Private or dealer?

[ro250]

Currently embarking on the search for first car for son. Went to look at one advertised on Facebook marketplace (I know!) which was described very much in terms of it being a private seller. Phrases such as "I'm selling my...".

We arrive to view at a residential address and are openly told by the seller he buys and sells a few cars.

It put me off on the spot as I felt they deliberately misled.

If someone's doing this as a small sideline, do any consumer rights apply?

[ro250]

Interesting responses. I did indeed walk away from this one for a few reasons to do with the actual car, but the moment he said he buys and sells a few cars I was put off because it was clearly advertised as private.

The more I've been looking, the lower end of the market is absolutely flooded with these driveway dealers. What I don't like is that they don't know much about the car but they're experienced in all the tricks of the dealer trade but don't give the protections of a dealer.

[ro250]

Deerfoot said:

ro250 said:

Interesting responses. I did indeed walk away from this one for a few reasons to do with the actual car, but the moment he said he buys and sells a few cars I was put off because it was clearly advertised as private.

The more I've been looking, the lower end of the market is absolutely flooded with these driveway dealers. What I don't like is that they don't know much about the car but they're experienced in all the tricks of the dealer trade but don't give the protections of a dealer.

I feel your pain, spent several hours with my son this weekend looking for a first car, the amount of overpriced dross was amazing.

Even stuff at outwardly decent indy dealers was poor.

What are you looking at? We've had to increase our budget to £2000-2500 in the hope of finding something. Toyota Aygo 1.0 is the favourite at the moment.

Sounds like we're in the same boat. I was hoping to spend about £3k but that's creeping up now. There was actually a nice Corsa we were due to see (private) but had a call back to say he'd sold it. I was just looking again on Autotrader and wondering how someone can stain a drivers seat that much and curb a wheel as monumentally as they have!

It seems to be Corsa and Fiesta we're looking at, although Fiestas seem more pricey and I'm mindful of timing belts on them which are due around the age/mileage we're looking at.