Things that put you off going to see a car ?
Things that put you off going to see a car ?
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Discussion

J4CKO

Original Poster:

45,940 posts

223 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
Ok, when you are trawling the PH classifieds or on Autotrader, or whatever, what sets alarm bells ringing and puts you off going to see a car ? mainly private but also trade.


I supopose there are a few stages to this,

Initial Advert

NO TIMEWASTERS OR TYRE KICKERS.

Right ok, so your time is valuable, my time is as well, I may not choose your car to buy as it may be a dustbin, so lets no bother each other shall we.


Full Electric Pack

Dont know why, but this annoys me, might be just me



Photo

Might be nice but if the car is in what looks like downtown Basra I move on.

Spelling mistakes

Not a deal breaker but if the owner is illiterate or uses text speak I cant see it being the right car.





Initial call

If the owner sounds like a complete Baboon.

If the owner cant answer basic questions about the car.







On arrival

If it "feels" wrong, gut feel should not be underestimated.

Missing documents

Budget tyres on a performance car, no no no, not talking Toyo's or Falkens but Nankngs and Linglongs.

Car not cleaned out, looks like its being lived in

Location, if the picture in the ad or a quick google maps sweep didnt show it up as being a dump then a visit will.











Edited by J4CKO on Monday 28th June 13:06

Escort2dr

3,636 posts

224 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
Yes, all of those.

J4CKO

Original Poster:

45,940 posts

223 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
doogz said:
J4CKO said:
Not a deal breaker but if the owner is illerate or uses text speak I cant see it being the right car.
Indeed.
Damn you got me, a typo, the shame biggrin




Arese

21,238 posts

210 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
- If the seller says that the car is "very fast" in the advert.

- Front fog-lights on in the picture.

- Any text-speak in the advert.

- Adverts that are two lines long and don't tell you anything of interest.

For me, those things give you an idea of what kind of person the seller is. From that, I can make a judgement on how they've looked after the car. Probably the wrong judgement, mind.

Petrolize

324 posts

197 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
One,or two or three lady owners

J4CKO

Original Poster:

45,940 posts

223 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
Arese said:
- If the seller says that the car is "very fast" in the advert.

- Front fog-lights on in the picture.

- Any text-speak in the advert.

- Adverts that are two lines long and don't tell you anything of interest.

For me, those things give you an idea of what kind of person the seller is. From that, I can make a judgement on how they've looked after the car. Probably the wrong judgement, mind.
yeah, its not an exact science and can be a bit snobbish so I try and overlook my preconceptions and prejudices but sadly, usually it is an accurate enough guideline. The same methods work when you are a seller but you cant afford to be selective if you want to sell.


J4CKO

Original Poster:

45,940 posts

223 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
Petrolize said:
One,or two or three lady owners
yes, never seen this as an advantage, that or "One Company Director Owner", just says, company car, smokes cigars and doesnt really care as will be getting a new one after three years.

Groober

775 posts

203 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
Not for the faint hearted. I don't know why but I hate seeing that in a ad.

JQ

6,593 posts

202 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
Arese said:
- If the seller says that the car is "very fast" in the advert.
Similarly, "never thrashed" makes me think it's been redlined on every gearchange. Probably an incorrect assumption, but puts me off nonetheless.

no-worries88

1,817 posts

221 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
Last year i got my sister an ITR for her 24th birthday. There was an advert saying something along the lines of 'i've had 145mph out of her so far,could do better though' why brag that the cars been ragged about?

EU_Foreigner

2,838 posts

249 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
"Good condition for year"

Meaning it is dented and scratched to hell ...

Petrolize

324 posts

197 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
J4CKO said:
Petrolize said:
One,or two or three lady owners
yes, never seen this as an advantage, that or "One Company Director Owner", just says, company car, smokes cigars and doesnt really care as will be getting a new one after three years.
Dr. owner aswell - our local doctor always thrashes his car and it only gets cleaned by the snow during the winter months..

J4CKO

Original Poster:

45,940 posts

223 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
doogz said:
J4CKO said:
doogz said:
J4CKO said:
Not a deal breaker but if the owner is illerate or uses text speak I cant see it being the right car.
Indeed.
Damn you got me, a typo, the shame biggrin
If it was just a regular run of the mill typo, i'd have let it slip, but one that ironic!

Ads where people don't quote the mileage, and just say "Average mileage" or "Low mileage"

How about you tell me the number, and i'll decide for myself!
Yes, it was ironic, ill give you that, when I am trying to be a bit sniffy about other peoples car ads I should at least get my posts right ! in my defence I am trying to do some work as well, plus I was really alluding to the ads where its text speak and absolutely no spell checking, "Big Boar Exhorsts" and "Manuel gearboxes", I love the idea of Manuel Gearboxes, from Barcelona you know.

no-worries88

1,817 posts

221 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
The '2 lady owners' gets me too, is that a polite way of saying 'covered in dents from Tesco trolleys and bollards'?

mat205125

17,790 posts

236 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
Location and ethnicity of the owner's name.

I feel somewhat ashamed to avoid ads based on some admitedly undefined stereotypes, however my location in the country means that a lot of searches within a sensible radius will pull up all manner of inner city cars that I cannot be bothered wasting my time to go and see. Experience has led me to beleive that the cars stand a very high chance of being sheds of ste with lots of question marks in their past history / condition / upkeep.

At the end of the day, it is my money and I will shop around and buy what I want with it .... If I inadvertently miss out on a good car because of my unwritten rules, then never mind.

Cotty

41,918 posts

307 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
Arese said:

- Adverts that are two lines long and don't tell you anything of interest.
I hate that. Its like they can't be bothered to put the effort into selling their car. OK I can't be bother to come and look at it.

If they can't be bothered to write a proper ad then what else have they not bothered to do, like check the oil and water, service etc

Petrolize

324 posts

197 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
Having two mobile numbers puts me off

Laurel Green

31,018 posts

255 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
When enquiring to a private add and, the response is 'what car'.

ManOpener

12,467 posts

192 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
When I was looking for my Golf, I called one guy who had a low-milage 1.8T GTi for sale for rock-bottom prices. When he picked up, he had no idea what car I was talking about until I explained it to him. Needless to say, I didn't call him back...

mat205125

17,790 posts

236 months

Monday 28th June 2010
quotequote all
no-worries88 said:
The '2 lady owners' gets me too, is that a polite way of saying 'covered in dents from Tesco trolleys and bollards'?
Paint behind the door handles scratched back to the bare metal.

All four wheels kerbed and bent

Sychros gone on all gears

Bonnet catched siezed dry through under-use

etc etc

wink