Shite Cars And The Buyers They Attract

[freebird]

I cant say that ive had any real bad experiences selling cars. The one thing that does seem to be more prevalent nowdays are the dickwads who contact you and ask you to bring the car closer to them ( halfway) because they live well away from you. Do they REALLY think im going to drive 50/100 miles to meet them in some Pub car park so that they can kick the fucking tyres and pull it to pieces then sod off? Ive had that twice now and both times, ive told the lazy bastards that, if they are genuinely interested, they can get of their arses and come to ME to view.

As for buying the strangest sellers were the people of Boston in Lincolnshire. I lived there about 15 years ago and, its fair to say, the amount of old chod that was being sold for the kind of money that was jaw dropping was an eye opener.

I went to view a Ford Sierra 2.0 on a D plate. I think it had been used to house pigs, the tyres were bald and the arches were full of grot. The seller proudly informed me that the car had covered some 400,000 miles.....he wanted £800 for it. Wanker.

The best one was an odd bod who was selling a MK2 Astra, which the advert stated was in "VGC". On arrival, i found a pile of crud resplendent in badly faded paintwork, red electrical tape around the rear lights and the contents of BPs yearly oil production covering every nook and cranny of the engine bay. The wing mirrors were taped up and the interior "had seen better days"

For the £700 asking price, i pointed out to him, I could actually bag myself a decent car. He was genuinely shocked. Why?

[Mr Lobster]

Well, R4 has just sold on eBay. Lets see what happens next!

[ayd]

I (thankfully) don't have this problem as I have an elder sister who is very receptive of my cast offs and she pays cash

 

The only bad experience I've ever had was some numpty who turned up to view my Escort carbio with 11 months MOT and 6 motnhs Tax and refused to buy it unless I put 12 months 'ticket' on it.........

[Timewaster]

The strangest sale I have witnessed was going along for the ride with a mate (who is a mechanic and MOT tester) to look at a E36 325i. He had spoken to the seller on the phone and aranged to view that evening. It was a good 50 mile trip and we were a bit late, saw the car on the road outside the address.

We have a poke around it, decided it was worth knocking on the guys door for a proper look, so the guy answered the door - took one look at us and proclaimed -"F**K ME!, WHITE PEOPLE!!!"

He then went on this big BNP style rant about al the B******D F******G P**I's that had been turning up making derisory offers, how the car had been for sale for a month, how far behind he was with his mortgage and if it didnt sell that week it was going to auction for whatever he could get as he was getting desperate!

We gave it a drive, decided it was a decent motor underneath the entire can of cockpit shine he had emptied in the interior, offered him 2/3rds of the asking price and he took it gladly.

My mate had that car for about 5 years.

[Negative Creep]

"Sold as seen" = there is a major fault with the car, but it cannot be detected until you are out of "can be bothered to turn back" distance.

 

I'm not 100% sure I agree on this one. "Sold as seen" is also a way to attempt to cover oneself against the type of cretin that Ross_K mentioned who expects a £500 car to come with zero faults and a lifetime warranty.

 

True true, and for that reason I avoid ads with that written on it - or at least written in a very obvious way - as the seller thinks if he can get away with the buyer not noticing major fault XXX on the test drive, having "sold as seen" written on the advert means he is devoid of all future liability. Sold as seen has no legal meaning, if the seller has misled the buyer and it can be proved then iirc that's smallclaimsable. If a buyer has mentioned "oil leak" or "5th gear doesn't work" in the ad I'd be far more more inclined to deal with them, rather than somebody who posts "mint but sold as seen" as in my mind they're trying to hide something. Sold as seen or not, an ad is exactly the same.

 

 

If it's a private sale, regardless of whether it was "sold as seen" you have pretty much zero comeback.

 

To be honest I've had few problems selling cars, aside from the fact no one ever bloody rings. Did have one of our "ethnic friends" who was adamant that old oil around the rocker cover meant the headgasket had gone and someone who took my MR2 for a massive test drive then offer half the asking price. The worst one was a Colt that came with 6 months tax. Except after I drove off the cheeky prick must have stopped the payment, since I get a letter a few weeks later saying that the payment bounced and I don't have a valid tax disc. Got a CCJ against him but still never got my money back, although hopefully I fucked his credit rating in doing so

[lancashireclamper]

About 4 years ago I was flogging a 4.0 Jag Sovereign XJ40 shape, I'd bought it 3 months previously as a weekend car ( I walked to work then) subsequently changed jobs to a 30 mile a day commute so the Jag had to go.

Put it in the local rag for 600 slightly less than I paid for it 9 months MOT, 3 months tax, bit scabby around the rear arches (on a Jag, who'd believe it) some tit phones up, arranges to view, I wait in, see him pull up outside the house linger for 2 minutes then drive off, he phones me 15 minutes later and says "Its got some rust showing hasn't it?" I agree it has and point out the price reflects this, he then phones me next morning (7.15am!) and offers 350 because "the price of petrol is due to go up"

Not being a morning person I suggest he buys a Fiat Uno if 2 pence on a litre bothers him that much OR TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY MAYBE A 4.0 STRAIGHT SIX IS NOT THE CAR FOR HIM.

The car sold next day to a fellow Jag man who turned up, drove it round the block, offered 575 and drove it away, dicksplash phoned back 3 days later upping his offer to 375; really enjoyed that bit.

About 4 months later I saw an ad in the same paper for a Citroen XM, phone no seemed to ring a bell so, pay as you go sim purchased I phoned up enquiring about the car's rotational drive sprockets, queried the originality of the rear centre arm rest and had him test the self levelling suspension whilst the glove box was open and reverse gear engaged.

Childish I know but it did make me smile for a whole week.

[Station]

I have no problem with people wanting clarification on things I've always listed in the advert (ie is there anything else wrong with it?).

 

Asking 'What's the lowest you'll go on it' is a bit irritating, also saying they definitely want the car, and then not showing up.

 

Best one was when I sold my MR2 for 350 with MOT - it was shagged, the sills had gone, and it had had a bump on the front corner. A bloke who knew the car a few years ago said he definitely wanted the car, and turned up expecting this minter from a few years ago. He was surprised that his 350 quid find wasn't what he expected and he changed his mind, the complete moron. The previous owner hadn't looked after it at all, took 300 quid's worth of soundproofing out, carpets, spare tyre, tool kit (ie, all the bits that made it kind've authentic) to 'save weight'.

[Cavcraft]

The strangest sale I have witnessed was going along for the ride with a mate (who is a mechanic and MOT tester) to look at a E36 325i. He had spoken to the seller on the phone and aranged to view that evening. It was a good 50 mile trip and we were a bit late, saw the car on the road outside the address.

We have a poke around it, decided it was worth knocking on the guys door for a proper look, so the guy answered the door - took one look at us and proclaimed -"F**K ME!, WHITE PEOPLE!!!"

He then went on this big BNP style rant about al the B******D F******G P**I's that had been turning up making derisory offers, how the car had been for sale for a month, how far behind he was with his mortgage and if it didnt sell that week it was going to auction for whatever he could get as he was getting desperate!

We gave it a drive, decided it was a decent motor underneath the entire can of cockpit shine he had emptied in the interior, offered him 2/3rds of the asking price and he took it gladly.

My mate had that car for about 5 years.

 

 

I appreciate you obviously wanted the car but to be honest I'd have said to that turd that my wife is Asian, just to have seen the dickhead squirm a bit.

[eddyramrod]

no one ever bloody rings.

 

I know that one only too well. As you know I have a bunch of cars for sale right now. This is how they appear on the CyprusLiving forum:

 

My cars: Note: part exchange possible on any of these! Classic or modern, car, van or pickup, it's worth asking.

1972 Ford Granada, NOW ONLY 7,000 EUROS

Built May 1972, registered here September 72, now registered as "Antika." MoT, will tax. 2500 V6 with manual gearbox, GXL model. 5 new whitewall tyres. Some spares. Restored several years ago including replacement correct engine, and respray in original Miami Blue metallic. New exhaust made specially for this car. Will include your first year's membership of Paphos Classic Vehicle Club.

 

2002 Vauxhall Brava NOW ONLY 3,000 EUROS

UK import 2008. 2.5 turbo diesel, 2WD, Truckman top, alloy wheels plus original steels, towbar, CD radio. Tax, MoT, engine rebuilt 2010 with new liners and recon turbo. Comfortable and capable.

 

Also: a whole new hobby for you! Restoration project: 1966 Austin A40 Countryman, stripped for restoration, many new or reconditioned parts (none fitted). 900 euros ono. Will include your first year's membership of Paphos Classic Vehicle Club.

 

All prices ovno; please call 99009826. All items located in Mesogi, just off Polis Road.

 

Am I getting any calls? Guess... Actually I am occasionally. I took the pickup to show someone yesterday, who wanted a "work truck" which, let's be honest, is exactly what it is. This was after a couple of email exchanges in which I pointed out the Autotrader.cy website. A swift search for similar trucks threw up several of the right age and type, nothing less than twice the price; or some more of the right price and type, all older (mostly much older) and none with the hardtop. So he drives it, we talk about how to deal with the short MoT (tomorrow )and he says he wants to talk to the wife, and will let me know. Today: not a whisper. Meanwhile another bloke was supposed to come today but couldn't make it (ok, I understand work getting in the way) and won't be able to come until next week. Bugger, that means the MoT is going to run out and I'll be stranded again. One car with no tax, one with no MoT.

 

Oh and these guys are the Brits. Cypriots want 4x4 on it. They're very good at opening with the "best price" question. My answer depends on my mood (which is getting increasingly despondent and decreasingly tolerant). My best price would be about double what I'm actually asking for each of these vehicles, as that might possibly allow me to break even. Selling at these asking prices definitely won't. But it will fund our flights and container, which is all we want now.

[Station]

When selling my Metro GTi, after getting roughly 20 timewasters, I sold it and then gladly told the ones who were still lingering on with offers that I'd either scrapped it or given it away because I got sick of all the ridiculous twats offering half the price I was asking (I was asking for 350 quid). The lads who bought it towed it home uninsured even after me pleading with them it hadn't been on the road since 2003 (eg it won't be on the DVLA database) and is unroadworthy and you will get pulled, and then they got pulled and the car was seized. The lad rang saying they'd been pulled there and then because it wasn't on the DVLA database - he didn't ring back for a refund though.

[Guest]

Sounds like some of you need to screen your buyers better, you can get rid of most losers on the initial phone call, like anyone who tries to knock money off before they've even seen it (that's the key one). Then if you get someone who sounds more serious and they want to have a look, you make them fit around your life so it's only really a bonus if they turn up (a serious buyer is more likely to make the effort anyway). Then if after all that they turn up and start the whole "I'm going to pretend I'm very unhappy with the car so I can have it for buttons" routine, you can just tell them that you're uncomfortable with selling them a car they don't seem happy with and it's probably best they go look at a different one, so they've only really wasted their own time.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

"Sold as seen" = there is a major fault with the car, but it cannot be detected until you are out of "can be bothered to turn back" distance.

 

I'm not 100% sure I agree on this one. "Sold as seen" is also a way to attempt to cover oneself against the type of cretin that Ross_K mentioned who expects a £500 car to come with zero faults and a lifetime warranty.

 

True true, and for that reason I avoid ads with that written on it - or at least written in a very obvious way - as the seller thinks if he can get away with the buyer not noticing major fault XXX on the test drive, having "sold as seen" written on the advert means he is devoid of all future liability. Sold as seen has no legal meaning, if the seller has misled the buyer and it can be proved then iirc that's smallclaimsable. If a buyer has mentioned "oil leak" or "5th gear doesn't work" in the ad I'd be far more more inclined to deal with them, rather than somebody who posts "mint but sold as seen" as in my mind they're trying to hide something. Sold as seen or not, an ad is exactly the same.

 

This sounds fairly ludicrous TBH, 'sold as seen' means the same no matter how 'obviously it is written', if its a private sale. Even if its not written at all its still the case. Your position is that the seller remains liable for any 'hidden' problems that you don't discover while testing the car?

[Father Ted]

Had my share of window lickers in the past too.

Last car I sold to a Muggle was the L reg Micra with galloping frilly bits. 3 months MOT, 3 Months tax and I wanted about £200 - £250 for it.

 

Advertised in the local free paper and lots of phone calls stating "Ill be right there" with no one turning up. Then I put it on eBay and had a few polite Q's (as well as the "will u tek £150 & i'll pik up tonite") - the best was the bloke who asked for the MOT details so he could look on line - no problems I have nothing to hide and I know it had a shit load of welding to the sills, seatbelt points and crossmember a few years before I bought it, I also know the welding was a a good standard and that it had been properly gunked afterwards.

MOT from 3 years hence comes back with fail and advisorys. Every one since has been advisory free....

 

"based on the MOT fail 3 years ago I would like to make you an offer of £100"

 

F.R.O.

 

Eventually sold it to a student nurse for £200, she learned to drive in it and it still graces Blackpool Victorias car park looking ugly but providing cheap reliable transport for her.

[Station]

"based on the MOT fail 3 years ago I would like to make you an offer of £100"

 

Ugh, my piss is about to boil reading that!

[Pete-M]

I've had loads of time wasters with the 604. So far not one of them has actually bothered to turn up, but I've had four or five people promise me they'll buy it "when my car sells"....

 

Only one chap actually seems serious, but he's got to flog a Merc 190 first, so that could take a long, long time.

[Cavcraft]

It's been talked about before on here but I love the half arsed ones who view, feign interest then just disappear into the sunset then ring you three weeks later and go off their tits when you say you've sold it.

What were they expecting, for you to hold it for months on bleeding end in case they changed their mind?

[willswitchengage]

This sounds fairly ludicrous TBH, 'sold as seen' means the same no matter how 'obviously it is written', if its a private sale. Even if its not written at all its still the case. Your position is that the seller remains liable for any 'hidden' problems that you don't discover while testing the car?

 

I was trying to say that if somebody writes "sold as seen" then they're in the mindset that they know the car has a problem that probably won't be detected on an inspection, but by writing "sold as seen" then they'll be devoid of future responsibility as they wrote that on the advert. Exactly whether or not it's there makes no legal difference, you can try and sue for misrepresentation but the chances of succeeding are minuscule. If a seller writes "sold as seen" in prominent big letters at the bottom of an avdert, I will not deal with him as it arouses suspicion for the above reasons and he thinks he's being clever by putting it there.

 

Obviously the burden of responsibility is still on the buyer to make sure car is still fine, but I'd rather deal with the seller who (for instance in my case) lists first gear has no synchromesh, reverse gear getting there, hole in the exhaust, fuel system needs re-beedling every 24 hours, unresponsive front height corrector, leaks LHM, gearbox oil and and water, than the seller who just says "sold as seen" and expects you to discover these things by pouring over the car for several hours with a magnifying glass. IMHO "sold as seen" is an indicator of a dishonest and wannabe-crafty seller, that is all

[MrDuke]

I've had loads of time wasters with the 604. So far not one of them has actually bothered to turn up, but I've had four or five people promise me they'll buy it "when my car sells"....

 

Only one chap actually seems serious, but he's got to flog a Merc 190 first, so that could take a long, long time.

 

If it's any consolation, my frustration at being extremely f'king willing and financially able to buy your 604 but being overruled by someone who only drives 'our' car twice a year, could be on a par with your frustration at not selling it. Actually, that's probably no consolation to you at all. Sorry.

 

Back O/T, I waved goodbye to the Ashtray of joy* today, thanks to a very pleasant couple who only want it to carry logs for their stove. Possibly the most expensive wheelbarrow of evah? I've only had one tosser on the phone, and one other viewer who was genuinely interested, but needed more load space. I'm now awaiting a phonecall telling me it's self-destructed on the A55, as that would be totally par for the course of life at the moment.

[Cavcraft]

Didn't you write 'sold as seen' on the receipt? By the time they've got stuck in 57 miles of traffic on the A55 and missed the Victorian weekend at Llandudno you can just shut all your windows and pretend to be out anyhow.

[Pillock]

When selling my Audi 90 (up for £650), I had one guy ring me and offer me £350 based on the "fact" that the "police" had told him it had been in an accident.

I queried which section of the police deals with information like this, and then he said it was his mate that was a policeman had told him.

I asked again where they hold this information, and he got a bit squirmy and hung up.

 

Then some guy phones at 9pm, wanting a test drive. That night.

So about 10.30pm in January I find myself in the back of my own Audi, with three other burly men, out on some country roads.

They then proceed to knock only £100 quid off for the slippy clutch and ignored the fact the exhaust manifold was cracked. Winner.

[oman5]

Hmm. personally when selling I DO write "sold as seen". It basically means to me there is no warranty given or implied and the buyer had accepted the car as it stands. i.e, seller is not liable for any future problems. I sold a mk3 Granada, knocked down from 350 to 275 because it needed a new exhaust, the buyer was happy with that but rang me up three months later to say that it had cut out and wouldn't restart. and that means what to me?

Not everyone is as clued up as people on this site, as anyone who has sold a banger will know, there are plenty of those who think a 300 quid banger is going to last them for 20 years. I just make it clear what they are buying and have never knowingly sold something with an undeclared fault. usually something in the advert like "mint condition examples are worth 1500 quid. this one's 500" does the trick.

[purplebargeken]

This still relates to autoshite but of a 2 wheeled variety. I'm selling a CZ125. It hasn't run for several years but is is in half decent condition and I have made it clear that it is for spares or repair and have advised of all of what I have done so far with it and what it is like now.

 

I put it on Gumtree as well and had one twonk text me asking the utterly moronic 'what's the lowest you'll take for it and I'll pick it up tonite'. I told him I'd be happy with £75 as it will pay for the Daf MOT and give me a bit of change in my pocket. I'm not greedy. He texts back with an offer of £30. I'd rather disembowel myself with a spoon and I advise him that he might want to look elsewhere. He then sends me 3 texts saying, 'Ok, £40 and I'll pick it up tonite'. I think not. Currently at £100 which is fine and dandy.

 

You could have a look of fun with these fools.