Sign of car seller dishonesty ?

[321boost]

Would you consider a seller starting a car before you get to see it and getting it warm a sign of them trying to hide something? When asked why the car is warm, there isn’t really a reason.

If I was to sell a car I’d leave it as cold as I can so that the potential buyer can see what a cold start is like.

[Haltamer]

Was there anything mechanically suggestive? Did they give a dodgy aura?

If everything checks out; I think you may just be reading a little deep - I can think of some reasons that it would be warm; They may have used it earlier in the day, or tested it themselves before your arrival if it's been sitting to avoid the classic can't start the car fail.

[Sump]

Depends, sometimes I commute in the car they’ve come to see.

[otolith]

If it’s an RX-8, I would be worried. I’d want to know that it starts from cold (and restarts from hot!)

[Nickyboy]

My car is for sale, it sits on the road so gets dirty even if i don't drive it. If someone wants to view it i'll take it down the road and wash it the morning before.

[donkmeister]

Some cars take a long time to cool back down - if I drive my car at 8am it is still slightly warm at noon.

[ZX10R NIN]

It depends on the circumstances but I would normally want to start a car from cold.

[Dannbodge]

Mines parked in a garage in a block, when people come to see it I move it from the garage to outside my house (I don't want them to know which in it's in) so it will be slightly warm

[Trevor555]

I guess it depends on whether you've asked them for it to be cold when you get there.

I have on a few occasions, and have walked when I've felt the manifold warm.

[321boost]

Haltamer said:

Was there anything mechanically suggestive? Did they give a dodgy aura?

If everything checks out; I think you may just be reading a little deep - I can think of some reasons that it would be warm; They may have used it earlier in the day, or tested it themselves before your arrival if it's been sitting to avoid the classic can't start the car fail.

Sorry, forgot I asked this question.
No dodgy aura but some cars have no oil on the dipstick. I think I was right to walk away in those cases.

[John Laverick]

If I haven't specifically asked to see it start from cold then no it would be fine.

[steveo3002]

bit fishy ...if they seem okay and the car is to my liking , then id ask to check it from cold the following day and have a deal with them , if its never available from cold then keep looking