in the original photo's that the guy took a year ago when he bought it.
I pulled up. Saw that he was VERY VERY desperate to sell it as he couldn't afford to insure it and his other car and he had no where to store it off road. It was advertised at £650 in the window of the car, £550 on Gumtree, and I bought it for £370! As it needs cosmetic work more than anything.
The guy was very honest about everything with the Frontera which is why I bought it. But he was in a state of shock after the test drive when I said, lets talk money lol. His jaw nearly hit the floor as I can see why most people would walk away.
So to give you a list of what is currently wrong with it from when I bought it:
1. Front Wheel Bearing have slight play both sides.
2. Drivers Wing is slightly bent out of shape causing the door to catch badly when it is opened.
3. Drivers door catch is broken and door doesn't secure against the car. (Part ordered and will be fixed monday)
4. Drivers Door damaged by the wing.
5. Brakes are weak as the rear pads need changing.
6. No service History.
7. Roof Seal is there but not properly attached to the roof but just needs pushing back on.
8. Check strap missing from drivers door.
9. Some speakers are missing and others are broken.
10. It hadn't been cleaned on the outside for the sale.
11. Passenger rear light is broken.
So starting on the 18th ALL of the above is being rectified.
I got most of the stuff to service it today, but will buy the rest next week.
I have ordered brake pads on line.
The door will be fixed Monday.
I bought a Haynes manual on Ebay for £2 plus p&p
The roof seal is being re fitted on Monday.
And once the important things are done I am buying £60 a set of Crystal Tail lights off Ebay.
)
