Buying private?

[AMG Merc]

Hi all

I'd like to think that I've seen and done it all but does anyone have any tips for when buying private?

e.g.:
Apart from the obvious ownership checks, original purchase checks, etc. ...
Finance check - is HPI good enough?
Making payment - method/where's best?

Thanks

[Jonboy_t]

Knowing what you're willing to spend before you leave your house is one thing, but make sure you know what they'll accept will save you a wasted journey.

Tried selling my Astra, told a guy I wouldn't take less than £3800 and not to waste his time, but he turned up (after 180 mile journey) and offered me £3000. Cue another 180 mile journey back home!

[anonymous-user]

Jonboy_t said:

Knowing what you're willing to spend before you leave your house is one thing, but make sure you know what they'll accept will save you a wasted journey.

Tried selling my Astra, told a guy I wouldn't take less than £3800 and not to waste his time, but he turned up (after 180 mile journey) and offered me £3000. Cue another 180 mile journey back home!

Or the guy who said to me he wouldn't go lower than £4500 but offered £200 off when I found rust. It takes balls to walk away from a deal for £100 or whatever, a price is NEVER fixed IMO, especially if you find something the seller didn't know about/disclose prior to your 3 hour car journey.....

I still drove home without it though.

[Jonboy_t]

Dave_ST220 said:

Jonboy_t said:

Knowing what you're willing to spend before you leave your house is one thing, but make sure you know what they'll accept will save you a wasted journey.

Tried selling my Astra, told a guy I wouldn't take less than £3800 and not to waste his time, but he turned up (after 180 mile journey) and offered me £3000. Cue another 180 mile journey back home!

Or the guy who said to me he wouldn't go lower than £4500 but offered £200 off when I found rust. It takes balls to walk away from a deal for £100 or whatever, a price is NEVER fixed IMO, especially if you find something the seller didn't know about/disclose prior to your 3 hour car journey.....

I still drove home without it though.

Good point, but I knew that my car was mint, I'm pretty maticulous with it but maybe I just expect too much from sellers to be the same as I am. My point is, if I only had 3k to spend on a car and the seller said he wouldn't go below £3800, I wouldn't even waste my drive, I know it's gonna be something pretty seriously wrong that would knock them down that much, so it'd be a snotter anyway!