Private buyers - errgh!!!
Discussion
Trying to buy a Honda Civic for a friend recently, found one on Autotrader. Called up and was told the car was 'immaculate', and being sold on behalf of the guy's son as son had moved to Sheffield. Full Honda service history, no defects anywhere, any trial, all the usual. I asked where the car was, and was given an address in Richmond. I'm in East London, so that's about 10 miles, but a good hour-and-a-half journey to get there. Stupid me didn't ask for better pictures, I took the guy at his word - after all, he sounded helpful on the 'phone, well spoken, and the address was a good one.
Friend and I shrogged off to Richmond (rugby match on, so we took the train as roads were gridlocked around Twickenham.) Car had marks on more panels than not, one rear door was so askew it hardly fitted into it's aperture, rear bumper had a dent in it, one side had evidence of a VERY cheap re-spray, there was rust under the bonnet, cheapo front tyres were not only nearly flat but had been fitted the wrong way 'round, hadn't been serviced for 2 1/2 years (and 12,000 miles), the history showed MOT's had been routinely missed, when driving it misfired noticeably at low revs, and - to cap it all - the address we were at wasn't even where the guy lived! "I've just moved house" was his excuse. Well unless he had moved house in the last 24 hours then I simply didn't believe him.
Nuisance buyers are a major PITA. Nuisance sellers are no better tho'. And this cock was an example of how and why.
Oli.
Friend and I shrogged off to Richmond (rugby match on, so we took the train as roads were gridlocked around Twickenham.) Car had marks on more panels than not, one rear door was so askew it hardly fitted into it's aperture, rear bumper had a dent in it, one side had evidence of a VERY cheap re-spray, there was rust under the bonnet, cheapo front tyres were not only nearly flat but had been fitted the wrong way 'round, hadn't been serviced for 2 1/2 years (and 12,000 miles), the history showed MOT's had been routinely missed, when driving it misfired noticeably at low revs, and - to cap it all - the address we were at wasn't even where the guy lived! "I've just moved house" was his excuse. Well unless he had moved house in the last 24 hours then I simply didn't believe him.
Nuisance buyers are a major PITA. Nuisance sellers are no better tho'. And this cock was an example of how and why.
Oli.
Advertised one of my cheapies on ebay, a Proton of all things but...one elderly owner and 29K miles from new with history. Was quite open with my ad stating it wasnt for badge snobs and would earn no kudos owning etc but would make a reliable commuter/shopping/school run/ run it into the ground type car. A very comprehensive description of body scrapes and three dents complete with 12 pictures (elderly gent had his licence revoked for eyesight issues!) left me with a buy it now buyer who brought his missus round to turn her nose up at the badge and him trying to make out he knew nothing of any body defects and walking away losing his paypal deposit...t
t...
t...A buyer and his mate who was an " expert" came to view my car. "It's not red then". "No. Why? What colour were you expecting?" " I was expecting it to be blue". "Well that's why it's not red then". They then proceeded to take the car apart and pronounced it to be one of the nicest they'd seen. Parting comment was: "If you get it retrimmed in black leather I might be interested". So they wanted a red car with black interior not a blue one with grey.
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