Buyer doesn't even testdrive, pays cash
Discussion
Now this is the 2nd time this has happened, WTF!
Case 1- 20yo Golf GTI, 200k miles, 2k asking price - sold for 1.9k after a quick prodding around inside and out, didn't even start engine.
Case 2- 13yo Audi A3 TDI, 115k miles, 2.3k asking price - sold for 2.2k after looking around and starting engine once.
Is 2k disposable money these days?
Is this normal?!
Case 1- 20yo Golf GTI, 200k miles, 2k asking price - sold for 1.9k after a quick prodding around inside and out, didn't even start engine.
Case 2- 13yo Audi A3 TDI, 115k miles, 2.3k asking price - sold for 2.2k after looking around and starting engine once.
Is 2k disposable money these days?
Is this normal?!
I can picture tomorrow's thread already:
"Buyer demanding money back as engine has serious problem".
Are you a trader or was this a private sale? If a trader, perhaps they think you'll cover any faults so don't need to test drive the car. Certainly with cars of that age, you'd want to be doing a thorough test and checking fluid levels.
"Buyer demanding money back as engine has serious problem".
Are you a trader or was this a private sale? If a trader, perhaps they think you'll cover any faults so don't need to test drive the car. Certainly with cars of that age, you'd want to be doing a thorough test and checking fluid levels.
I paid 2.7K for my last car in advance without driving it. I like it much more than the previous one that I paid 5.5K for and did have a test drive but missed a lot of crucial stuff that annoyed me all the time I owned it.
The car has FSH and I trusted the (private) seller by reputation, and by chance I knew some of the car's prior history too.
ETA I would test drive a new or otherwise expensive car BTW.
The car has FSH and I trusted the (private) seller by reputation, and by chance I knew some of the car's prior history too.
ETA I would test drive a new or otherwise expensive car BTW.
Why are you complaining about how sales should go?
Last car I bought a 325 estate I asked the seller straight if it was as described, I said if it is I'm happy with your asking price. I got there and it was mint I, he was a nice guy nothing remotely questionable so I paid asking and took the car. 9 months later he texted me asking could he buy it back seems even when he achieved full asking price I ended up happiest with the deal.
Last car I bought a 325 estate I asked the seller straight if it was as described, I said if it is I'm happy with your asking price. I got there and it was mint I, he was a nice guy nothing remotely questionable so I paid asking and took the car. 9 months later he texted me asking could he buy it back seems even when he achieved full asking price I ended up happiest with the deal.
nickpan said:
Its because money comes cheap these days.
People are alot more rational when they are paying with money they've saved but when its a loan that has come to them in an instant, all rationality goes out of the window.
Doesn't apply to me - this was cash I had in the bank. If I couldn't afford to pay cash for a 2-3K car, I'd rather drive a £500 car than waste money getting a loan.People are alot more rational when they are paying with money they've saved but when its a loan that has come to them in an instant, all rationality goes out of the window.
Sold my classic scooby many years ago, spent £500-600 bringing it up to scratch & advertised it for £8.5k
Got 2 calls, one viewer who was a chap in his 40's, turned up with his OH just as it was getting dark. Took them out for a spin after the briefest of looks over the car, he refused to drive. Later accepted an offer for £8k, he paid in cash
Sold my 330D Touring, put it on eBay & a local(ish) chap came to view it, took him out for a spin & again he refused to drive. Ended up accepting an offer of £12k & driving him to the bank to do a CHAPS transfer, he then came back later in the day with somebody to collect it.
To be fair, I am quite anal & honest about my cars & I think this shows, I only wish I bought cars off people like me!
Got 2 calls, one viewer who was a chap in his 40's, turned up with his OH just as it was getting dark. Took them out for a spin after the briefest of looks over the car, he refused to drive. Later accepted an offer for £8k, he paid in cash

Sold my 330D Touring, put it on eBay & a local(ish) chap came to view it, took him out for a spin & again he refused to drive. Ended up accepting an offer of £12k & driving him to the bank to do a CHAPS transfer, he then came back later in the day with somebody to collect it.
To be fair, I am quite anal & honest about my cars & I think this shows, I only wish I bought cars off people like me!
I bought my Micra that way
I asked the guy if he could deliver it to aberdeen
he drove it up to Aberdeen with his wife
I met them at my work
Gave him the cash and dropped them off in town where they had a day out and caught the train home as i paid the asking price plus the train fair home to perth
I asked the guy if he could deliver it to aberdeen
he drove it up to Aberdeen with his wife
I met them at my work
Gave him the cash and dropped them off in town where they had a day out and caught the train home as i paid the asking price plus the train fair home to perth
I find it useful to get the owner to drive (at least part) if I'm bothering at all - this has two purposes.
If they drive like a tool, they probably do it all the time, and don't even have the sense to tone it down a little when trying to sell, and it is much easier to hear any odd noises when you don't have to concentrate on driving.
If they drive like a tool, they probably do it all the time, and don't even have the sense to tone it down a little when trying to sell, and it is much easier to hear any odd noises when you don't have to concentrate on driving.
I'll keep the specifics secret as it involved selling a car some years ago to a PH'r.
my car advertised for say £10,000
chat with buyer, exchange photos, emails.
he sends me £500 or thereabouts for it to have a major service by my local specialist garage.
Mainly because it just got it done, he didn't have the hassle and of course the car had been thoroughly vetted then.
turns up, pays me in cash, leaves with car.
an absolute true gent.
my car advertised for say £10,000
chat with buyer, exchange photos, emails.
he sends me £500 or thereabouts for it to have a major service by my local specialist garage.
Mainly because it just got it done, he didn't have the hassle and of course the car had been thoroughly vetted then.
turns up, pays me in cash, leaves with car.
an absolute true gent.
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