Worst condition car you've seen for sale?
Discussion
I once went to view a 2007 X-Type about 2 or 3 years ago. So it was a 4 year old car. By far the worst condition i've seen car in.
It had everything, dent, scratches, pitted alloys, paint swirls like a hypnodisc, stains, dog hair/mess, every bad smell imaginable. A big rust patch.
A four year old car. The seller sent his Polish girlfriend out to stand and watch me give it the once over even though he was in the house.
She didn't speak much English but I think my sad face, thumbs down and accurate pointing technique made it clear I wouldn't be paying £4k for a s
t heap.
Then I went and looked at an 2006 a few days later and the guy had kept it in immaculate condition. You could have ate your dinner off every surface it was mint.
It had everything, dent, scratches, pitted alloys, paint swirls like a hypnodisc, stains, dog hair/mess, every bad smell imaginable. A big rust patch.
A four year old car. The seller sent his Polish girlfriend out to stand and watch me give it the once over even though he was in the house.
She didn't speak much English but I think my sad face, thumbs down and accurate pointing technique made it clear I wouldn't be paying £4k for a s
t heap.Then I went and looked at an 2006 a few days later and the guy had kept it in immaculate condition. You could have ate your dinner off every surface it was mint.
Possibly off-topic as Im talking about supercars here, which are clearly a different proposition to ~£250 Rovers with emulsion paint covering their numerous sins.
However I did once have the 'pleasure' of visiting Keighley (now 'Motorhub', or possibly another name change since due to their... erm.... 'practices'). These guys almost killed my love of supercars in one visit.
Lamborghinis/ Ferraris were looking at me through their steam-filled headlight units, and seemed to be crying out 'please, kill me'.
Panel gaps that would allow you to do a 'big service' without having to lift the engine cover. Alloy wheels curbed beyond redemption on the pavements outside Bradfords' shadiest 'Chicken Shops'.
Cans of Monster/ Relentless shamelessly left in the footwells lending a cloying, sickly aroma to once exquisite Italian interiors.
Hugely expensive tyres with slices into/ chunks missing from the sidewalls that could only have been caused by old Scottish swords swung in great anger.
I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture. '£69,995' windscreen stickers up expectations somewhat when discussing 'worst condition car you've seen for sale' imho.
Im sure there are young go-getters in Bradford/ Leeds (likely in the 'conveniently small packages of protein powder' industry) that are grateful for local access to cut-price supercars. All I'm saying is that based on personal experience I doubt this trader is as fastidious in their stock sourcing practices as the kind of establishment that eg Harry Metcalfe would use to purchase his supercars.
Still, if you want the very cheapest Gallardo in the UK regardless of condition/ history/ business ethics then they probably are the guys to see...
However I did once have the 'pleasure' of visiting Keighley (now 'Motorhub', or possibly another name change since due to their... erm.... 'practices'). These guys almost killed my love of supercars in one visit.
Lamborghinis/ Ferraris were looking at me through their steam-filled headlight units, and seemed to be crying out 'please, kill me'.
Panel gaps that would allow you to do a 'big service' without having to lift the engine cover. Alloy wheels curbed beyond redemption on the pavements outside Bradfords' shadiest 'Chicken Shops'.
Cans of Monster/ Relentless shamelessly left in the footwells lending a cloying, sickly aroma to once exquisite Italian interiors.
Hugely expensive tyres with slices into/ chunks missing from the sidewalls that could only have been caused by old Scottish swords swung in great anger.
I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture. '£69,995' windscreen stickers up expectations somewhat when discussing 'worst condition car you've seen for sale' imho.
Im sure there are young go-getters in Bradford/ Leeds (likely in the 'conveniently small packages of protein powder' industry) that are grateful for local access to cut-price supercars. All I'm saying is that based on personal experience I doubt this trader is as fastidious in their stock sourcing practices as the kind of establishment that eg Harry Metcalfe would use to purchase his supercars.
Still, if you want the very cheapest Gallardo in the UK regardless of condition/ history/ business ethics then they probably are the guys to see...
austinsmirk said:
When I was involved in the vw air cooled business decades ago.
Cars and campers. You've never seen such hideous dangerous stuff bought by people
They seemed oblivious to rust and were buying a dream: especially campers. Ie pretty interior and curtains but rotten cloth covered fuel lines, cills and rear quarters made of chicken wire and concrete etc.
Not to mention the stench of a camper that's had some dope smoking hippy in it.
Sounds vaguely familiar! Cars and campers. You've never seen such hideous dangerous stuff bought by people
They seemed oblivious to rust and were buying a dream: especially campers. Ie pretty interior and curtains but rotten cloth covered fuel lines, cills and rear quarters made of chicken wire and concrete etc.
Not to mention the stench of a camper that's had some dope smoking hippy in it.
2002 Alfa 155. Looked clean from the pictures, pictures where taken indoors in a dullish light. Also pictured with a clean MOT with no minors. I drove down to see it to find that it was trapped at the back of a lot with 2 flat tyres, paint was extremely badly faded in the sunlight. Popped the bonnet to find a rusty and dirty engine bay. Cam belt cover.was missing, started the engine to find a very bad ticking sound. Oil was empty. Too top it all off I look at the MOT with no minors... it was done at a garage 100m down the road that obviously had some sort of deal with the dealer. I mean I know £900 is a cheap car but that was extremely terrible. Luckly the next one I went to see was a 2001 147 which I bought for £850... had that one nearly a year when the gearbox exploded.
daveofedinburgh said:
Possibly off-topic as Im talking about supercars here, which are clearly a different proposition to ~£250 Rovers with emulsion paint covering their numerous sins.
However I did once have the 'pleasure' of visiting Keighley (now 'Motorhub', or possibly another name change since due to their... erm.... 'practices'). These guys almost killed my love of supercars in one visit.
(Quote snipped).However I did once have the 'pleasure' of visiting Keighley (now 'Motorhub', or possibly another name change since due to their... erm.... 'practices'). These guys almost killed my love of supercars in one visit.
I have never heard a decent word said about said establishments, ever.
Drove from Inverness to Keighley to a large multi story car park car sales place ( can't name them I believe)
Went to see a fresh import low miles 81 corvette, on the phone they said it's brilliant, 11 months mot etc
Get there and it's got a flat battery, ok not a big problem.
It had sat in the jap sun for 25 years or so, every panel the paint was cracked, black interior had faded, headlights wouldn't pop up, wipers didn't work, exhaust was blowing, silicon everywhere to make it waterproof as all the seals had perished, seats ripped etc. Turns out it wasn't even registered yet and defiantly had no mot
Mechanically it seemed ok so offered a low ball 6 grand for it (up for £12.5 I think), listed all the problems to him to explain my reasoning and pretty much got told to fk off he won't go below 12. A restored one only goes for 14-17.
Wasted day of driving to see it
Went to see a fresh import low miles 81 corvette, on the phone they said it's brilliant, 11 months mot etc
Get there and it's got a flat battery, ok not a big problem.
It had sat in the jap sun for 25 years or so, every panel the paint was cracked, black interior had faded, headlights wouldn't pop up, wipers didn't work, exhaust was blowing, silicon everywhere to make it waterproof as all the seals had perished, seats ripped etc. Turns out it wasn't even registered yet and defiantly had no mot
Mechanically it seemed ok so offered a low ball 6 grand for it (up for £12.5 I think), listed all the problems to him to explain my reasoning and pretty much got told to f
k off he won't go below 12. A restored one only goes for 14-17.Wasted day of driving to see it
Year was 2002. My old Rover 820SLI in BRG was dying with valve issues. I needed a replacement, fast. I liked the look of Audi A6 and I liked the idea of my first 6 cylinder. Found an A6 2.6SE in Leeds which was 15 miles from us. I rang up the dealer, "yes, perfect condition, we have had loads of interest". I booked a test drive for the Saturday morning. Dealer had about 20 cars. The Audi was at the back of the lot, blocked in by a couple of cars, flat battery, one tyre very low on pressure and car was absolutely covered in bird st, interior had not been prepped for sale. It also did not have an MOT and discs were all rusty. This was a 5 year old car with 70k miles for sale at an admittedly cheap £5,500.
After 30 minutes to get the thing ready for a test drive, it drove nicely and had all good Michelin tyres (owner prepared to spend on the car) , I thought it would clean up fine. A deal was struck. They put it through it's MOT which it passed (no advisories).
What I got was a one owner dark blue A6 with a full Audi SH, unused spare + tools. Interior (light grey cloth) came up like new. Exterior was straight as a dye, not a single scuff or scratch and after a polish and wax Car came up like new. Only issue I had over 4 years and 90k miles was a thermostat that needed changing (coincided with cam belt change) which was lucky, as the cam belt has to come off to replace the thermostat.
If dealer had bothered to prep the car, I am sure it would have gone for more cash a lot quicker.
ETA: Maybe not the worst I have seen for sale, but definitely the worst I have bought.
t, interior had not been prepped for sale. It also did not have an MOT and discs were all rusty. This was a 5 year old car with 70k miles for sale at an admittedly cheap £5,500.After 30 minutes to get the thing ready for a test drive, it drove nicely and had all good Michelin tyres (owner prepared to spend on the car) , I thought it would clean up fine. A deal was struck. They put it through it's MOT which it passed (no advisories).
What I got was a one owner dark blue A6 with a full Audi SH, unused spare + tools. Interior (light grey cloth) came up like new. Exterior was straight as a dye, not a single scuff or scratch and after a polish and wax Car came up like new. Only issue I had over 4 years and 90k miles was a thermostat that needed changing (coincided with cam belt change) which was lucky, as the cam belt has to come off to replace the thermostat.
If dealer had bothered to prep the car, I am sure it would have gone for more cash a lot quicker.
ETA: Maybe not the worst I have seen for sale, but definitely the worst I have bought.
My friend was after a cheap car to tide him over so we set out one Saturday to look at a few. We came across a mk3 Golf - on the face of it, it looked quite nice - it was some limited edition version with funny purpley-blue paint and a matching (!) leather interior. Arrived, it looked a bit shabby and the tyres were pretty flat. Got in, dust everywhere and a flat battery. OK fair enough it's been sitting here a while, could be worse for the £500 odd they were asking..
Friend lies down and takes a look at the underside, as I'm poking around the interior. At that point I see a fist-sized shape push up the carpet in the rear footwell.
Yeah.. bye.
Friend lies down and takes a look at the underside, as I'm poking around the interior. At that point I see a fist-sized shape push up the carpet in the rear footwell.
Yeah.. bye.
Early 90s in East London, a Fiesta Mk1 Supersport with a "new MOT". Rotten as a pear.
Again early 90s in Essex, another Mk1 Fiesta, this time a 1300S being sold by a decorator. A litre of half-dried black paint/tar in the spare wheel well, looked like an oil spill from the Exxon Valdes (sp?). Still bought it, lived on with my brother for years...
Again early 90s in Essex, another Mk1 Fiesta, this time a 1300S being sold by a decorator. A litre of half-dried black paint/tar in the spare wheel well, looked like an oil spill from the Exxon Valdes (sp?). Still bought it, lived on with my brother for years...
Was looking at buying a Saxo VTS some years ago. Saw an advert for a silver one, which is the colour I wanted, decent milage and good price. Advertised as 'mint'.
Went to look at it, had a non vtr or vts bumper on the front and a strange crack over the wheel arch at the rear.
Opened it up, steering wheel wasn't on straight, airbag light didnt work and handbrake cable had snapped. It turned 2.5 times right lock and 1.5 times left.
Then I open the boot, I can't even describe how bad the boot floor was. It was bent and out of shape with a hole in one corner! The crack over the wheel arch was actually a crack in the vast amounts of filler. The slam panel was a mess and the radiator wasnt held on at the bottom.
When I said I wasn't having it, he became aggressive saying he took the morning off work to sell it.
Went to look at it, had a non vtr or vts bumper on the front and a strange crack over the wheel arch at the rear.
Opened it up, steering wheel wasn't on straight, airbag light didnt work and handbrake cable had snapped. It turned 2.5 times right lock and 1.5 times left.
Then I open the boot, I can't even describe how bad the boot floor was. It was bent and out of shape with a hole in one corner! The crack over the wheel arch was actually a crack in the vast amounts of filler. The slam panel was a mess and the radiator wasnt held on at the bottom.
When I said I wasn't having it, he became aggressive saying he took the morning off work to sell it.
Many moons ago I went shopping for a first car for an ex-girlfriend. I found a 1.1 Saxo in Liverpool for sale with a trader for a decent price. Advert was a bit salesy and it only had one picture but it had low miles and reportedly a lot of history.
I called and spoke to the scouse trader and asked my usual qualifying questions to see if it was worth the trip, including 'are there any marks or dents anywhere on the car', to which he replied a bit evasively that it was in good nick and I should really come and see it as it was a 'lot of car for the money', a phrase I seem to recall him using a few times during the call.
An hour later we arrived to view the car and found one of the support arms for the bonnet was snapped and just twisted metal, the bonnet itself was full of dents and featured numerous holes which looked like they had been made with a pick axe, the windscreen had a long sinuous break in the glass up one side, both windscreen wipers were broken off at the bottom of the stalks and one side of the car was all dented and scratched and missing a wing mirror, with a door that looked like it would have come off in your hand if your tried to open it!
I was really pissed off and had a go at the trader for wasting my time, to which he just kept repeating 'its a lot of car for the money' in a strong scouse accent. Suffice to say we left. Pretty funny looking back now - it was like something straight out of a Harry Enfield comedy sketch...!
I called and spoke to the scouse trader and asked my usual qualifying questions to see if it was worth the trip, including 'are there any marks or dents anywhere on the car', to which he replied a bit evasively that it was in good nick and I should really come and see it as it was a 'lot of car for the money', a phrase I seem to recall him using a few times during the call.
An hour later we arrived to view the car and found one of the support arms for the bonnet was snapped and just twisted metal, the bonnet itself was full of dents and featured numerous holes which looked like they had been made with a pick axe, the windscreen had a long sinuous break in the glass up one side, both windscreen wipers were broken off at the bottom of the stalks and one side of the car was all dented and scratched and missing a wing mirror, with a door that looked like it would have come off in your hand if your tried to open it!
I was really pissed off and had a go at the trader for wasting my time, to which he just kept repeating 'its a lot of car for the money' in a strong scouse accent. Suffice to say we left. Pretty funny looking back now - it was like something straight out of a Harry Enfield comedy sketch...!
Edited by James Junior on Wednesday 8th July 08:10
Edited by James Junior on Wednesday 8th July 08:11
Now I think of it around the same time as the 'Saxo incident' we also went to view a late plate 1.1 Mini Metro which broke down on the test drive in the middle of winter. My GF and I had to end up pushing it around a Sainsburys car park in freezing conditions whilst the seller tried to get it started again! Funny times... I forgot how eventful car buying is when you're poor!
James Junior said:
Now I think of it around the same time as the 'Saxo incident' we also went to view a late plate 1.1 Mini Metro which broke down on the test drive in the middle of winter. My GF and I had to end up pushing it around a Sainsburys car park in freezing conditions whilst the seller tried to get it started again! Funny times... I forgot how eventful car buying is when you're poor!
Did you buy it?
daveofedinburgh said:
Possibly off-topic as Im talking about supercars here, which are clearly a different proposition to ~£250 Rovers with emulsion paint covering their numerous sins.
However I did once have the 'pleasure' of visiting Keighley (now 'Motorhub', or possibly another name change since due to their... erm.... 'practices'). These guys almost killed my love of supercars in one visit.
Lamborghinis/ Ferraris were looking at me through their steam-filled headlight units, and seemed to be crying out 'please, kill me'.
Panel gaps that would allow you to do a 'big service' without having to lift the engine cover. Alloy wheels curbed beyond redemption on the pavements outside Bradfords' shadiest 'Chicken Shops'.
Cans of Monster/ Relentless shamelessly left in the footwells lending a cloying, sickly aroma to once exquisite Italian interiors.
Hugely expensive tyres with slices into/ chunks missing from the sidewalls that could only have been caused by old Scottish swords swung in great anger.
I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture. '£69,995' windscreen stickers up expectations somewhat when discussing 'worst condition car you've seen for sale' imho.
Im sure there are young go-getters in Bradford/ Leeds (likely in the 'conveniently small packages of protein powder' industry) that are grateful for local access to cut-price supercars. All I'm saying is that based on personal experience I doubt this trader is as fastidious in their stock sourcing practices as the kind of establishment that eg Harry Metcalfe would use to purchase his supercars.
Still, if you want the very cheapest Gallardo in the UK regardless of condition/ history/ business ethics then they probably are the guys to see...
These guys had a terrible reputation when I was into Jap imports about ten years ago. I went there with a mate to look at an RS200 (the import Altezza, not the legendary Ford!). I had called ahead and they had given it a glowing description and promised it could be test driven. We made the journey which was about 90 mins drive to find the car was a total shed, with the stereo ripped out and wires hanging everywhere and really dirty inside. Many of the other cars on the lot looked like total wrecks. I tried to keep an open mind in case it just needed a good valet and asked for a test drive seeing as we had come quite a way, but they refused! WTF?!However I did once have the 'pleasure' of visiting Keighley (now 'Motorhub', or possibly another name change since due to their... erm.... 'practices'). These guys almost killed my love of supercars in one visit.
Lamborghinis/ Ferraris were looking at me through their steam-filled headlight units, and seemed to be crying out 'please, kill me'.
Panel gaps that would allow you to do a 'big service' without having to lift the engine cover. Alloy wheels curbed beyond redemption on the pavements outside Bradfords' shadiest 'Chicken Shops'.
Cans of Monster/ Relentless shamelessly left in the footwells lending a cloying, sickly aroma to once exquisite Italian interiors.
Hugely expensive tyres with slices into/ chunks missing from the sidewalls that could only have been caused by old Scottish swords swung in great anger.
I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture. '£69,995' windscreen stickers up expectations somewhat when discussing 'worst condition car you've seen for sale' imho.
Im sure there are young go-getters in Bradford/ Leeds (likely in the 'conveniently small packages of protein powder' industry) that are grateful for local access to cut-price supercars. All I'm saying is that based on personal experience I doubt this trader is as fastidious in their stock sourcing practices as the kind of establishment that eg Harry Metcalfe would use to purchase his supercars.
Still, if you want the very cheapest Gallardo in the UK regardless of condition/ history/ business ethics then they probably are the guys to see...
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