Seller - Reality Translations
Discussion
Lets have a thread on it.
Description given by seller of car I went to view today:
"Just been serviced" - Hadn't been serviced in a long time.
"4 good tyres" - all 4 tyres were bordering illegal.
"a few stone chips" - There were, no exaggeration hundreds of stonechips on the front supposedly caused by a strimmer and the paint was peeling off around the edge of the bumper.
"small scuffs on alloys" - The alloys were scuffed badly 1 of them was all the way round
"33,000 miles" - Looked like it had done three times that amount.
I drove 5 hours for that car based on his supposedly accurate description and it was an absolute heap of s
t.
Summary - Helmet.
Your experiences?
Description given by seller of car I went to view today:
"Just been serviced" - Hadn't been serviced in a long time.
"4 good tyres" - all 4 tyres were bordering illegal.
"a few stone chips" - There were, no exaggeration hundreds of stonechips on the front supposedly caused by a strimmer and the paint was peeling off around the edge of the bumper.
"small scuffs on alloys" - The alloys were scuffed badly 1 of them was all the way round
"33,000 miles" - Looked like it had done three times that amount.
I drove 5 hours for that car based on his supposedly accurate description and it was an absolute heap of s
t.Summary - Helmet.
Your experiences?
An unfortunate side effect of the excellent reliability of the modern car, is that so many end up not being serviced as often as they should, if at all.
Also, to many motorists tyres are not high on the list of priorities. You only have to walk through any car park and look at the tyres of vehicles older than 3 - 5 years and it's quite common to see some tyres in a really sorry state.
But of course, when these people want to sell their cars, they are always in the best of condition as you have found (not!).
Also, to many motorists tyres are not high on the list of priorities. You only have to walk through any car park and look at the tyres of vehicles older than 3 - 5 years and it's quite common to see some tyres in a really sorry state.
But of course, when these people want to sell their cars, they are always in the best of condition as you have found (not!).
when I viewed my old sportsline mk1 golf the bulkhead was very badly welded around the drivers side, noticing this I managed to get 300 quid off the price.. thinking it was a steal I towed it home only to pay 300 quid out to have it repaired correctly, I broke even that time but the ammount of issues that came up with that car after that put me off ever buying a car off a forum ever again.
You have the right idea but your explanations were wrong. Try this:
"Just been serviced" ...for the first time in 15 years.
"4 good tyres" ...they cost £25 per corner and were only replaced because the last set were canvas.
"a few stone chips" ...in every cm² of paintwork.
"small scuffs on alloys" ...in every cm², oh, you get the idea.
"33,000 miles" ...after it was clocked.
"Just been serviced" ...for the first time in 15 years.
"4 good tyres" ...they cost £25 per corner and were only replaced because the last set were canvas.
"a few stone chips" ...in every cm² of paintwork.
"small scuffs on alloys" ...in every cm², oh, you get the idea.
"33,000 miles" ...after it was clocked.
MR2 GT in Bradford last year...
FSH = a couple of ancient receipts for inconsequential bits and the current MOT.
Full MOT = six weeks left iirc
Body work in excellent condition = o/s/f bumper/valance hanging off.
Mechanically sound = smoked like a forties film star on start up. 'that's just 'cus its cold mate' ... ten minutes later - smoking even more.
Ask for a test drive = No tax on the car.
Told the I was driving up from Derby, and made it clear from my questions (I thought...) that I knew enough about cars to know a pup when I saw one. He was a dealer as well... The look on his face said 'well, some mug will buy it...' he was probably right there too... bds.
FSH = a couple of ancient receipts for inconsequential bits and the current MOT.
Full MOT = six weeks left iirc
Body work in excellent condition = o/s/f bumper/valance hanging off.
Mechanically sound = smoked like a forties film star on start up. 'that's just 'cus its cold mate' ... ten minutes later - smoking even more.
Ask for a test drive = No tax on the car.
Told the
I was driving up from Derby, and made it clear from my questions (I thought...) that I knew enough about cars to know a pup when I saw one. He was a dealer as well... The look on his face said 'well, some mug will buy it...' he was probably right there too... bds.Aircon just needs a re-gas = aircon compressor or something else is borked
Blah blah, just needs a £5 part to fix = I havent got a clue what's wrong, everything I've tried has failed
Small scratch on x, bodyshop quoted £50 to fix = needs a much bigger repair that I can't be bothered to pay for
2l conversion but still a 1.3 on logbook, just havent got round to changing it = I've been enjoying the extra performance without the increase in insurance premium
Blah blah, just needs a £5 part to fix = I havent got a clue what's wrong, everything I've tried has failed
Small scratch on x, bodyshop quoted £50 to fix = needs a much bigger repair that I can't be bothered to pay for
2l conversion but still a 1.3 on logbook, just havent got round to changing it = I've been enjoying the extra performance without the increase in insurance premium
Full Service History = There is a service schedule in the glovebox, it records every service the car has ever had, there are no entries or stamps in the book but it exists......therefore the car has FSH.
Full Audi/BMW/VW Service History = the car is an Audi/BMW/VW, it has been serviced (once by my mate Steve), the service book has Audi/BMW/VW written on the front therefore it has a full Audi/BMW/VW history....
Full Audi/BMW/VW Service History = the car is an Audi/BMW/VW, it has been serviced (once by my mate Steve), the service book has Audi/BMW/VW written on the front therefore it has a full Audi/BMW/VW history....
Mr Twisty, you went to look for an MR2 in Bradford !! Note for future reference - dont do that again. Please. Without exception, "most" of the Dealers in Bradord (admitedly with a few exceptions) are absolute rip off merchants, cars clocked, on V car, self generated MOTs etc etc. The list is endless. There is one particular Firm just outside Bradford (Keighley) who deals mostly in Jap Imports & have a certain propensity to threaten any irate cutomers who dare to bring there spontaneously combusting cars back for repairs.
Seriously, avoid at all costs.
Seriously, avoid at all costs.
Robbo101 said:
Mr Twisty, you went to look for an MR2 in Bradford !! Note for future reference - dont do that again. Please. Without exception, "most" of the Dealers in Bradord (admitedly with a few exceptions) are absolute rip off merchants, cars clocked, on V car, self generated MOTs etc etc. The list is endless. There is one particular Firm just outside Bradford (Keighley) who deals mostly in Jap Imports & have a certain propensity to threaten any irate cutomers who dare to bring there spontaneously combusting cars back for repairs.
Seriously, avoid at all costs.
Would this company have the same name and logo as an FIA approved off-road time-trial championship? If so, run away.Seriously, avoid at all costs.
Anyway, personal experience time.
Phoned up private seller
"I'm wondering if you still have your car for sale?"
"Which car would that be?"
"Integra Type-R?"
"Yep, still have it, mint car" (So, not a private seller then)
"Any rust?"
"Nope, car is mint mate"
"Full service history?"
"Yep, all the receipts, come down and have a look"
Had a look at the car, first thing I noticed was the rust bubbles under the paint in front of the wheelarch, then looked at the service book. There was 3 receipts, none of which dated before 2007 and the gaps in the service were sporadic at best. I thought I may take it for a test drive and he tried to start it only for it not to start. He explained that it had been sitting a while and needed some petrol and would send a guy to get it. I told him not to bother and walked away. Waste of an afternoon.
I've never understood the air-con needs a re-gas/it's a £30 fix but I haven't bothered/no MOT but will sail through. Does ANYONE fall for this? You don't have to be a 'car person' to realise that it'd be massively in the sellers best interests to fix these cheap problems so they could sell their car for £500+ more, and that the reason they haven't is because it's actually expensively fked. All it makes the seller look is dishonest, so you wonder if you should bother at all.
ked. All it makes the seller look is dishonest, so you wonder if you should bother at all. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff