Milano ep3 type r to buy or not to buy?

[rjones1]

Hi new to the forum, im looking to buy a facelift ep3 type r, preferably in red and I much prefer lower miles if possible.

There are two different cars that I have to choose from and I need a bit of help. Both have pros and cons, one has 75K miles and one has 86K. Both are apparently in very good condition. Both have induction kits already.

The higher mileage one has full mot and a few months tax foglights which seem to be rare and expensive on these, good tyres. Also has white wheels that I don't like and comes with lowering springs but aren't fitted yet which means I have to get them fitted.

The lower mileage one has a few months mot and no tax. The wheels have been refurbed in silver which I much prefer. Lowering springs already fitted.

I can get the lower mileage one for £3950
I can get the higher mileage one for £3800

Higher mileage car link:
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/hond...

Lower mileage car:
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/hond...

Any help will be much appreciated. Id also like you to keep the resale value in mind when making a decision aka: lower miles = easier shifted/worth more??

cheers

[Riknos]

Red fades - be aware of that. You'll need to keep on top of the paint and look after it more if you plan to keep it.

Personally, I would want to buy an unmodified EP3. They attract a lot of the types of owners who don't look after cars, so I would want to increase my chance that the person owning it has treated it with care and not used it as a cheap hatch to race his mates in and red line every where from cold.

Do lowering springs actually improve these at all? Or is just for 'looks'? They might ruin the handling.

No tax means it's either SORN, and you can't test drive it (I wouldn't want to buy a car that I couldn't test drive) or it's illegally still in use, in which case, I wouldn't trust the seller.

If you don't like the wheels refurb'd in white, you're looking at £200 ish to get them done another colour, take that into consideration.

Plenty more examples out there remember, and always be willing to travel.

[rjones1]

Thanks for the reply

I know about the red fading but these two are meant to be unfaded so that's all good and ill keep on top of it. To be fair they are very standard, just induction kit and lowering springs. And regards the springs personally they are more for looks but the would improve the handling a little too.

There's not been that many which were facelift in red with lowish miles for sale in NI and ive literally been looking for months so am pretty set on one of these. Also both are 2hrs drive from me and unfortunately both are 2hrs from each other too.

Which of the 2 would you suggest? You sound like you're swaying towards the higher mileage example due to tax etc?

[Mastodon2]

Riknos said:

Personally, I would want to buy an unmodified EP3. They attract a lot of the types of owners who don't look after cars, so I would want to increase my chance that the person owning it has treated it with care and not used it as a cheap hatch to race his mates in and red line every where from cold.

So what would it's modification status have to do with that? And how would you know it had not been modified and reverted back to standard, as EP3 upgrades are usually worth a decent amount second hand, whereas a modified car is rarely worth more than a standard car of the same miles and condition?

[Honestherbert]

My brother and one of my best friends both just brought one each as daily runarounds, silver and black but both with 80k ish miles each for £2500 both private sales. Both in good condition tbh. They are pretty tough engines as long as the oil has been changed reasonably regularly and as usual I would say ignore the "don't touch modded examples" comments as in my experience they are more likely to have been someones pride and joy rather than just a car. Just make sure they have been owned by someone who isn't an idiot!

There are a lot out there so take your time and pick wisely I would also recommend checking out the owners clubs as in general they are more likely to have been something someone has put time and attention into rather than just used to go to work