V8 Vantage - Stolen & Recovered on HPi.

[SupraGaz]

Hi all,

I've recently sold my Mitsubishi Evo and decided to go for a V8 Vantage next.
Budget (30k+/- abit) mainly lies around the 2006 era depending on spec/condition.

A week or so ago a V8V came up for sale on pistonheads that had excellent S/H, things like clutch, brakes, tyres replaced at the beginning of the year as well as a service and only 48,000 miles. The seller has owned it 3.5 years and all seemed good. It is fairly stone chipped on the front end but heavily on the flared rear arches (no protection pads) and also shows signs of the bubbling paint around the passenger side door handle.

After viewing it twice and reviewing all the paperwork etc the buyer and I agreed on a price.
Unfortunately, (fortunately for me I guess) the same day I ran a HPi check and it came back as recorded stolen in October 2011 so during the current owners ownership. I messaged the owner with these details and tried calling for a possible explanation as to what happened but my main reason for posting on here is if anyone can clarify what kind of effect this has on the vehicles value, insurance payouts if a claim in the future made and is the car in some kind of category band now? I have tried Google for answer but some say a car is Cat D when stolen/recovered, others Cat X so was after a bit of clarification.

I will with no doubt leave the vehicle and look elsewhere because as well as finding this out, I am quite disappointed in the owner for not responding with at least some kind of explanation as to what happened and not declaring the problem to start with.

Here is part of the HPi:



Regards

Gareth

[onesickpuppy]

It could have been the vehicle the plate was on before the current owner put it on the Vantage that was stolen (if that's how it works, it looks that way to me), in which case he might not be aware. Still, if he's ignoring you he's probably not worth dealing with.

Edited by onesickpuppy on Wednesday 5th June 16:06

[SupraGaz]

onesickpuppy said:

It could have been the vehicle the plate was on before the current owner put it on the Vantage that was stolen (if that's how it works, it looks that way to me), in which case he might not be aware. Still, if he's ignoring you he's probable not worth dealing with.

Thanks for the info.
The plate change was before the current owners ownership so didn't think the plate would have had an effect on the car in 2011?

[Cockernee]

SupraGaz said:

onesickpuppy said:

It could have been the vehicle the plate was on before the current owner put it on the Vantage that was stolen (if that's how it works, it looks that way to me), in which case he might not be aware. Still, if he's ignoring you he's probable not worth dealing with.

Thanks for the info.
The plate change was before the current owners ownership so didn't think the plate would have had an effect on the car in 2011?

The information is based on the VIN number on the database and not number plate.

[stevewushu]

Yes i noticed this car up for sale and seemed to be going fairly cheap for it's spec and condition.
Very good that you hpi'd it. Potentially could've been a stinger.

Hopefully it's just a simple stolen recovered and the car is fine.

Post up when you know mate.

[SupraGaz]

stevewushu said:

Yes i noticed this car up for sale and seemed to be going fairly cheap for it's spec and condition.
Very good that you hpi'd it. Potentially could've been a stinger.

Hopefully it's just a simple stolen recovered and the car is fine.

Post up when you know mate.

Indeed. I'd been watching it for a bit on another site at its original asking price of £32,950.
Then £31,950 and now £29,950 on here.
My initial offer was rejected (30k) but received a text yesterday saying if it was still on the table he'd accept as had no more interest since myself.
My guess is people maybe carrying out a HPi beforehand and then leaving it?
I didn't test drive it but was taken out and from what I could see there was some vibration through his forearm during braking. When I test drove one from Stratstone, Derby there was none of this.

This is the blistered door and 1 rear quarter panel:







Whats more annoying is none of the above gets mentioned in the advert neither and I was a little disappointed when I started spotting them.
In the past when I've sold cars I've listed the good with the bad, I hate time wasters coming to view cars for sale but it works both ways, I don't expected to have mine wasted when I'm interested in buying.

I doubt I am going to follow up on this any further, especially since the seller seems to have cut all contact since I asked him about the HPi results.

Regards
Gareth

[Bravo73]

It could well just be an error in the HPI database.

I HPI'd a car that I used to own (e30 M3) and it came up stolen, whilst in my ownership. It certainly hadn't been and so I queried it and got it corrected.

[divetheworld]

SupraGaz said:

1. there was some vibration through his forearm during braking.

2. blistered door

3. the seller seems to have cut all contact since I asked him about the HPi results.

Road rash on the rear panel is no big deal but the above says to me "walk away".
Seriously buddy, there will be others. If it feels wrong, walk.

[gibbon]

Sounds like the car is cheap for a reason. To be honest, I found when buying my Vantage all the cheeper end ones I went to see were not up to scratch, maybe i was just unlucky.

[PiloteAM]

Good move, there's plenty out there and you really don't want one that's going to be trouble down the line.

I would recommend buying from a dealer, unless you know the previous owner, or have had an Aston before and know what your getting yourself into . These cars can have a lot of minor, but expensive faults, especially if it was a garage queen, and the Approved Used warranty is worth having.

[onesickpuppy]

Cockernee said:

SupraGaz said:

onesickpuppy said:

It could have been the vehicle the plate was on before the current owner put it on the Vantage that was stolen (if that's how it works, it looks that way to me), in which case he might not be aware. Still, if he's ignoring you he's probable not worth dealing with.

Thanks for the info.
The plate change was before the current owners ownership so didn't think the plate would have had an effect on the car in 2011?

The information is based on the VIN number on the database and not number plate.

That's what I always thought, but why does that report quote 'registration' about a gazillion times?

[yeti]

Cockernee said:

The information is based on the VIN number on the database and not number plate.

Are you sure? I wouldn't question your knowledge of nicked cars obviously , but an HPI check on my DB7 revealed 'registration involved in an accident'.

A bit more digging showed the reg had been on a 360 which was written off, then the private plate was put on the DB7. Consequently it showed up every time the DB7 was HPI'd, which I thought was absurd. I was very lucky Dom at Chiltern Aston explained it all to a skittish buyer who was a bit spooked by it.