Discussion
I am so disappointed. I sold my lovely S to a chap in Swindon. TBH I was having second thoughts as although he bought it off ebay he still insisted on an hours test drive where he continually criticized my 25 year old car for not being "smooth" at low revs.
He was continually in the wrong gear for the revs, overstressing the drivetrain and complaining that it lacked performance.
the drive was horrible, he was not "unpleasant" but he was clearly inconsiderate. Most of us who own TVRs really like our cars and selling them is often a painful experience. He clearly didn't care about the car and I was really close to pulling out of the deal.
My mate who drove me there so he could give me a lift home persuaded me to hang in there so I did.
The car (as always) performed flawlessly on the drive there and the test drive - that reminds me, I even delivered the car to him FOR FREE.
Today he texts me to chase up the paperwork (sent to DVLA some weeks back) and when i asked how he was getting on he accused me of selling him a pup. he says the head gasket had gone but "no doubt you already knew that as my mechanic says it shows signs of overheating"
Well it did overheat - back in May 2012, the week i bought it. the otter switch failed.
I let it cool down, fitted a 2 stage kenlowe kit and then drove it for 6000 miles with NO ISSUES at all, no overheating, no power loss, no water loss, no smoke, NOTHING.
I only sold the car as I felt guilty about it sitting on the drive unused as I bought a Chim. i fitted a new steering column, new rear lights and put it through the MOT, and it sailed through with no adviseries and no issues.
I delivered the car, let him make his observations and held my temper throughout but to be accused of this just takes the biscuit.
I have NEVER knowingly sold a vehicle that is anything less than 100% UNLESS I fully disclose any faults and let the prospective owner decide what they want to do.
To think that my lovely S is being driven around by this undeserving (insert expletive of choice here) makes my blood boil. it's all i can do to stop myself from going around there now to see if he wants to make the same accusation to my face!
I sincerely hope I NEVER see that S again, because if i do it means he'll be there and i really, really don't trust myself.
I am genuinely gutted.
He was continually in the wrong gear for the revs, overstressing the drivetrain and complaining that it lacked performance.
the drive was horrible, he was not "unpleasant" but he was clearly inconsiderate. Most of us who own TVRs really like our cars and selling them is often a painful experience. He clearly didn't care about the car and I was really close to pulling out of the deal.
My mate who drove me there so he could give me a lift home persuaded me to hang in there so I did.
The car (as always) performed flawlessly on the drive there and the test drive - that reminds me, I even delivered the car to him FOR FREE.
Today he texts me to chase up the paperwork (sent to DVLA some weeks back) and when i asked how he was getting on he accused me of selling him a pup. he says the head gasket had gone but "no doubt you already knew that as my mechanic says it shows signs of overheating"
Well it did overheat - back in May 2012, the week i bought it. the otter switch failed.
I let it cool down, fitted a 2 stage kenlowe kit and then drove it for 6000 miles with NO ISSUES at all, no overheating, no power loss, no water loss, no smoke, NOTHING.
I only sold the car as I felt guilty about it sitting on the drive unused as I bought a Chim. i fitted a new steering column, new rear lights and put it through the MOT, and it sailed through with no adviseries and no issues.
I delivered the car, let him make his observations and held my temper throughout but to be accused of this just takes the biscuit.
I have NEVER knowingly sold a vehicle that is anything less than 100% UNLESS I fully disclose any faults and let the prospective owner decide what they want to do.
To think that my lovely S is being driven around by this undeserving (insert expletive of choice here) makes my blood boil. it's all i can do to stop myself from going around there now to see if he wants to make the same accusation to my face!
I sincerely hope I NEVER see that S again, because if i do it means he'll be there and i really, really don't trust myself.
I am genuinely gutted.
It's best to just move on. He got a good deal on the car, and nobody can seriously expect not to have to fix something on a 25 year old car. I sold a car to a friend, then shortly after the water pump started leaking. I felt terrible but they told me not to worry about it because cars break from time to time. We're still good friends. Some people are more reasonable than others.
I guess I am trying (quite hard) to see his point, I guess if I bought a car and it broke down quite soon after buying it I'd be miffed too... TBH it happened to me, the overheating occurred after I'd owned the car just over a week, it never occurred to me that the PO might have known this could happen.
My wife said last night "I wonder if the PO knew it had overheating issues" and I immediately said "No, I don't see how he could have, and besides, he was a really nice guy"..... I just wish the new owner had the same outlook.
I've offered to have my local mechanic take a look at the car, a headgasket is a simple enough thing to do on these and I am tempted to offer to pay half..but that'd really upset my wife. And TBH I'm sure he'd just feel that vindicated his opinion of me and that I was doing it because I felt guilty.
I remembered last night that I also taxed it for 6 months for him for free before delivering it so the more i think about it (and I am trying not to) the more it seems wholly unfair..
It is a shame he can't enjoy the car now that we are having some sporadic sunshine, I wish things were different.
My wife said last night "I wonder if the PO knew it had overheating issues" and I immediately said "No, I don't see how he could have, and besides, he was a really nice guy"..... I just wish the new owner had the same outlook.
I've offered to have my local mechanic take a look at the car, a headgasket is a simple enough thing to do on these and I am tempted to offer to pay half..but that'd really upset my wife. And TBH I'm sure he'd just feel that vindicated his opinion of me and that I was doing it because I felt guilty.
I remembered last night that I also taxed it for 6 months for him for free before delivering it so the more i think about it (and I am trying not to) the more it seems wholly unfair..
It is a shame he can't enjoy the car now that we are having some sporadic sunshine, I wish things were different.
Honestly Jules, you’ve got to let this go. If the car had an overheating issue before you bought it then it’s highly unlikely it wouldn’t have manifested itself in the 6000 miles you had it. How do you even know he’s telling you the truth and not trying to screw some money out of you? Go out and enjoy the sunshine in your Chim and don’t give it another thought.
Julesprivate said:
I guess I am trying (quite hard) to see his point, I guess if I bought a car and it broke down quite soon after buying it I'd be miffed too... TBH it happened to me, the overheating occurred after I'd owned the car just over a week, it never occurred to me that the PO might have known this could happen
Hence why private sales are cheaper.. No comeback.. You pays your money.. Same car would have cost him 1-2k more from a dealer, but then he would be able to moan.I put "Buyer Beware" because at that moment in time I was tempted to jump in the Chim and go and have a word with him.... but I'm over that now LOL
I did indeed take your advice and take the Chimaera out for a blast... like every other TVR out there it never fails to cheer me up.
Thanks guys I feel a lot better :-)
I did indeed take your advice and take the Chimaera out for a blast... like every other TVR out there it never fails to cheer me up.
Thanks guys I feel a lot better :-)
Hi Jules,
Just offer to buy it back from him for a grand less than he paid you, plus the cost of road tax, delivery, etc. After he"s had the head gaskets replaced.
Owning an S is like making love to a beautiful woman.....
She needs to be caressed and handled with care, nurtured & stroked to get the very best out of her......but sometimes manhandled firmly through the rough patches, and held onto tightly when the going gets tough.
Sorry, got carried away there for a moment
Just offer to buy it back from him for a grand less than he paid you, plus the cost of road tax, delivery, etc. After he"s had the head gaskets replaced.
Owning an S is like making love to a beautiful woman.....
She needs to be caressed and handled with care, nurtured & stroked to get the very best out of her......but sometimes manhandled firmly through the rough patches, and held onto tightly when the going gets tough.
Sorry, got carried away there for a moment
Alan Whitaker said:
Hi All.
Might not be long before he is posting for advise or help.
Alan
I did indeed suggest PH as a great forum for advice and comradship, so that's distinctly possible. I did say he's not horrible or nasty, just a bit inconsiderate - but TBH I am sure owning a TVR will change that.Might not be long before he is posting for advise or help.
Alan
I hope he does join here, and i am sure you'll all make him feel as welcome as you did with me.
when buy an old s/h car theres always a risk of issues
when you buy a s/h old TVR its pretty certain there will be some issues somewhere along the lines.
perhaps he should have taken more care and checked things out before he bought it, but then knowing you and having seen how well you keep your cars etc then I suspect he's probably just an idiot.
dont let it get to you fella, you know you sold him a tidy example - if he cant see it then more fool him.
when you buy a s/h old TVR its pretty certain there will be some issues somewhere along the lines.
perhaps he should have taken more care and checked things out before he bought it, but then knowing you and having seen how well you keep your cars etc then I suspect he's probably just an idiot.
dont let it get to you fella, you know you sold him a tidy example - if he cant see it then more fool him.
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