Advise on buying my first car, a Lancer Hi BHPians, About me:
After enjoying reading countless threads here for about a decade, finally joined here to get your valuable advise.
I'm looking to purchase my first car and I've always wanted it to be a Lancer.
Intention is to practise my driving through daily use, as I've driven cars only occasionally. Keep this for 2 years before moving to a new vehicle. About the car:
1. Lancer SLXi 1.8 Automatic - 2008
(While most would despise an Automatic, especially for a Lancer, I've never driven an automatic and see this as an opportunity. In-fact, didn't realize Lancer came in automatic, until seeing this one).
2. Odo: 50k KM. Seller is 3rd owner (2nd owner in paper) - Seller was honest about it being a demo car. i.e., 1st owner is showroom, so I do understand odo clocking & possibly rough use by them.
3. Per seller, it needs only tyre replacement, in the short to mid term. (I presume it'll cost 4k to 8k per tyre, for a tubeless radial)
4.From the photos, looks decent, with minor scratches that requires paint touch at worst, ignorable at best (no dents). I'll likely chose to ignore.
5. After 2 weeks of in touch, seller sounds genuine. Claims that it's a low maintenance model and he hasn't done anything other than general service + oil + filter, in his 1 year of ownership. To his knowledge, no mods were done. As I was hesitant on spare availability, he also suggested some shops in another town, which looks to be good based on reviews by other Lancer owner in GMaps.
5. Negotiating between 1.5L and 2.15 L, the best offer I get seems to be 1.65L. I'm wondering, does this seem overpriced in your opinion?
Oh, and this has a rear cam too. Did HM provide those back in 2008 itself?
Note: Tried getting opinion from 2 professional evaluators but, car being in a different/remote town makes it impossible, since seller wouldn't come to my town.
I'll of-course take friends that are experienced drivers for checking the car before buying.
Thank you. |