Why is it acceptable to lie about a cars condition?
Discussion
The last time i bought a car was 6 years ago and i have been out searching for a replacement. I have been trawling the country seeing cars which are described as 'pristine condition' & 'near concourse condition' & 'the best you will find' only to get there and find that the cars are plainly awful! Paint peeling off, large dents, doors hanging off, fudged history, bad accident repairs, the list goes on. Of the 12 ive seen over the last 2 weeks (10 trade 2 private) none have been described even slightly accurately.
Now i haven't just gone of the advert i have properly quizzed them to tell me about any marks on the cars however small, give me detailed accounts of the history and any signs of damage which to someone who regularly buys and sells cars would be obvious.
I have made it clear that if there is anything they are hiding i will pick it up. Even after all this not one has given me the truth.
Im really disheartened by it all and find it very unfair especially when im doing 100-200 mile round trips.
Is this normal? How can i stop being messed about?
Now i haven't just gone of the advert i have properly quizzed them to tell me about any marks on the cars however small, give me detailed accounts of the history and any signs of damage which to someone who regularly buys and sells cars would be obvious.
I have made it clear that if there is anything they are hiding i will pick it up. Even after all this not one has given me the truth.
Im really disheartened by it all and find it very unfair especially when im doing 100-200 mile round trips.
Is this normal? How can i stop being messed about?
Edited by rocketride on Sunday 19th June 23:37
Simple truth is that individuals find that much of the time they can tell lies and make money.
For every one of you there are 10 more gullible buyers.
I collect classic cars ans kit cars bought many, many over the years.
Happily I have generally found the reality to be much as described.
The disappointments help your knowledge base rise. Some of the wrecks I have seen with MOT?? have given me greater knowledge of the worst problems to look for in a model.
Ots a learning curve.
For every one of you there are 10 more gullible buyers.
I collect classic cars ans kit cars bought many, many over the years.
Happily I have generally found the reality to be much as described.
The disappointments help your knowledge base rise. Some of the wrecks I have seen with MOT?? have given me greater knowledge of the worst problems to look for in a model.
Ots a learning curve.
rocketride said:
The last time i bought a car was 6 years ago and i have been out searching for a replacement. I have been trawling the country seeing cars which are described as 'pristine condition' & 'near concourse condition' & 'the best you will find' only to get there and find that the cars are plainly awful! Paint peeling off, large dents, doors hanging off, fudged history, bad accident repairs, the list goes on. Of the 12 ive seen over the last 2 weeks (10 trade 2 private) none have been described even slightly accurately.
Now i haven't just gone of the advert i have properly quizzed them to tell me about any marks on the cars however small, give me detailed accounts of the history and any signs of damage which to someone who regularly buys and sells cars would be obvious.
I have made it clear that if there is anything they are hiding i will pick it up. Even after all this not one has given me the truth.
Im really disheartened by it all and find it very unfair especially when im doing 100-200 mile round trips.
Is this normal? How can i stop being messed about?
Had the same experience a couple of weeks ago with an E39 which I had a little rant about on here. Fortunately it was only half an hour away. Makes me wonder how to get around it when even dealers are doing it. Maybe approved used is the way to go?? Would mean saving a fair bit more for my next car though.Now i haven't just gone of the advert i have properly quizzed them to tell me about any marks on the cars however small, give me detailed accounts of the history and any signs of damage which to someone who regularly buys and sells cars would be obvious.
I have made it clear that if there is anything they are hiding i will pick it up. Even after all this not one has given me the truth.
Im really disheartened by it all and find it very unfair especially when im doing 100-200 mile round trips.
Is this normal? How can i stop being messed about?
Edited by rocketride on Sunday 19th June 23:37
I think I need to work out a little game plan as my next car is likely to mean driving a good few miles to find the right one. I seems like a minefield these days...
I did see in one buying guide years ago that they recommend you ask direct questions such as 'can you list the scratches and marks on the bodywork?'. Anyone saying that there aren't any at all probably is talking BS, but if they can rattle off a few (minor) stonechips and marks that would be acceptable on a car of that age, it's a good sign. You know that no used car is going to be perfect, so getting some answers on negative points might give encouragement to make a longer journey. I can't remember the other points, but things like stating how deep the tyre tread is and whether there are any rips/stains on the upholstory, etc. Having said this, you'll still get people giving the BS and turn up to find the interior looks like a dog's dinner and the bodywork has been 'polished' with a wire brush.
I expect I'll be posting next year saying what a lying bunch of tossers I've been dealing with.
I did see in one buying guide years ago that they recommend you ask direct questions such as 'can you list the scratches and marks on the bodywork?'. Anyone saying that there aren't any at all probably is talking BS, but if they can rattle off a few (minor) stonechips and marks that would be acceptable on a car of that age, it's a good sign. You know that no used car is going to be perfect, so getting some answers on negative points might give encouragement to make a longer journey. I can't remember the other points, but things like stating how deep the tyre tread is and whether there are any rips/stains on the upholstory, etc. Having said this, you'll still get people giving the BS and turn up to find the interior looks like a dog's dinner and the bodywork has been 'polished' with a wire brush.
I expect I'll be posting next year saying what a lying bunch of tossers I've been dealing with.
Drove 120 miles to see an s reg mk2 mr2 in Bradford with 'fsh, 12 months mot, 6 months tax, excellent condition'. Called the guy (trader) to confirm details, and to explain how far I would be travelling. Asked him a few pertinent questions, to leave him in no doubt that I knew what I would be looking at. All seemed well...
It smoked heavily on start-up, and continued to do so. No history, no tax, no ticket, hence no test drive. The guy evidently didnt give a f
k. He MUST have known from our conversation that I would have realised it was a lemon, but let me come all that way regardless.
His attitude was blatantly - 'well some mug will buy it...' What I don't understand is why he let me come all that way after all those questions - the answers to which were complete lies.
Motherfker
It smoked heavily on start-up, and continued to do so. No history, no tax, no ticket, hence no test drive. The guy evidently didnt give a f
k. He MUST have known from our conversation that I would have realised it was a lemon, but let me come all that way regardless.His attitude was blatantly - 'well some mug will buy it...' What I don't understand is why he let me come all that way after all those questions - the answers to which were complete lies.
Motherf
kerWe went to look at a car on Sunday morning for our eldest and when we got there the dealer hadn't even got a key to let us look inside, let alone start it up. Then to add insult to injury when I pointed out the two bald tyres, she said that if I wanted that sorting then the price would go up, as if selling a car with bald tyres at retail price was in some way acceptable. Thankfully it wasn't far away, but I could have done without the wasted trip on a Sunday morning. 
Meant to add that I specifically asked before setting off if we'd be able to have a test drive and she'd talked about some timewasters that hadn't turned up so could we ring to confirm before setting off (which we did).
Meant to add that I specifically asked before setting off if we'd be able to have a test drive and she'd talked about some timewasters that hadn't turned up so could we ring to confirm before setting off (which we did).
Edited by OldSkoolRS on Monday 20th June 00:21
I've had this the other way round. Selling a ten year old car with the advert saying 'daily driver in good condition'
Had people comming round on their hands and knees looking at blemishes on the paintwork. Then telling me the car isn't concours condition and wanting money off the price. Even had one chap asking for a contribution to his petrol!
If anyone ever rang me up asking for a list of stone chips I would politely suggest I don't own a car that would satisfy them, and hang up.
Life is too short, at the end of the day its a car, and I don't know anyone who eats their dinner off them. Its not misrepresented. Its a ten year old daily driver car!!
Perhaps I should ask prospective buyers what the cost of their car polish is. Anyone who says they pay more than £10 for a bottle of polish need not apply.
Had people comming round on their hands and knees looking at blemishes on the paintwork. Then telling me the car isn't concours condition and wanting money off the price. Even had one chap asking for a contribution to his petrol!
If anyone ever rang me up asking for a list of stone chips I would politely suggest I don't own a car that would satisfy them, and hang up.
Life is too short, at the end of the day its a car, and I don't know anyone who eats their dinner off them. Its not misrepresented. Its a ten year old daily driver car!!
Perhaps I should ask prospective buyers what the cost of their car polish is. Anyone who says they pay more than £10 for a bottle of polish need not apply.
An awful lot of people do lie, but what's more worrying is the number of people who simply don't realise what a shed they're selling.
A few years back when I was after a Caterham I phoned up one guy whose 'mechanic does everything'. And apparently this mechanic had told him that because it had a dry sump system it didn't need proper oil changes, it just needed topping up once in a while. He genuinely thought a sports car that hadn't had an oil change in 20,000 miles was well cared for because it was shiny.
A few years back when I was after a Caterham I phoned up one guy whose 'mechanic does everything'. And apparently this mechanic had told him that because it had a dry sump system it didn't need proper oil changes, it just needed topping up once in a while. He genuinely thought a sports car that hadn't had an oil change in 20,000 miles was well cared for because it was shiny.
steveo3002 said:
why dont you start ask for a few high res pics , if i had a mint example for sale id not mind spending 10mins sending over a few quality pics
should help give an idea of how its been treated , and if they wont send pics then why not?
Not everyone has a decent camera, or knows how to take a good photo, or is confident about how to send emails with large pictures as attachments. should help give an idea of how its been treated , and if they wont send pics then why not?
If selling a car I will answer reasonable questions, won't lie about condition, but will always caveat that my version of perfect may differ from the next mans.
If someone can't be bothered to come and form their own opinion I would gladly wait for the next buyer, and experience tells me that the more questions someone asks before they have seen a car (some morons even try to negotiate price before viewing which winds me up hugely) the more likely they are to be timewasters.
julian64 said:
I've had this the other way round. Selling a ten year old car with the advert saying 'daily driver in good condition'
Had people comming round on their hands and knees looking at blemishes on the paintwork. Then telling me the car isn't concours condition and wanting money off the price. Even had one chap asking for a contribution to his petrol!
If anyone ever rang me up asking for a list of stone chips I would politely suggest I don't own a car that would satisfy them, and hang up.
Life is too short, at the end of the day its a car, and I don't know anyone who eats their dinner off them. Its not misrepresented. Its a ten year old daily driver car!!
Perhaps I should ask prospective buyers what the cost of their car polish is. Anyone who says they pay more than £10 for a bottle of polish need not apply.
I had that as well. Whenever someone called up I said there were some stone chips on the front. Had people comming round on their hands and knees looking at blemishes on the paintwork. Then telling me the car isn't concours condition and wanting money off the price. Even had one chap asking for a contribution to his petrol!
If anyone ever rang me up asking for a list of stone chips I would politely suggest I don't own a car that would satisfy them, and hang up.
Life is too short, at the end of the day its a car, and I don't know anyone who eats their dinner off them. Its not misrepresented. Its a ten year old daily driver car!!
Perhaps I should ask prospective buyers what the cost of their car polish is. Anyone who says they pay more than £10 for a bottle of polish need not apply.
Some people were amazed that it had... stonechips on the front.
Chrisw666 said:
Not everyone has a decent camera, or knows how to take a good photo, or is confident about how to send emails with large pictures as attachments.
If selling a car I will answer reasonable questions, won't lie about condition, but will always caveat that my version of perfect may differ from the next mans.
If someone can't be bothered to come and form their own opinion I would gladly wait for the next buyer, and experience tells me that the more questions someone asks before they have seen a car (some morons even try to negotiate price before viewing which winds me up hugely) the more likely they are to be timewasters.
i dunno so much , nearly everyone has a camera or camera phone these days If selling a car I will answer reasonable questions, won't lie about condition, but will always caveat that my version of perfect may differ from the next mans.
If someone can't be bothered to come and form their own opinion I would gladly wait for the next buyer, and experience tells me that the more questions someone asks before they have seen a car (some morons even try to negotiate price before viewing which winds me up hugely) the more likely they are to be timewasters.
also makes me laugh traders that do naff blury pics
Colonial said:
julian64 said:
I've had this the other way round. Selling a ten year old car with the advert saying 'daily driver in good condition'
Had people comming round on their hands and knees looking at blemishes on the paintwork. Then telling me the car isn't concours condition and wanting money off the price. Even had one chap asking for a contribution to his petrol!
If anyone ever rang me up asking for a list of stone chips I would politely suggest I don't own a car that would satisfy them, and hang up.
Life is too short, at the end of the day its a car, and I don't know anyone who eats their dinner off them. Its not misrepresented. Its a ten year old daily driver car!!
Perhaps I should ask prospective buyers what the cost of their car polish is. Anyone who says they pay more than £10 for a bottle of polish need not apply.
I had that as well. Whenever someone called up I said there were some stone chips on the front. Had people comming round on their hands and knees looking at blemishes on the paintwork. Then telling me the car isn't concours condition and wanting money off the price. Even had one chap asking for a contribution to his petrol!
If anyone ever rang me up asking for a list of stone chips I would politely suggest I don't own a car that would satisfy them, and hang up.
Life is too short, at the end of the day its a car, and I don't know anyone who eats their dinner off them. Its not misrepresented. Its a ten year old daily driver car!!
Perhaps I should ask prospective buyers what the cost of their car polish is. Anyone who says they pay more than £10 for a bottle of polish need not apply.
Some people were amazed that it had... stonechips on the front.
Couldn't agree more!
My latest plan is in future to decide exactly on the car I want, then find the most obsessive nut on the respective owner's forum for the car in question who owns one, and try and buy it from them.
the forum involvement, especially if long term should hopefully prove a much more valuable service history document to look back over if required, than the few sheets of paper / stamps that may or may not come with the car.
My latest plan is in future to decide exactly on the car I want, then find the most obsessive nut on the respective owner's forum for the car in question who owns one, and try and buy it from them.
the forum involvement, especially if long term should hopefully prove a much more valuable service history document to look back over if required, than the few sheets of paper / stamps that may or may not come with the car.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff