Where there is doubt...

[LimaDelta]

I am in the market for a fairly common car in a fairly uncommon spec. I found one for sale privately, pretty close to what I wanted, low mileage and two owners, but at the other end of the country. Not a problem as I am overseas and could fly back to a nearby airport, take a look and drive home if all was good. I tried calling a number of times and eventually got through (I was told he didn't like answering unknown numbers). The guy seemed ok, the reason for selling seemed a bit dubious but the HPI check came back ok. He'd only had it a few months, done hardly any miles but kept telling me how amazing it was (so why sell?). I said I would check in in a week or two and then book a flight if it was still available.

Still with me at the back?

I then noticed a very similar car for sale at a dealer about 100 miles closer to me - checked the plate and yes, it was the same one. Different photos, at an established non-franchised dealer. The strange thing was it was £5k cheaper at the dealer. I gave it a few days and then checked in with the original seller, who told me yes, he had sold it, so that was ok. I contacted the garage who said they had recently received it, confirmed the details, etc. and all seems ok.

Nothing seems to scream danger, but the dealer selling it for so much less means either they absolutely gouged the original seller, or there is something amiss and they just want it gone.

Should I just walk away and find another? If I wanted black-on-black I could have my pick of dozens any day, but there aren't many the spec I like. It's not a huge risk financially, not a complicated or expensive vehicle to run, and the engine, from what I can tell goes on forever, so any issues which might arise could be remedied without too much hassle I'd have thought.

Anyway, where there is doubt, there is no doubt. My Spidey senses are tingling a bit. If all is well it is a great example of the car, if not, well, how bad can it be?

[interstellar]

I think you’re overthinking it, he obviously tried to sell privately but didn’t get any joy and a dealer pulled his pants down, fairly common.

If this is the spec you want, buy it. You can’t do any more due diligence than you have other than when you view it.

[LimaDelta]

interstellar said:

I think you’re overthinking it, he obviously tried to sell privately but didn’t get any joy and a dealer pulled his pants down, fairly common.

If this is the spec you want, buy it. You can’t do any more due diligence than you have other than when you view it.

I'm definitely overthinking it. Not answering the phone, accepts a low price, sells a car which is 'perfect', maybe in debt needed to quickly liquidise?

It's well over 20 years since I bought a car from anything other than a main dealer. What more can one realistically do beyond an AA report and HPI check? MOT history all good too.

[abzmike]

If you had not seen it with the original seller would you be concerned?

[Rough101]

Get a V check done in the first instance, and have you checked if the previous owner did actually own it when they said they did via the last logbook issued record on the MOT/Tax history?

[edthefed]

Confused.COM

You were presumably happy to buy it from a private seller at or near the price advertised - when all the risk is on the buyer and you have very little comeback

BUT

You are concerned about buying the same car for substantially less from a dealer which affords you a lot more protection under Consumer rights legislation, warranty etc, HPI check etc

[ilikejam]

You don't say what the price of the car is so it's difficult to judge. £5k off an £80k car vs £5k off a £20k car makes a difference.

I had a car for private sale a few years ago that I had up at £15k (which was a decent price for it vs used dealers). Eventually took it to WBAC for £12k after a month or so as it's replacement was showing up and I needed the cash. Your seller could have been in a similar situation and the car has now moved through the auction to the dealer.

You could also message the old owner and ask if it had anything wrong with it!

[LimaDelta]

ilikejam said:

You don't say what the price of the car is so it's difficult to judge. £5k off an £80k car vs £5k off a £20k car makes a difference.

I had a car for private sale a few years ago that I had up at £15k (which was a decent price for it vs used dealers). Eventually took it to WBAC for £12k after a month or so as it's replacement was showing up and I needed the cash. Your seller could have been in a similar situation and the car has now moved through the auction to the dealer.

You could also message the old owner and ask if it had anything wrong with it!

£37.5k private seller, £32.5k used car dealer.

[LimaDelta]

edthefed said:

Confused.COM

You were presumably happy to buy it from a private seller at or near the price advertised - when all the risk is on the buyer and you have very little comeback

BUT

You are concerned about buying the same car for substantially less from a dealer which affords you a lot more protection under Consumer rights legislation, warranty etc, HPI check etc

It's the 'substantially less' part which confuses me too, as it goes against the conventional wisdom of dealer prices being higher than private.

[interstellar]

LimaDelta said:

£37.5k private seller, £32.5k used car dealer.

if you pm me the reg I can check some trade systems for you to see if the private seller was dreaming unless you know he was.

Edited by interstellar on Thursday 17th April 09:53

[LimaDelta]

interstellar said:

LimaDelta said:

£37.5k private seller, £32.5k used car dealer.

if you pm me the reg I can check some trade systems for you to see if the private seller was draming unless you know he was.

I think the original price was reasonable given the age/mileage/spec. If anything a little cheaper than others around.

[Richard-390a0]

LimaDelta said:

It's the 'substantially less' part which confuses me too, as it goes against the conventional wisdom of dealer prices being higher than private.

Or from your original post - "I am in the market for a fairly common car in a fairly uncommon spec." What might be unicorn rare spec for you & the private seller is clearly valued much lower by the open market (private seller not managing to sell it) & the trader pricing it correctly for what to you & the private seller consider rare spec but everyone else deems an undesirable spec perhaps?. Rare doesn't always mean valuable as it can be rare for a very valid reason.

[LimaDelta]

Richard-390a0 said:

LimaDelta said:

It's the 'substantially less' part which confuses me too, as it goes against the conventional wisdom of dealer prices being higher than private.

Or from your original post - "I am in the market for a fairly common car in a fairly uncommon spec." What might be unicorn rare spec for you & the private seller is clearly valued much lower by the open market (private seller not managing to sell it) & the trader pricing it correctly for what to you & the private seller consider rare spec but everyone else deems an undesirable spec perhaps?. Rare doesn't always mean valuable as it can be rare for a very valid reason.

Totally agree. Most people prefer dark interiors. Most buyers of this car will opt for black paint, maybe silver. Many will go for the smaller engine option. My tastes are generally polar opposite to the zeitgeist.

[griffter]

It’s just the dealer pricing that’s raising a red flag.

I’d contact the previous owner again and just ask him what happened. He’s (presumably) got nothing to lose.

You could even ask the dealer. Again, if they’re straight, nothing to lose.

I’ve been watching a car on FB marketplace that was £9k. I’d been watching it for months. Then last week it appeared on eBay for half the price - Buy it now. It went within hours. These things do happen.