Car Sold privately - Car now Broken

[mattyowen5]

Hello, I wasn't sure whether this the right place to put this but here goes:

I sold a car two weeks ago. The guy came paid cash and took the car away, me being young and naive didn't issue him with a receipt. About 3 hours after purchasing the car, I got a call from the buyer saying the car wouldn't start and asked if I had ever had problems with starting the car, I said no. He took the car to various garages which claimed all sorts wrong with the car from cambelt slipping to alternator. Eventually he took it a specialist, the specialist told him that the car had dropped a valve and that it wasn't his or our fault (the buyers words). He said this would cost £1700 and asked me to contribute towards the cost. I didn't give any money back as I believed that the car could have been ragged after it left my house and I wasn't to know it was about to break.

This brings me to today where he has sent me a text saying that the specialist is going to do a report on the car. His initial findings are that the car has been hit on the left hand side of the car, the left hand driveshaft is the incorrect one, the front dics and pads are rusted and need replacing (They weren't when they left me but hey I'm not a mechanic), there was an electrical fault where someone had incorrectly placed a fuse. In the period I had the car it was never in a crash or bump of any sort. He says he'll take legal action. I'm just wondering where I stand, because I'm no mechanic so couldn't have known about the fuse and the driveshaft. Thanks in advance for reading, feel free to ask any questions that might help.

[mattyowen5]

He has also only sent text messages and called, no actual letters. When he rang I apologised but said I didn't break the car and sold it good faith and explained everything I knew about the car.

[mattyowen5]

I described it as it was. Service history, described the work it has had done during my ownership (all genuine), etc. The car wasn't exactly cheap but It was a good example of the car and well looked after in my ownership. I'll text him saying I'm sorry but I can't be held accountable for the repairs on the car now.

[mattyowen5]

I will do that from now on. Thanks for the advice and help, it is appreciated.

[mattyowen5]

I had the car two and half years with it never showing any signs of breaking down or causing problems for me, my reason for sale was moving onto a faster car and nothing to do with the car being bad, it was a good car. I would say that he has either over revved the car causing it to drop a valve and is trying to find anything wrong with it or even making them up to help pay his bill of £1700 or there is nothing wrong with the car and he's just trying it on.

[mattyowen5]

Speed Badger said:

Did he also mention that the quantum hairspring was loose, or the carb nodule was clogged? They can be a bit pricey you know, especially if it needs a sequentially distributing butterfly valve

This brings nothing of value to the thread.

[mattyowen5]

PoleDriver said:

Quite right!

In other news... 2 pages in and still no idea what make or model the car is!!?? This is still PistomHeads, isn't it?

Didn't think it mattered as to what car it is. It is a Clio 182 as you can see from my only other thread.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by mattyowen5 on Thursday 25th June 11:39