Car buying monkeys!
Discussion
Well, we have sold our little car here in prep for our move back to the UK in 3 weeks time.
The guy who bought it clearly knows NOTHING about cars! I had to stop myself laughing.
It was a 2013 Suzuki Swift 1.5VVT manual, 38,000km
He walked round it, as you do of course, then proceeded to kick 1 rear tyre, then with his foot, pushed 1 front tyre.....(I could see where this was going). He then, with his knuckle, tapped the top of the rear door on one side, then the bottom of the door, then continued to do the same on the front door (presumably to check the door was real!!?? LMAO!) He then lifted the bonnet, glancing around and then leaning on the plastic engine cover listened intently only to say that he can hear a faint knocking. I asked my wife to translate that he was leaning on the plastic engine cover which was in-turn leaning on the engine, which she reiterated...and he backed away satisfied with the analysis!
To the inside, he started to pull the carpets down and knock the floor....perhaps expecting rust and holes in the floor on a 2013 car???
He then climbed in the back and proceeded to 'bounce', yes 'bounce' on the rear seat (I assume to check for comfortability when he returns there later with his wife in the traditional car christening ritual?)
At no point did he check the oil, the spare, the horn, the AC, underneath the car, the lights, exhaust smoke, seatbelts, indicators, stereo (which became apparent on the test drive at his lack of use...and indeed need for them...btw horn was overly tested on the drive...we are in China after-all).
Upon the test drive, I was shocked to discover that his driving technique was to go from 1st to 3rd, EVERYTIME he pulled away and then when he slowed to go into 2nd, everytime, he sped up, went straight into 4th. weird! At first I thought he was checking to see if there was any clutch slip but it was EVERY time.
At the traffic lights he stated "The steering is a bit heavy" (again a 2013 Suzuki swift that I often steer with my finger). His next question was to lower the price. We said no! That was the end of that.
4,800 GBP (48,000 rmb) later, the car was paid for then came the handing over ceremony which involved going to the bank, payment transfer, then continuing onto the car transfer place to transfer the documents....job done!
Anyone else had any strange selling experiences?
The guy who bought it clearly knows NOTHING about cars! I had to stop myself laughing.
It was a 2013 Suzuki Swift 1.5VVT manual, 38,000km
He walked round it, as you do of course, then proceeded to kick 1 rear tyre, then with his foot, pushed 1 front tyre.....(I could see where this was going). He then, with his knuckle, tapped the top of the rear door on one side, then the bottom of the door, then continued to do the same on the front door (presumably to check the door was real!!?? LMAO!) He then lifted the bonnet, glancing around and then leaning on the plastic engine cover listened intently only to say that he can hear a faint knocking. I asked my wife to translate that he was leaning on the plastic engine cover which was in-turn leaning on the engine, which she reiterated...and he backed away satisfied with the analysis!
To the inside, he started to pull the carpets down and knock the floor....perhaps expecting rust and holes in the floor on a 2013 car???
He then climbed in the back and proceeded to 'bounce', yes 'bounce' on the rear seat (I assume to check for comfortability when he returns there later with his wife in the traditional car christening ritual?)
At no point did he check the oil, the spare, the horn, the AC, underneath the car, the lights, exhaust smoke, seatbelts, indicators, stereo (which became apparent on the test drive at his lack of use...and indeed need for them...btw horn was overly tested on the drive...we are in China after-all).
Upon the test drive, I was shocked to discover that his driving technique was to go from 1st to 3rd, EVERYTIME he pulled away and then when he slowed to go into 2nd, everytime, he sped up, went straight into 4th. weird! At first I thought he was checking to see if there was any clutch slip but it was EVERY time.
At the traffic lights he stated "The steering is a bit heavy" (again a 2013 Suzuki swift that I often steer with my finger). His next question was to lower the price. We said no! That was the end of that.
4,800 GBP (48,000 rmb) later, the car was paid for then came the handing over ceremony which involved going to the bank, payment transfer, then continuing onto the car transfer place to transfer the documents....job done!
Anyone else had any strange selling experiences?
On the very few occasions I have attempted to sell a car privately I have been astounded to be able to increase my knowledge of the different stages of human evolution that still seem to be capable of existing with the main body of the species.
I have now retired from any thought of private car sales and would rather pay someone a few hundred pounds to do it.
I have now retired from any thought of private car sales and would rather pay someone a few hundred pounds to do it.
Strangely easy... Not strange. Advertised the wife's diesel 206. Chap phoned up. First question, how much for cash as he would bring it with him. Only £800 so not a huge amount. He asked the car not be run that day so he can see a cold start. He turned up, walked round it, drove round the block, checked the paperwork handed over the cash and gone. Dream deal really I guess!
Selling a car many years ago. Bloke calls and says he will come to view the car, but does not want us to come out of the house until he's knocked on the door. He arrives and spends about 10 minutes looking at it from every angle then knocks the door.
He asks us to start it, but declines a test drive. He just listens to it for about five minutes on tick over, he doesn't even get in the car. He then offers the full asking minus about £5. We accept and he takes the car away.
About a month later he calls back saying the clutch needs replacing and the gearbox has a hole in it, so wants me to pay for the repairs. The car was inspected by a garage (and had a fresh) before I sold it, so I know that it was fine when I sold it.
I'm a magnet for idiots
He asks us to start it, but declines a test drive. He just listens to it for about five minutes on tick over, he doesn't even get in the car. He then offers the full asking minus about £5. We accept and he takes the car away.
About a month later he calls back saying the clutch needs replacing and the gearbox has a hole in it, so wants me to pay for the repairs. The car was inspected by a garage (and had a fresh) before I sold it, so I know that it was fine when I sold it.
I'm a magnet for idiots
When i sold my clio on i almost felt like i needed to force the guy to check it before handing the money over.
"You're sure you dont want to drive it?"
"Look, at least check theres an engine in it before you give me the money"
And so on.
He got a good car at a good price so no harm done but still...
"You're sure you dont want to drive it?"
"Look, at least check theres an engine in it before you give me the money"
And so on.
He got a good car at a good price so no harm done but still...
Poopipe said:
When i sold my clio on i almost felt like i needed to force the guy to check it before handing the money over.
I've done this before. I was selling a Saxo Furio to a young girl. I invited her to check it all out thoroughly so she was happy. She admitted she had no idea what to look out for. So i went round the car with her pointing out all the areas you should scrutinize on cars in general and specifically Saxos. Just so she knew what to look for if she wanted to view others.Outside of this i usually point out bad bits with the viewer as they go round.
I don't generally want to stand between the proverbial fool and the easy parting from their money, but I have had to point out some areas of concern just to make sure that someone knows what they're buying!
My favourite was an American guy over here on secondment to the RAF, he'd come to buy my '96 A4. He didn't want to test drive it, was happy to passenger while I demonstrated the car, which suited me fine. He gave it a decent look over, offered me £100 under the grand asking price, we settled easily at £950 and job done.
Only after signing the car over, as he was about to leave, did he ask my advice on the best way to pull away in it.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I've only ever driven automatics before!"
It's often a strange experience seeing your car driven away, but it's downright weird when it's being kangarooed up the road by someone only just introduced to a clutch pedal
My favourite was an American guy over here on secondment to the RAF, he'd come to buy my '96 A4. He didn't want to test drive it, was happy to passenger while I demonstrated the car, which suited me fine. He gave it a decent look over, offered me £100 under the grand asking price, we settled easily at £950 and job done.
Only after signing the car over, as he was about to leave, did he ask my advice on the best way to pull away in it.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I've only ever driven automatics before!"
It's often a strange experience seeing your car driven away, but it's downright weird when it's being kangarooed up the road by someone only just introduced to a clutch pedal
McSam said:
My favourite was an American guy
I had an American service man come to view a old 730 bmw I had for sale years ago, it was a big slug, but looked ace on a set of 18" split rims.he took it for a test drive, it soon became apparent that this was his first day in the uk, he had no concept of the rules of the road, and had never driven around a roundabout - the roundabout nearly finished me off, when he suddenly forgot he was driving a rhd vehicle and tried to position it like a lhd one - this ended up with us driving half on the road, half on the pavement - me shouting at him that he was 'on the pavement' didn't help either.
he didn't buy it.
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