Anyone bought a car through Car & Classic Auctions?
Discussion
SFTWend said:
Nice of the seller to put you up for the night though. 
I only view auction cars if not too far away. With a classified ad I know the price and it's just a case of confirming the condition on viewing. With an auction the selling price could go well over my valuation so a long trip to view doesn't appeal.
I agree, the overnight one was a classified, had to pay for an hotel though!. The one I bought at auction was relatively local and I wouldn't travel too far for an auction car for the reasons you mention.I only view auction cars if not too far away. With a classified ad I know the price and it's just a case of confirming the condition on viewing. With an auction the selling price could go well over my valuation so a long trip to view doesn't appeal.
Trevor555 said:
Just had a glance of their website, it states the following,
"Secure payments
Our secure, third-party escrow process gives peace of mind for buyers and sellers. Payment goes into a separate, third-party account and is only released when both sides are happy.
This protects both buyer and seller."
alanD75, are you really going to let this go?
... 'when both sides are happy' does give a warm feeling. "Secure payments
Our secure, third-party escrow process gives peace of mind for buyers and sellers. Payment goes into a separate, third-party account and is only released when both sides are happy.
This protects both buyer and seller."
alanD75, are you really going to let this go?
But not clear as to what constitutes 'happy'.
While it's often impractical to go visit a car, does C&C give you a way to talk direct with seller should you want to?
I was considering asking via C&C but the trust pilot reviews put me off.
The rise of auction sites is a fad that I'm pretty sure will pass there's no recourse for buying at auction and really auctions are no place for private buyers full of ideas about consumer rights etc. As with the OP you'll find it's a great way for people to get rid of crap that wouldn't stand up to a regular private sale where people are more likely to view.
The fancy pictures and expertly written descriptions can lull people into a false sense of security not to mention endorsement from Smith/Sniff or that little chap off top gear that promotes the other site it all conspires to throw an air of legitimacy over what is basically people being allowed to sell absolutely anything without any kind of even basic mechanical check being done.
The rise of auction sites is a fad that I'm pretty sure will pass there's no recourse for buying at auction and really auctions are no place for private buyers full of ideas about consumer rights etc. As with the OP you'll find it's a great way for people to get rid of crap that wouldn't stand up to a regular private sale where people are more likely to view.
The fancy pictures and expertly written descriptions can lull people into a false sense of security not to mention endorsement from Smith/Sniff or that little chap off top gear that promotes the other site it all conspires to throw an air of legitimacy over what is basically people being allowed to sell absolutely anything without any kind of even basic mechanical check being done.
Sorry for delayed response, had a busy weekend.
There is no direct way to contact a seller. C&C appear to be able to relay messages (manually) - however they don't make it easy, and (obviously) they want to prevent sales outside their platform, so make it very difficult to view the car and discuss with the seller in person.
Regardless, money in escrow SHOULD mean that it only gets transferred once the buyer is happy, and SHOULD also mean that the buyer has the option to get it back if it's not as described - as stated on C&C's site - which is clearly untrue unless the seller agrees - which will rarely happen!
I've stripped the interior out of the car to investigate the cause of water leaking in (soaked carpets when I got home the other day) and various electrical issues. Found a nice hole through the floor under the passenger footwell as well as the crude rusty repair under the driver's footwell previously mentioned.
Also all 4 tyres are 2003 dated - conveniently you can't see that in any of the photos either.
I won't de-rail this thread about the work needed and ongoing, might start a new thread in Readers Cars.
I've been involved with old cars my whole life, and don't expect a 27 year old car to be perfect (my daily driver is 20 years old!), but I do expect significant rust issues to be described and photos to depict the car honestly, and not deliberately hide issues.
There is no direct way to contact a seller. C&C appear to be able to relay messages (manually) - however they don't make it easy, and (obviously) they want to prevent sales outside their platform, so make it very difficult to view the car and discuss with the seller in person.
Regardless, money in escrow SHOULD mean that it only gets transferred once the buyer is happy, and SHOULD also mean that the buyer has the option to get it back if it's not as described - as stated on C&C's site - which is clearly untrue unless the seller agrees - which will rarely happen!
I've stripped the interior out of the car to investigate the cause of water leaking in (soaked carpets when I got home the other day) and various electrical issues. Found a nice hole through the floor under the passenger footwell as well as the crude rusty repair under the driver's footwell previously mentioned.
Also all 4 tyres are 2003 dated - conveniently you can't see that in any of the photos either.
I won't de-rail this thread about the work needed and ongoing, might start a new thread in Readers Cars.
I've been involved with old cars my whole life, and don't expect a 27 year old car to be perfect (my daily driver is 20 years old!), but I do expect significant rust issues to be described and photos to depict the car honestly, and not deliberately hide issues.
I noticed on an auction of theirs recently the tyres were described as 'recent' but the dates codes visible showed them to be 15 years old.
On another of their auctions I wanted to go view the car, I tried to engage with them to arrange it, they said yes, that it could be arranged, but then stopped responding. I gave up.
On another of their auctions I wanted to go view the car, I tried to engage with them to arrange it, they said yes, that it could be arranged, but then stopped responding. I gave up.
From the listing. "A recent and matching set of Pirelli P4000 Super Touring tyres are fitted"
Pics clearly show week 22 2008 on one tyre.
https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1978-daimle...
Pics clearly show week 22 2008 on one tyre.
https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1978-daimle...
Huntsman said:
From the listing. "A recent and matching set of Pirelli P4000 Super Touring tyres are fitted"
Pics clearly show week 22 2008 on one tyre.
https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1978-daimle...
To clarify, that isn't the car I bought, this is.Pics clearly show week 22 2008 on one tyre.
https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1978-daimle...
And in that listing, it only says "The car sits on factory correct ‘star burst’ five spoke 16" alloy wheels with Pirelli tyres"
I know the MOT is only interested in tyre tread depth and condition, not age, but still, I (and most people I assume) don't consider 20 year old tyres to be very safe. The wheels are miles out of balance, but no point doing that until all 4 tyres have been replaced!
aland75 said:
To clarify, that isn't the car I bought, this is.
And in that listing, it only says "The car sits on factory correct ‘star burst’ five spoke 16" alloy wheels with Pirelli tyres"
I know the MOT is only interested in tyre tread depth and condition, not age, but still, I (and most people I assume) don't consider 20 year old tyres to be very safe. The wheels are miles out of balance, but no point doing that until all 4 tyres have been replaced!
I realise you bought a different car, I was pointing out that their descriptions are not accurate.And in that listing, it only says "The car sits on factory correct ‘star burst’ five spoke 16" alloy wheels with Pirelli tyres"
I know the MOT is only interested in tyre tread depth and condition, not age, but still, I (and most people I assume) don't consider 20 year old tyres to be very safe. The wheels are miles out of balance, but no point doing that until all 4 tyres have been replaced!
The XJC listing does say recent tyres, I copied and pasted the text, its blatantly nonsense.
Sorry you got caught out with a car, seems extreme caution is needed.
aland75 said:
Sorry for delayed response, had a busy weekend.
There is no direct way to contact a seller. C&C appear to be able to relay messages (manually) - however they don't make it easy, and (obviously) they want to prevent sales outside their platform, so make it very difficult to view the car and discuss with the seller in person.
This wasn't my experience. Both times I have viewed auction cars I messaged about them and was given the contact details and then I was able to talk direct and arrange viewings. I believe C&C need the permission of the vendor though.There is no direct way to contact a seller. C&C appear to be able to relay messages (manually) - however they don't make it easy, and (obviously) they want to prevent sales outside their platform, so make it very difficult to view the car and discuss with the seller in person.
I am sure C&C put potential buyers in touch with sellers. Last week, I went to view a low miles, high end prestige car local to me, for a friend.
It was a good car, I sent my friend 8 photos of minor marks and the odd chip that had not been highlighted on the auction photos.
The car was fine and I was actually impressed it had nothing to hide as I would have touched in and buffed the marks away pre sale!
I don't think I would buy an old car without viewing it first by auction. The auction photos do a great job of showcasing a car, which is exactly what you should expect?
It was a good car, I sent my friend 8 photos of minor marks and the odd chip that had not been highlighted on the auction photos.
The car was fine and I was actually impressed it had nothing to hide as I would have touched in and buffed the marks away pre sale!
I don't think I would buy an old car without viewing it first by auction. The auction photos do a great job of showcasing a car, which is exactly what you should expect?
rovermorris999 said:
aland75 said:
Sorry for delayed response, had a busy weekend.
There is no direct way to contact a seller. C&C appear to be able to relay messages (manually) - however they don't make it easy, and (obviously) they want to prevent sales outside their platform, so make it very difficult to view the car and discuss with the seller in person.
This wasn't my experience. Both times I have viewed auction cars I messaged about them and was given the contact details and then I was able to talk direct and arrange viewings. I believe C&C need the permission of the vendor though.There is no direct way to contact a seller. C&C appear to be able to relay messages (manually) - however they don't make it easy, and (obviously) they want to prevent sales outside their platform, so make it very difficult to view the car and discuss with the seller in person.
But even if that's the case, C&C's website states the money isn't released unless and until both buyer and seller are happy and from the sounds of it they simply didn't honour that commitment in aland75's case. Instead it sounds more like the seller was given the final say on whether or not the purchase went ahead and if that's what happened I think C&C would have been on a sticky wicket if they'd been challenged. Surely they can't describe their policy as one thing on their website - and allow customers to rely on that policy prior to making a bid - but then just discard it and adopt a different policy when it suits them?
cayman-black said:
I think the main point here is with C & C being if the car is not as described when collecting how do you stand with them as it seems they want their money regardless which means you are not covered in any way even with the money in Escrow??
can you view a car before you bid?
The OPs experience would probably indicate that the Escrow is completely pointless. I wonder if C&C sub the auction business out to some savage money grabbing operation? can you view a car before you bid?
C&C always looked like it was designed by someone in their first year of college in 1997 and then just left on a server all of a sudden they have this pretty big auction platform out of nowhere.
Well I was looking at buying a car through C&C too but certainly won't even consider it after hearing this!
Regardless of whether the seller is trustworthy cleary C&C are not & I agree, if C&C are in control of the money then it is not an ESCROW service where typically the buyer & seller have to agree
Regardless of whether the seller is trustworthy cleary C&C are not & I agree, if C&C are in control of the money then it is not an ESCROW service where typically the buyer & seller have to agree
I have the exact same issue currently having went to collect a car this weekend. Unfortunately they’re not open on the weekend so waiting to speak with them today
Exact same issues, description was basically written by someone who deliberately misrepresented. Photos deliberately taken of certain angles, elements cut out or dead I say touched up? The photos are over exposed which lends itself to the car’s colour
Exact same issues, description was basically written by someone who deliberately misrepresented. Photos deliberately taken of certain angles, elements cut out or dead I say touched up? The photos are over exposed which lends itself to the car’s colour
Edited by sam bignell on Wednesday 22 November 07:18
It's obviously not in C&C's interest for the sale of a vehicle to fall through so I can see how it might be weighted towards the seller despite the advertising blurb, unethical springs to mind.
It reminds me of selling cars through Autotrader 30 years ago when lovely old Mavis came round in her A40 at an agreed time and took a black and white photo at the most flattering angle for next weeks publication, Mavis didn't write the description though unlike here.
Its an appealing shop window to browse but I'm reluctant to go in to buy!
It reminds me of selling cars through Autotrader 30 years ago when lovely old Mavis came round in her A40 at an agreed time and took a black and white photo at the most flattering angle for next weeks publication, Mavis didn't write the description though unlike here.
Its an appealing shop window to browse but I'm reluctant to go in to buy!
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