Some lads can make it pay (I think those buying lumpier stock where private buyers don’t like buying privately) but I sacked it off many many moons ago. Like yourself, at the lower end I usually found it a waste of time looking at severely misdescribed shite.
The last time I actively went buying from privates was in pre-Facebook times. I’d hate to think what it’s now like buying from one of the many ‘privates’ on FB wanting to meet in Asda’s car park
A couple of tins of Hammerite Schutz & 10 minutes of your garage’s time with their spray gun is your friend here. As we’ve all found out there are MOTs & there are MOTS. Sometimes I wonder what the hell the last tester was advising on, yet others pass cars that are blatantly unroadworthy.