Should I buy this astra ???

[Robsyuk]

Here is how its currently listed

For sale is a Vauxhall Astra with certified mileage of just over 83600 miles. I have owned this car for nearly 10 years but we have just purchased a new car so she has to go. Usual arctic extra's all work including a/c, factory fitted alarm with immoberlisor, elec windows and deadlocking central locking. The car runs great and has never been any problem starting. The car was serviced 5 months ago including new pads, battery, front wishbones with new roll bar links. The body work is good for a car of this age except for bumper damage at the front corner. I do have a fresh bumper that needs painting and fitting. Another problem is an electrical fault that has affected the reversing lights causing the engine management light to come on. For this reason the cost to rectify the problem professionally out weighs the value. Overall I think the car is too good to scrap so priced above scrap value. Thank you for looking. Any further questions or personal inspection not a problem. This will be a cash only sale!!

Ive asked about tax n mot and they have just run out, he uses the car daily with no faults. I asked about the electrical fault and this was the reply..

I appreciate your concern, my own personal opinion the electrical fault won't hinder the MOT. It needs one new front tyre plus one other thing I am not sure about. The front left strut squeaks when turning. I have had a look and the squeak is coming from the top part of the strut where the strut turns on a baring. But has no efgect on the handling or turning. Apart from that everything appears OK. The electrical fault I was told could be simple to solve, however the painful bit was the labour charge just to have a proper look without any parts to fix. £600 was the intial figure this involved removing the dashboard. So I have just continued to use the car until yesterday when the tax run out. At easter we went to North Wales for a week without any trouble, so I would have every confidence in driving any distance, but I will let you make that decision. john

He is happy to take my offer of £300 and the car is in oldham - roughly 250miles away!
So do you think I should take the risk and buy it without MOT as i was looking for a car with 12months

Answers on a postcard...

[Nobbie]

The fact it is in Oldham would make me run a mile, but that's just me.

Any more links, with pics, etc?

Personally the first thing i would check would be the reverse switch, but i can't think of any reason for the eml to be on when the reversing have an issue. I would expect the trip computer(if it has one) to say Lights on it, not an eml.

[Robsyuk]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-Vauxhall-...QQcmdZViewItem

[Johnny A]

The reversing light is a simple switch on the gearbox connected via wires and fuses to the bulbs at the rear, they are in no way connected to the engine management system on those engines.

Simple job to flash the code out though, found out the REAL reason for the EML light to be on. Then use this to kick some more off the price.

[show n shine]

The fact it is in Oldham would make me run a mile, but that's just me.

Any more links, with pics, etc?

Personally the first thing i would check would be the reverse switch, but i can't think of any reason for the eml to be on when the reversing have an issue. I would expect the trip computer(if it has one) to say Lights on it, not an eml.

i agree with the oldham bit

[Robsyuk]

didnt go for it in the end. I want something with 12months MOT to start with. taking it over 200miles with very little / neither of each is a gamble... thank you for your comments