Worth the risk?
Discussion
Worth considering but only if the seller includes driving it to an authorised repairer, preferably Works Service, and is willing to pay for a complete test and report to show the car is up to standard. If they advertise at £71k they will have room for negotiation so use that to get them to prove their problem car is not going to become your albatross.
What have they possibly got to lose if you tell them for this small task you'll meet the full asking price you indicate you're happy with. In fact I would insist on Works Service because they could do a full mechanical/140 point check/MOT at the same time. It they sign everything off then you probably have little to worry about.
As the seller appears to be a salvage yard/dismantler they could have access to other similar cars, could conceivably have enough parts to put together a decent car economically and could have used a specialist repairer who could have repaired it properly.
That's a lot of what "could" have happened.
My experience, for what it's worth, is that once any significant vehicle leaves the dealer/dedicated independent specialist repairer environment, those working on them only have the standard and experience of what they usually work with and are surrounded by. They may even genuinely believe they have repaired the car properly but the reality is often very different.
What have they possibly got to lose if you tell them for this small task you'll meet the full asking price you indicate you're happy with. In fact I would insist on Works Service because they could do a full mechanical/140 point check/MOT at the same time. It they sign everything off then you probably have little to worry about.
As the seller appears to be a salvage yard/dismantler they could have access to other similar cars, could conceivably have enough parts to put together a decent car economically and could have used a specialist repairer who could have repaired it properly.
That's a lot of what "could" have happened.
My experience, for what it's worth, is that once any significant vehicle leaves the dealer/dedicated independent specialist repairer environment, those working on them only have the standard and experience of what they usually work with and are surrounded by. They may even genuinely believe they have repaired the car properly but the reality is often very different.
You're having a laugh aren't you? WS will always find something that needs doing, they'll judge the size of your wallet and add a few noughts to their estimate 
Risk is a matter of perception, financial clout and timeframe. Something that's a risk for me is probably pocket change for Bill Gates.
Anyway, the issue with the repair or otherwise of VH platform cars is that it's a bonded and riveted aluminium tub. So if the tub is bent, you're unlikely to be able to unbend it. If the tub needs repair then AML won't sell a tub - they take the car back to Gaydon, dismantle to several piles of parts, start with a new tub and remanufacture.
A few years back I looked into this for a project car/toy. The tub was £18,000 for the part and labour for strip down and rebuild was about £20,000.
Prices may have changed, but it would be sound advice to pay for someone who understands the VH tub to have a look. Not a 140 point part fitter but a proper engineer.
Anyway, the issue with the repair or otherwise of VH platform cars is that it's a bonded and riveted aluminium tub. So if the tub is bent, you're unlikely to be able to unbend it. If the tub needs repair then AML won't sell a tub - they take the car back to Gaydon, dismantle to several piles of parts, start with a new tub and remanufacture.
A few years back I looked into this for a project car/toy. The tub was £18,000 for the part and labour for strip down and rebuild was about £20,000.
Prices may have changed, but it would be sound advice to pay for someone who understands the VH tub to have a look. Not a 140 point part fitter but a proper engineer.
JohnG1 said:
Risk is a matter of perception, financial clout and timeframe. Something that's a risk for me is probably pocket change for Bill Gates.
Anyway, the issue with the repair or otherwise of VH platform cars is that it's a bonded and riveted aluminium tub. So if the tub is bent, you're unlikely to be able to unbend it. If the tub needs repair then AML won't sell a tub - they take the car back to Gaydon, dismantle to several piles of parts, start with a new tub and remanufacture.
A few years back I looked into this for a project car/toy. The tub was £18,000 for the part and labour for strip down and rebuild was about £20,000.
Prices may have changed, but it would be sound advice to pay for someone who understands the VH tub to have a look. Not a 140 point part fitter but a proper engineer.
I mentioned Works Service as it's the nearest thing you'll find to a one stop shop. I mentioned the 140 point check, and MOT, only because if it were there it would be senseless not to have them done at the same time.Anyway, the issue with the repair or otherwise of VH platform cars is that it's a bonded and riveted aluminium tub. So if the tub is bent, you're unlikely to be able to unbend it. If the tub needs repair then AML won't sell a tub - they take the car back to Gaydon, dismantle to several piles of parts, start with a new tub and remanufacture.
A few years back I looked into this for a project car/toy. The tub was £18,000 for the part and labour for strip down and rebuild was about £20,000.
Prices may have changed, but it would be sound advice to pay for someone who understands the VH tub to have a look. Not a 140 point part fitter but a proper engineer.
In any case as soon as any of this is mentioned the seller will almost certainly refuse to fund this at which point you'd walk away.
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