Car Sellers... ARGH.
Discussion
Yes, it's another one of these, however with a bit of a difference.
I'm looking for a particular car, and had 5 shortlisted that I wanted to see locally. I spoke with all the sellers yesterday (three private and two from small independent garages). Spent about 15 minutes on the phone with each one getting some info about the cars that wasn't included in the advert. Funnily enough the traders didn't ooze enthusiasm when speaking with them - the private sellers were much more personable!
Anyway, I did request that the cars were left cold if possible and everyone seemed fairly happy with that. I arranged to go at 8am to see the first one, so hopefully I wouldn't cause anyone an inconvenience.
Well the first one was cold. Because it wouldn't start. Because they'd siphoned the fuel out of it. I can understand that fuel is expensive and if you've a full tank on a car your selling that you'd want to keep most of it. That's fine. But leave a £5er worth in so I can at least hear it run?
Second was also a private seller. Very nice chap, but I was greeted by the line "I've had a run out in it this morning to warm it up for you". The temp was still 'up to temperature' on the gauge when I put the ignition on, so he'd perhaps not been back long at all. If he had needed the car, then as I said, fine, but tell me that.
Thirdly, the final private seller, swore blind the car hadn't been turned on at all, yet there was quite a bit of warmth to some of the hoses under the engine bay. Avoid.
Both garages had brought the cars I was looking at to the front of their stock, and squeegied them off, which was very nice of them, but again, looks like there was a communications breakdown somewhere
I am going to visit the second private seller again after I finish work this evening, and hopefully it'll be a cold start then. He was a nice chap, but didn't listen to what I'd asked on the phone.
I'm looking for a particular car, and had 5 shortlisted that I wanted to see locally. I spoke with all the sellers yesterday (three private and two from small independent garages). Spent about 15 minutes on the phone with each one getting some info about the cars that wasn't included in the advert. Funnily enough the traders didn't ooze enthusiasm when speaking with them - the private sellers were much more personable!
Anyway, I did request that the cars were left cold if possible and everyone seemed fairly happy with that. I arranged to go at 8am to see the first one, so hopefully I wouldn't cause anyone an inconvenience.
Well the first one was cold. Because it wouldn't start. Because they'd siphoned the fuel out of it. I can understand that fuel is expensive and if you've a full tank on a car your selling that you'd want to keep most of it. That's fine. But leave a £5er worth in so I can at least hear it run?
Second was also a private seller. Very nice chap, but I was greeted by the line "I've had a run out in it this morning to warm it up for you". The temp was still 'up to temperature' on the gauge when I put the ignition on, so he'd perhaps not been back long at all. If he had needed the car, then as I said, fine, but tell me that.
Thirdly, the final private seller, swore blind the car hadn't been turned on at all, yet there was quite a bit of warmth to some of the hoses under the engine bay. Avoid.
Both garages had brought the cars I was looking at to the front of their stock, and squeegied them off, which was very nice of them, but again, looks like there was a communications breakdown somewhere
I am going to visit the second private seller again after I finish work this evening, and hopefully it'll be a cold start then. He was a nice chap, but didn't listen to what I'd asked on the phone.
SebastienClement said:
Yes, it's another one of these, however with a bit of a difference.
I'm looking for a particular car, and had 5 shortlisted that I wanted to see locally. I spoke with all the sellers yesterday (three private and two from small independent garages). Spent about 15 minutes on the phone with each one getting some info about the cars that wasn't included in the advert. Funnily enough the traders didn't ooze enthusiasm when speaking with them - the private sellers were much more personable!
Anyway, I did request that the cars were left cold if possible and everyone seemed fairly happy with that. I arranged to go at 8am to see the first one, so hopefully I wouldn't cause anyone an inconvenience.
Well the first one was cold. Because it wouldn't start. Because they'd siphoned the fuel out of it. I can understand that fuel is expensive and if you've a full tank on a car your selling that you'd want to keep most of it. That's fine. But leave a £5er worth in so I can at least hear it run?
Second was also a private seller. Very nice chap, but I was greeted by the line "I've had a run out in it this morning to warm it up for you". The temp was still 'up to temperature' on the gauge when I put the ignition on, so he'd perhaps not been back long at all. If he had needed the car, then as I said, fine, but tell me that.
Thirdly, the final private seller, swore blind the car hadn't been turned on at all, yet there was quite a bit of warmth to some of the hoses under the engine bay. Avoid.
Both garages had brought the cars I was looking at to the front of their stock, and squeegied them off, which was very nice of them, but again, looks like there was a communications breakdown somewhere
I am going to visit the second private seller again after I finish work this evening, and hopefully it'll be a cold start then. He was a nice chap, but didn't listen to what I'd asked on the phone.
Depends.I'm looking for a particular car, and had 5 shortlisted that I wanted to see locally. I spoke with all the sellers yesterday (three private and two from small independent garages). Spent about 15 minutes on the phone with each one getting some info about the cars that wasn't included in the advert. Funnily enough the traders didn't ooze enthusiasm when speaking with them - the private sellers were much more personable!
Anyway, I did request that the cars were left cold if possible and everyone seemed fairly happy with that. I arranged to go at 8am to see the first one, so hopefully I wouldn't cause anyone an inconvenience.
Well the first one was cold. Because it wouldn't start. Because they'd siphoned the fuel out of it. I can understand that fuel is expensive and if you've a full tank on a car your selling that you'd want to keep most of it. That's fine. But leave a £5er worth in so I can at least hear it run?
Second was also a private seller. Very nice chap, but I was greeted by the line "I've had a run out in it this morning to warm it up for you". The temp was still 'up to temperature' on the gauge when I put the ignition on, so he'd perhaps not been back long at all. If he had needed the car, then as I said, fine, but tell me that.
Thirdly, the final private seller, swore blind the car hadn't been turned on at all, yet there was quite a bit of warmth to some of the hoses under the engine bay. Avoid.
Both garages had brought the cars I was looking at to the front of their stock, and squeegied them off, which was very nice of them, but again, looks like there was a communications breakdown somewhere
I am going to visit the second private seller again after I finish work this evening, and hopefully it'll be a cold start then. He was a nice chap, but didn't listen to what I'd asked on the phone.
I've had people with the cold start thing. They've been lucky as we had another car available.
They were royal pain in the arse. Quite a long test drive, then asked to be left to wander around the car. They spend 45 minutes (without the keys) just looking. Very bizarre. Then walked away.
Having said that I looked at a car last week that was on a pitch and was warm. No good reason that I could see for it to have been started let alone warmed through. I was very suspicious.
surveyor said:
Depends.
I've had people with the cold start thing. They've been lucky as we had another car available.
They were royal pain in the arse. Quite a long test drive, then asked to be left to wander around the car. They spend 45 minutes (without the keys) just looking. Very bizarre. Then walked away.
Having said that I looked at a car last week that was on a pitch and was warm. No good reason that I could see for it to have been started let alone warmed through. I was very suspicious.
I don't mean to be a weird beard! I tried to be as convenient as possible - I asked them if it would be ok, and if not could we arrange a time where it would have been sat & cold. I really don't want to be a pain more than I have to be. And I don't spend 45 minutes staring at a car! I expect to spend maybe 30-40 minutes (including) a test drive (for which I would arrange temp insurance cover there and then on the phone), and some time to check the well known bits.I've had people with the cold start thing. They've been lucky as we had another car available.
They were royal pain in the arse. Quite a long test drive, then asked to be left to wander around the car. They spend 45 minutes (without the keys) just looking. Very bizarre. Then walked away.
Having said that I looked at a car last week that was on a pitch and was warm. No good reason that I could see for it to have been started let alone warmed through. I was very suspicious.
The cars I'm looking at are 8+ years old, so I'd rather spend some time getting the right one.
I'm selling a Mitsubishi Carisma diesel which has covered 17k from new. The poor elderly chap who I bought it from paid for main dealer servicing on time rather than mileage throughout the cars life, including £790 to change cam belt and water pump at 14k!,,
Time warp sort of car and I was pleasantly surprised that one full 60l tank resulted in 602 miles before refill. I've advertised it and I have had no end of people phoning offering to buy the car, today, with cash, at less than half the asking price. One bloke phoned yesterday telling me he was on his way. I specifically asked him to call or text if he changed his mind, got lost, whatever....nothing. I call him and get pushed to voicemail.
Selling a car privately is exhausting...
Time warp sort of car and I was pleasantly surprised that one full 60l tank resulted in 602 miles before refill. I've advertised it and I have had no end of people phoning offering to buy the car, today, with cash, at less than half the asking price. One bloke phoned yesterday telling me he was on his way. I specifically asked him to call or text if he changed his mind, got lost, whatever....nothing. I call him and get pushed to voicemail.
Selling a car privately is exhausting...
SebastienClement said:
Why would fuel consumption even come into it? I've decided on what car/engine I'm after...
Haha in joke, there was a thread on here a while ago where a chap complained that his request of taking a car for a 60 mile round trip taking in all sorts of roads to work out the fuel consumption was rejected.
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