Need advice re: course of action after buying a bent car

[Matt_N]

I know it's all in hindsight, but does a breaker selling a car not ring alarm bells in the first place?

[Bomma220]

RWD cossie wil said:

Why do people buy a car, then inspect it & test drive it?

This.
So many of these 'tales of woe' could have easily been avoided if buyers had inspected their cars properly before committing to buy them...

[dingg]

There does appear to be a lot of buyers remorse going on here tbh

buying a car that was to be broken but appeared to be too good to break from a breakers yard

what did you really expect?

give your head a shake & learn from your mistake (not going over it with a fine tooth comb PRIOR to purchase)

and either fix it or move it on


eta - your only complaint that may have some merit is the gearbox issue IMO

Edited by dingg on Thursday 25th August 08:39

[CAPP0]

POORCARDEALER said:

Car sounds like an ideal auction candidate, clean it up, make it shiny and see how you go...the lack of history wont be mentioned, you might get your money back or make a few bob.

Coming soon: new thread titled "Bought a car cheap at auction, numerous faults, where do I stand?"

(PS: the answer is, "beside the car with a bag of spanners fixing it")

[teabelly]

You paid less for it hoping to get lucky. You weren't. You're annoyed with yourself. How much of the £2k saved will cover what needs doing? How much work will the £8500 subarus want doing?

[cmaguire]

Nice to see lots sticking the boot in. I think a lot of people seem to revel in other's misfortune in some smug sort of way. Keep up the good work.

As to the car. If the guy took it to break, then unless it's a special edition (Type r etc) which you haven't mentioned then he'll have paid significantly less than £6500. I expect he paid nearer £3000 and didn't look too hard to find fault with it but probably knows it's got something to hide.
The gearbox will strengthen your case but the fact the car is bent is the biggest issue. If it were me I would go to a specialist I trust (there are plenty of specialists around as you probably know) and get a valuation based on current knowledge. I would then go back to the seller for a solution.
If he doesn't play ball I would consult a solicitor.

[cmaguire]

A quick search gives Chris Palmer Motorsport in Hanham as a Subaru specialist.

[TroubledSoul]

Hi all, I expected a lot of st to be slung at me over this, so I know I'm just going to have to take it.

I have messages from him telling me it's too good to break. That it's a smart car etc. He obviously knows his way around these cars so yeah, I trusted him. Yes I took a punt. Yes I expected it to need a lot of work. The gearbox being not as described and effectively a piece of crap and the chassis being a banana are fundamental IMO.

I honestly can't believe anyone would argue that against me!

I should also add that it was up for sale at £7.5k originally so not really very far off the price of a standard car with history had I paid the full asking price.

Remember folks: It's too good to break. Fully working gearbox. No mention of it being a banana.

[TroubledSoul]

cmaguire said:

Nice to see lots sticking the boot in. I think a lot of people seem to revel in other's misfortune in some smug sort of way. Keep up the good work.

As to the car. If the guy took it to break, then unless it's a special edition (Type r etc) which you haven't mentioned then he'll have paid significantly less than £6500. I expect he paid nearer £3000 and didn't look too hard to find fault with it but probably knows it's got something to hide.
The gearbox will strengthen your case but the fact the car is bent is the biggest issue. If it were me I would go to a specialist I trust (there are plenty of specialists around as you probably know) and get a valuation based on current knowledge. I would then go back to the seller for a solution.
If he doesn't play ball I would consult a solicitor.

Thank you for a constructive reply Some people in here would have me strip all the bumpers and sideskirts off in future before buying a car

One of the guys in my local owners' club thinks I should have it jigged but I'm not sure about that really.

Edited by TroubledSoul on Thursday 25th August 10:01

[cmaguire]

TroubledSoul said:

Thank you for a constructive reply Some people in here would have me strip all the bumpers and sideskirts off in future before buying a car

One of the guy in my local owners' club thinks I should have it jigged but I'm not sure about that really.

I personally wouldn't want a bent car, besides which you're at decision time now as if you keep it then it will need doing and someone has to pay. Or you get rid, which means you lose money when you tell the truth to the new buyer, or the original seller takes it back.
Getting a second opinion from a specialist would perhaps put things into perspective before deciding what route you want to take. They may well have dealt with others in a similar situation to you previously.

[TroubledSoul]

It was the specialist I used that originally told me it was bent and he has suggested reshelling it. It's actually going back in next week to repair the gearbox oil leak and they are going to properly go over it on the ramp.

[kev b]

The business you bought the car from is a breakers, ask him for another gearbox FOC, he will still be well in profit.

[dingg]

TroubledSoul said:

It was the specialist I used that originally told me it was bent and he has suggested reshelling it. It's actually going back in next week to repair the gearbox oil leak and they are going to properly go over it on the ramp.

you do realise that the seller should be contacted wrt any repairs you carry out to be given opportunity to 'put things right' first don't you?

[TroubledSoul]

dingg said:

you do realise that the seller should be contacted wrt any repairs you carry out to be given opportunity to 'put things right' first don't you?

Yes why? I will get it looked at and get a quote, then let him know.

[dingg]

well you're having the leak repaired by another garage to start with , why bother?

the original seller may decide to replace the whole thing if he accepts your complaint

[TroubledSoul]

For the sake of a £50 repair I'd sooner just do it. Who knows how long this might go on. It's making a right mess on the road outside my house so I'm going to have to clean that up too.

I'm not going to chase him for the cost of that (the repair). It's minor.

[TroubledSoul]

TroubledSoul said:

For the sake of a £50 repair I'd sooner just do it. Who knows how long this might go on. It's making a right mess on the road outside my house so I'm going to have to clean that up too.

I'm not going to chase him for the cost of that (the repair). It's minor and definitely something I'd consider normal used car stuff.

[Durzel]

Matt_N said:

I know it's all in hindsight, but does a breaker selling a car not ring alarm bells in the first place?

He said it was too good to break though? I very much doubt this a well worn sales tactic.

[james_gt3rs]

Not sure why the OP is getting so much stick? Buys a car from an "expert" assuring the car is fine. Then finds out the chassis is bent and gearbox trashed, not on in my book!

[V8LM]

TroubledSoul said:

Remember folks: It's too good to break. Fully working gearbox. No mention of it being a banana.

In what way is the gearbox not working as a gearbox?