When did selling a car become such a ball ache?
Discussion
Rubins4 said:
So it has 
I knew a guy with a MK1 GTi, he had the original belt changed at 200 and something thousand miles, just in case. A new one went on but the mechanic said the belt wasn't showing any signs of failure.
Exactly, for a 'premium' German manufacturer to not be able to design a cambelt system beyond stupid 4 year intervals, regardless of mileage by the way is simply prehistoric.I knew a guy with a MK1 GTi, he had the original belt changed at 200 and something thousand miles, just in case. A new one went on but the mechanic said the belt wasn't showing any signs of failure.
Like I said, it's all VW guff and the buyers believe it.
I was dreading selling my MY00 Impreza a couple of years ago.
I listed it on here and eBay. The worst of the comments came from the forum I was on with members telling me it was overpriced etc.
I dont think I even had any chancers or time wasters.
Sold it to the first bloke who called from the PH advert.
Left a deposit, came back when he said he would with cash.
Even sent a box of chocolates over from France, as he said he would. (I never expected him to stick to that!!)
I guess I was lucky, but having read the comments here, I agree with the advice.
Well worded ad, loads of good pictures, and fair price.
I listed it on here and eBay. The worst of the comments came from the forum I was on with members telling me it was overpriced etc.
I dont think I even had any chancers or time wasters.
Sold it to the first bloke who called from the PH advert.
Left a deposit, came back when he said he would with cash.
Even sent a box of chocolates over from France, as he said he would. (I never expected him to stick to that!!)
I guess I was lucky, but having read the comments here, I agree with the advice.
Well worded ad, loads of good pictures, and fair price.
TurboHatchback said:
Why exactly is that a stupid question (unless it's a chain engine)? I would consider a ~£500 maintenance item that if skipped has the potential to destroy your engine to highly relevant. Frankly any seller that had a problem with such a question would have to find another buyer as they would come across as a cowboy or a moron.
Ah not just me then. Because guess what I want to know when I buy a VW........I haven't sold a car for a couple of years. The last time I did it went pretty smoothly. I did have some t
t who wanted to come down on Christmas day though. Like I have nothing better to do...
Can't wait til it comes to selling my runabout. I'll be sending those chancers all over the country to fake addresses
t who wanted to come down on Christmas day though. Like I have nothing better to do...Can't wait til it comes to selling my runabout. I'll be sending those chancers all over the country to fake addresses
99dndd said:
Wildcat45 said:
You could always go down the pompous advert route. It might put off the imbeciles, but you might attract other tools.
Ordered from the craftsmen at Halewood by a Mr Smith in June 1995, this Ford Escort Finesse is finished in Rosso Red coachwork - accepted as the best colour choice. She passed through the hands of eight keepers before being acquired by a Mr J Jones who ordered a fastidious mechanical overhaul by (Insert name you've never heard of). Accepted in Escort circles as the expert on this model. Applications are now being sought from prospective custodians to continue the story of this remarkable vehicle....POA.
wotz yo best price m8?Ordered from the craftsmen at Halewood by a Mr Smith in June 1995, this Ford Escort Finesse is finished in Rosso Red coachwork - accepted as the best colour choice. She passed through the hands of eight keepers before being acquired by a Mr J Jones who ordered a fastidious mechanical overhaul by (Insert name you've never heard of). Accepted in Escort circles as the expert on this model. Applications are now being sought from prospective custodians to continue the story of this remarkable vehicle....POA.
Edited by Lester H on Saturday 28th April 15:32
TurboHatchback said:
Mexman said:
andymc said:
agreed, the cheaper the car the bigger the nightmare, Golf and VW in general have their own place in hell
Ha ha, it's not just me then, must be a nationwide thing, everyone in the motor trade says the same.First stupid question that comes out of there mouth before they have even opened the bloody car door is.....
Altogether now....
'Has the cambelt and water pump been changed?'
Oh do f
k off you penniless wannabe.Edited by Mexman on Wednesday 25th April 19:26
Mexman said:
TurboHatchback said:
Mexman said:
andymc said:
agreed, the cheaper the car the bigger the nightmare, Golf and VW in general have their own place in hell
Ha ha, it's not just me then, must be a nationwide thing, everyone in the motor trade says the same.First stupid question that comes out of there mouth before they have even opened the bloody car door is.....
Altogether now....
'Has the cambelt and water pump been changed?'
Oh do f
k off you penniless wannabe.Edited by Mexman on Wednesday 25th April 19:26
Like I said it's normally the first question that comes out of these idiots mouths before anything else.
It could have been changed within the last 2/3 years but these VW people will still want it changed again, thrown in for free of course.
I have just taken in a 2007 Golf with 119k miles on the clock which has never had a cambelt in its life.
It's all VAG b
ks, if Peugeot/Citroen can claim a cambelt interval change of 10 years/150k miles then why can't VW?Never had a cambelt go or know of one on a VW in 25 years of dealing.
Typical VAG money making/grabbing greed.
2007 Seat Altea FR TDI, belt changed at 65k by the selling dealer. Snapped at 81k less than a year later. Belt hadn't been changed by the dealer despite an invoice and stamp in the book. Another expensive one.
andymc said:
TurboHatchback said:
Mexman said:
andymc said:
agreed, the cheaper the car the bigger the nightmare, Golf and VW in general have their own place in hell
Ha ha, it's not just me then, must be a nationwide thing, everyone in the motor trade says the same.First stupid question that comes out of there mouth before they have even opened the bloody car door is.....
Altogether now....
'Has the cambelt and water pump been changed?'
Oh do f
k off you penniless wannabe.Edited by Mexman on Wednesday 25th April 19:26
Captain_Chaos said:
No you didn't. Whether the interval is right or wrong it exists. It's a perfectly reasonable thing for a buyer to ask about. Would you mind telling us where you wo!rk, so we can all avoid wasting our time heading there to buy a car?
Errr, yes I have, VW buyers are generally a massive PITA , and expect a brand new car for 2nd /3rd hand money.If you read my post, it's generally the first thing that comes out of there mouths before even looking at the car!
Even if it has been recently replaced, they still want it doing again free of charge of course, oh and a massive discount too boot.
If you can't read the post properly, then I suggest going back to school.
It's strange how car dealers mostly have the same opinion of the majority of VW buyers, so it's not just me.
It's a well known customer trait in the trade.
Let me guess, you drive a VW ??
Buster73 said:
Smitters said:
Dunno what I did wrong then. Selling my A6 on AT. Went for the extra pics package and everything. Decent ad, cleaned and polished car. Got zero interest. Not a single call, text or email in six weeks.
Only thing you haven’t mentioned was it priced well ?The only reason I didn't advertise on PH was a diesel A6 Avant isn't really a PH thing. There were 10+ on AT, only one on PH, so I advertised with the masses. A mistake apparently.
Mexman said:
Errr, yes I have, VW buyers are generally a massive PITA , and expect a brand new car for 2nd /3rd hand money.
If you read my post, it's generally the first thing that comes out of there mouths before even looking at the car!
Even if it has been recently replaced, they still want it doing again free of charge of course, oh and a massive discount too boot.
If you can't read the post properly, then I suggest going back to school.
It's strange how car dealers mostly have the same opinion of the majority of VW buyers, so it's not just me.
It's a well known customer trait in the trade.
Let me guess, you drive a VW ??
For what it's worth, you're reinforcing a stereotype. Want some salt and vinegar for that massive chip?If you read my post, it's generally the first thing that comes out of there mouths before even looking at the car!
Even if it has been recently replaced, they still want it doing again free of charge of course, oh and a massive discount too boot.
If you can't read the post properly, then I suggest going back to school.
It's strange how car dealers mostly have the same opinion of the majority of VW buyers, so it's not just me.
It's a well known customer trait in the trade.
Let me guess, you drive a VW ??
Spumfry said:
As a seller I hate negotiating on price before anyone has seen the car, you invariably end up in a worse position.
Maybe so, but as I buyer I thought it was great. 
Spumfry said:
You haggle once over the phone then the buyer thinks he can start haggling all over again when he sees the car, even though you've described any faults in the original ad.
In fairness to me, once I saw it was exactly as described (faults included) the price we agreed was the price paid. We both saw the initial haggling as saving time & potential disappointment on the day and walked away happy with the prearranged deal. Test drive et cetera was purely to confirm that the car was as promised.As for comments elsewhere about dealing with 'ethnic' individuals I recently did a deal via email with some people- on meeting them & seeing their ethnicity (& clothing to suit) I had a few reservations based on racial stereotypes but they turned out to be the perfect people to do business with. Don't tar them all with the same brush.
Edited by Rovinghawk on Friday 27th April 11:08
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