Buying a McLaren - WARNING!

[100 IAN]

TP321 said:

....All we really want to know is how much IAN100 nearly stole that McLaren for..??;)

I genuinely wasn't 'stealing' the car from the seller.

I have subsequently bought from McLaren Birmingham (exemplary service, would have no hesitation in recommending them)



http://www.birmingham.mclaren.com/mclaren-preowned...

Yes i paid £5k more but its 5 months newer, has got a sports exhaust, carbon interior, Superlight wheels and 12 rather than 6 months MCL warranty.....oh, and they're much nicer people to do business with, which does have a value.

The 'other' car is being advertised for £14k more than i've paid and whilst it has slightly lower miles doesn't have the above spec.

Does anyone now think that i was really 'stealing' the other car from the seller?

Edited by 100 IAN on Thursday 21st January 23:22

[hornetrider]

Fantastic, congratulations!

[flemke]

andrew said:

flemke said:

100 IAN said:

flemke said:

I am speculating here, but possibly, because the dealership had bought the car, the person with whom you spoke presumed that there would be no need to get back to you with history confirmation.

There was a period of a few days before the dealer concluded the purchase. During that time they failed to seek the owner's permission to divulge the cars service history to me, after which yes they knew there was no need to get back to me.

I thought you had left it with the seller that, if you called him the following evening, the car could be yours for £Y? Did the few days before dealer concluded the purchase come after the seller called you with his "final offer/raised price"?

go for it flemke !
and what did you have for breakfast on the third working day after your second conversation with the dealer ?
and did you pour the milk onto your cornflakes with your left hand or your right ?
and who exactly paid for the cornflakes ?
and did the milk cost more or less than £y?

In light of this thread's many strong responses to incomplete information, I thought it made sense to elicit more facts. The OP has been helpfully providing them.

If you would rather base your opinions on soundbites, please do.

[100 IAN]

flemke said:

andrew said:

flemke said:

100 IAN said:

flemke said:

I am speculating here, but possibly, because the dealership had bought the car, the person with whom you spoke presumed that there would be no need to get back to you with history confirmation.

There was a period of a few days before the dealer concluded the purchase. During that time they failed to seek the owner's permission to divulge the cars service history to me, after which yes they knew there was no need to get back to me.

I thought you had left it with the seller that, if you called him the following evening, the car could be yours for £Y? Did the few days before dealer concluded the purchase come after the seller called you with his "final offer/raised price"?

go for it flemke !
and what did you have for breakfast on the third working day after your second conversation with the dealer ?
and did you pour the milk onto your cornflakes with your left hand or your right ?
and who exactly paid for the cornflakes ?
and did the milk cost more or less than £y?

In light of this thread's many strong responses to incomplete information, I thought it made sense to elicit more facts. The OP has been helpfully providing them.

If you would rather base your opinions on soundbites, please do.

I've been more than happy to answer Flemke's questions, as he is always happy to answers the many many questions he gets asked [constantly] about his F1. That said Andrew's post did make me laugh!

Flemke - If you ever want to do a swap don't hesitate to PM me. I've got a suspicion that you're maybe not a million miles away from me as some pictures posted of your F1 were taken literally just down the road.

[Boshly]

flemke said:

100 IAN said:

flemke said:

I am speculating here, but possibly, because the dealership had bought the car, the person with whom you spoke presumed that there would be no need to get back to you with history confirmation.

There was a period of a few days before the dealer concluded the purchase. During that time they failed to seek the owner's permission to divulge the cars service history to me, after which yes they knew there was no need to get back to me.

I thought you had left it with the seller that, if you called him the following evening, the car could be yours for £Y? Did the few days before dealer concluded the purchase come after the seller called you with his "final offer/raised price"?

The initial post states the dealer bought the car "literally within a couple of hours" of the request for the history

Now whilst I appreciate the initial post was probably written with a modicum of emotion (and that's my point) it's this sort of inconsistency that reaffirms my belief of there are always two sides to a story. Not that anyone is intentionally misleading but that emotions and perceptions lead to two versions existing in the two different parties' minds.

The other aspect I don't quite follow is where the part about the salesman questioning the children has a relevance? I would have thought the request for service history would have gone to the service department and if OP had agreed to buy a private vehicle subject to service history verification why was he there with family in tow sitting in another car? I guess it was a different occasion and now that he has been offended by their actions is looking back and seeing conspiracy?

I will say that I bought my car from who I perceive the salesman to be and he was nothing short of being a straight gentleman throughout the transaction, and in fact far from the traditionally slick cliche'd sales type, though I am aware that 'because it didn't happen to me doesn't mean it doesn't happen at all'.

Lastly OP, was the price offerred to you by the seller less than that the dealer purchased at?? There is of course no need for you to answer as you owe me (or anyone else) nothing and I'm just a 'face' on the internet!

Seriously hope you enjoy your new car, it looks lovely

[dsl2]

Happy ending from a proper dealer, congrats.

[Alpinestars]

Congrats OP. Hope you enjoy it.

[100 IAN]

Crickey, I feel like i'm in the dock, but nonetheless i'm happy to confirm details/answer questions as i've nothing to hide.

Boshly said:

The initial post states the dealer bought the car "literally within a couple of hours" of the request for the history

Now whilst I appreciate the initial post was probably written with a modicum of emotion (and that's my point) it's this sort of inconsistency that reaffirms my belief of there are always two sides to a story. Not that anyone is intentionally misleading but that emotions and perceptions lead to two versions existing in the two different parties' minds.

To clarify, the dealer called the seller within a couple of hours and said he would buy it. The seller said "great transfer £10k deposit to my account" but the dealer refused until he'd actually viewed the car, so yes you're correct he didn't actually buy it within 2 hours but he did have a verbal agreement that he would buy it if met expectations.

Boshly said:

The other aspect I don't quite follow is where the part about the salesman questioning the children has a relevance? I would have thought the request for service history would have gone to the service department and if OP had agreed to buy a private vehicle subject to service history verification why was he there with family in tow sitting in another car? I guess it was a different occasion and now that he has been offended by their actions is looking back and seeing conspiracy?

Options being considered at the time were 1. Buy private car but only if history was verified, 2. Buy used car from dealer, 3. Buy new car from dealer. I was honest with the salesman that these were all options i was considering. Yes service history request did go to service department as well as discussed with salesman. Maybe salesman's comment to kids wasn't relevant, maybe it was ? but he did tell them he'd get me to spend more money [whilst i was sitting in new 570S] and that was certainly the premise of his follow-up email the day after they'd bought the private car.

Boshly said:

I will say that I bought my car from who I perceive the salesman to be and he was nothing short of being a straight gentleman throughout the transaction, and in fact far from the traditionally slick cliche'd sales type, though I am aware that 'because it didn't happen to me doesn't mean it doesn't happen at all'.

I agree. I'm sure they don't take advantage of every customer, sorry member of the public, on every occasion but once you've been mugged its your choice whether you avoid the area or chose to re-visit taking extra care. Warning others allows them to make their own choice as they see fit, and hopefully helps them not to be caught-out in the same and become another victim.

Boshly said:

Lastly OP, was the price offerred to you by the seller less than that the dealer purchased at?? There is of course no need for you to answer as you owe me (or anyone else) nothing and I'm just a 'face' on the internet!

Seriously hope you enjoy your new car, it looks lovely

I believe not, but cannot categorically say.
Thanks for the kind words, it does look lovely but i'm still half minded to wrap it similar to Volcano Red (my 1st choice had i bought new and had a free choice). 3M are sending some swatches to me but i can't imagine they're anywhere near Volcano Red as i'm told Volcano colours are very special in composition and hence final appearance.

[roygarth]

hornetrider said:

andrew said:

go for it flemke !
and what did you have for breakfast on the third working day after your second conversation with the dealer ?
and did you pour the milk onto your cornflakes with your left hand or your right ?
and who exactly paid for the cornflakes ?
and did the milk cost more or less than £y?

Flemke going rather overboard in his defence of the dealer here.

I'm wondering if he's reporting back to Ron?

[Gandahar]

Now a happy ending, but the question is now, if you want to buy a McLaren privately how do you get the history for it without alerting the man in the sheepskin coat and big gold Sekonda watch?

[Sarnie]

Gandahar said:

Now a happy ending, but the question is now, if you want to buy a McLaren privately how do you get the history for it without alerting the man in the sheepskin coat and big gold Sekonda watch?

To be honest, in all my years of buying cars, when researching a cars history I've never had a dealer say that they need to contact the owner for authorisation to release the info, as long as you have the VIN thats always been enough for me. I bought a 12c recently and McLaren dealers happily gave me the details of cars I was interested in......

[AyBee]

Did you ever think of just assuming the history was good if the dealership was interested in the car OP and therefore paying what the seller wanted?

[Durzel]

Not doubting any aspect of this story but find it strange that the seller hadn't already approached this dealer for a trade-in price?

Surely if there was a pre-existing relationship there, or even to get an idea of what he should be asking for privately he would've already done that? Not sure how you could correctly ascertain a private sale price at this level without knowing the spectrum of trade buy-in and forecourt sticker prices.

It could be as sone said I guess - that the seller approached the dealer and they bid him in the balls, and then once becoming aware of private interest in that car, or appreciation in the market in the meantime, changed their tune.

edit: Also congratulations on the result - that car looks stunning!

edit 2: Please don't wrap that car, the colour is lovely as is.

Edited by Durzel on Friday 22 January 10:29

[TP321]

Ian, you still haven't told us what the car you missed out was, and how much you could have got it for. Why the secrecy?

[100 IAN]

TP321 said:

Ian, you still haven't told us what the car you missed out was, and how much you could have got it for. Why the secrecy?

PH are hot on "no naming or shaming" and might delete the thread if i identified the dealer - sorry.

[Durzel]

If you were so inclined you could reveal some details about the car that would locate it pretty easily.. can't be many of them around with X mileage, for example.

It's done and dusted though now and it looks as if you've come out on top anyway, so *shrug*

[barryrs]

If the dealer linked earlier in the thread is correct I assume the car that got away way is carbon black.

Congrats on the purchase Ian; it looks great.

[red_duke]

So what's the take home lesson here?

If you want a car's history from an official dealer don't disclose the sellers details, just the VIN?

[benjeffrey]

red_duke said:

So what's the take home lesson here?

If you want a car's history from an official dealer don't disclose the sellers details, just the VIN?

Ah yes VIN number xyz**** - Owned by Mr Davies on this telephone number

If they've been involved with the cars past, more than likely will be able to relate the VIN with the contact details of the owner?

[hornetrider]

red_duke said:

So what's the take home lesson here?

If you want a car's history from an official dealer don't disclose the sellers details, just the VIN?

I'm not sure there can be a lesson to be learned when you have a dealer who is prepared to act like such a . Pardon my French.

There's lot's of knowledge-with-hindsight questioning here that the poor old OP has had to endure - but the truth is he went about the purchase much like any diligent buyer would when preparing to spend 100k+ (hell, these are checks anyone spending 10k would do). You can't mitigate for a y dealer stabbing him in the back on a deal. Imo.