Been taken for a ride? Your buyers remorse stories
Discussion
I'll start. I bought myself a 30 year old MX5 from a nice guy who knew a lot about these cars.
The car looked great and my heart beat my head. 4 weeks later the head gasket went and the mechanic spotted some bad damage on the underside (couldnt see on inspection), cost 1200 in total to sort eveything, more than the cost of the car.
I still own the car but i feel i was taken for a ride by the guy and should have just walked away.
Any bad experiences?
The car looked great and my heart beat my head. 4 weeks later the head gasket went and the mechanic spotted some bad damage on the underside (couldnt see on inspection), cost 1200 in total to sort eveything, more than the cost of the car.
I still own the car but i feel i was taken for a ride by the guy and should have just walked away.
Any bad experiences?
Years ago, my sister bought a Mini Mayfair (BL) from a well known Mini specialist in the South East. I think she spent about £2k repairing her £2k car. What pished me off was seeing the trade sale invoice they got her to sign - you would think they would know better. 20 years on, they are still trading and from the reviews, still pishing a lot of people off.
Buyers remorse, no, but sellers remorse...
I had a lovely little Fiat 500s Twinair, a few thousand miles a couple of years old.
A young lady who was about to start a nursing qualification came round to see the car with her dad. Really nice family and I wanted to move on so settled very quickly and easily.
Looking back they got a great deal and I was a bit daft. I justified it to myself as I had done a nice thing for nice people and I got what I needed out of it.
I had a lovely little Fiat 500s Twinair, a few thousand miles a couple of years old.
A young lady who was about to start a nursing qualification came round to see the car with her dad. Really nice family and I wanted to move on so settled very quickly and easily.
Looking back they got a great deal and I was a bit daft. I justified it to myself as I had done a nice thing for nice people and I got what I needed out of it.
Moonpie21 said:
Buyers remorse, no, but sellers remorse...
I had a lovely little Fiat 500s Twinair, a few thousand miles a couple of years old.
A young lady who was about to start a nursing qualification came round to see the car with her dad. Really nice family and I wanted to move on so settled very quickly and easily.
Looking back they got a great deal and I was a bit daft. I justified it to myself as I had done a nice thing for nice people and I got what I needed out of it.
That’s a great story. I’d be more than happy to take a small hit on a sale if I knew the car was going to a great home and was going to be appreciated. Pleasant buyers are increasingly hard to come by in the world of private car sales. I’d do the same as you all day long. You’re paying a small price to avoid an unpleasant situation and I see absolutely nothing wrong with that. I had a lovely little Fiat 500s Twinair, a few thousand miles a couple of years old.
A young lady who was about to start a nursing qualification came round to see the car with her dad. Really nice family and I wanted to move on so settled very quickly and easily.
Looking back they got a great deal and I was a bit daft. I justified it to myself as I had done a nice thing for nice people and I got what I needed out of it.
2004, bought the cheapest rev3 MR2 turbo for sale in the UK
At night.
Smoked like a chimney. Oil blown into cylinders would often stall it.
Turbo was gone, a piston cracked, and the suspension shagged.
Spent another £2-£3k fixing it diy, after paying £4k.
I'd probably do it again, but £7k could have got me a way better car at the time.
At night.
Smoked like a chimney. Oil blown into cylinders would often stall it.
Turbo was gone, a piston cracked, and the suspension shagged.
Spent another £2-£3k fixing it diy, after paying £4k.
I'd probably do it again, but £7k could have got me a way better car at the time.
willmagrath said:
I'll start. I bought myself a 30 year old MX5 from a nice guy who knew a lot about these cars.
The car looked great and my heart beat my head. 4 weeks later the head gasket went and the mechanic spotted some bad damage on the underside (couldnt see on inspection), cost 1200 in total to sort eveything, more than the cost of the car.
I still own the car but i feel i was taken for a ride by the guy and should have just walked away.
Any bad experiences?
How long ago was this? If I was looking at Mk1 MX5s now, I'd expect one less than £1.2k to be very ropey. You'd still make your money back if it's clean and straight now. The car looked great and my heart beat my head. 4 weeks later the head gasket went and the mechanic spotted some bad damage on the underside (couldnt see on inspection), cost 1200 in total to sort eveything, more than the cost of the car.
I still own the car but i feel i was taken for a ride by the guy and should have just walked away.
Any bad experiences?
I had a bad experience buying a Focus years ago. It was the first car I bought by myself (no help with inspection etc.) I took a bit of a punt, thought because it was low miles it would be fine, but it had accident repairs I was unaware of. Traded it in a month later and cut my losses.
Having had an enjoyable year in a Mk5 Golf R32, I decided to upgrade it with a supercharger conversion and some ancillaries like Bilstein coilovers. The product was a simply superb car... but it was also rather OTT as our sole family wheels. With two young kids, I had an over-sensible moment and decided to sell it. This was no simple thing as of course the R32 was now quite a specialist piece of kit.
Happily, I didn't even need to write an advert as a prospective buyer from this very parish got in touch - from which followed a thoroughly enjoyable sale.
We agreed a fair price, which depended on him selling his nice Mk5 Golf GTI. But as autumn stretched on and my factory-order car arrived, he still hadn't been able to sell the GTI - so I decided to take it in part payment.
My new factory car was a 2015 Golf Sportvan with almost every option. A great no-fuss family vehicle, but completely devoid of character (unsurprisingly, I don't have any pics). I kept the GTI for a couple of months before selling at a rather rubbish price because of winter and the fact I wasn't using it.
Next summer, we inherited some money and after some home improvements my wife was determined that we buy a VW camper conversion (which we still have). There wasn't really any point keeping the Golf SV and I sold it at a huge loss. I later bought us a Mini R56, which it later turned-out had been a smoker's car.
So, in the space of a year I'd lost many thousands of pounds and had a car that stank of smoke to run alongside the new van. Having kept either the Golf R32 or GTI would have been a far better outcome, would have kept my petrolhead instincts satisfied and have saved a lot of money.
I suppose the upside is that the campervan has been a great investment and has barely depreciated in its 6 years with us. In any case, it's such a custom vehicle that it's practically and emotionally irreplaceable.
[I should add that the R32 buyer had some poor luck - the car detonated a piston, resulting in an engine rebuild and it made sense to replace the chains and clutch at the same time... ouch! It was later rear-ended and then resurrected at least once more before disappearing without trace).
Happily, I didn't even need to write an advert as a prospective buyer from this very parish got in touch - from which followed a thoroughly enjoyable sale.
We agreed a fair price, which depended on him selling his nice Mk5 Golf GTI. But as autumn stretched on and my factory-order car arrived, he still hadn't been able to sell the GTI - so I decided to take it in part payment.
My new factory car was a 2015 Golf Sportvan with almost every option. A great no-fuss family vehicle, but completely devoid of character (unsurprisingly, I don't have any pics). I kept the GTI for a couple of months before selling at a rather rubbish price because of winter and the fact I wasn't using it.
Next summer, we inherited some money and after some home improvements my wife was determined that we buy a VW camper conversion (which we still have). There wasn't really any point keeping the Golf SV and I sold it at a huge loss. I later bought us a Mini R56, which it later turned-out had been a smoker's car.
So, in the space of a year I'd lost many thousands of pounds and had a car that stank of smoke to run alongside the new van. Having kept either the Golf R32 or GTI would have been a far better outcome, would have kept my petrolhead instincts satisfied and have saved a lot of money.
I suppose the upside is that the campervan has been a great investment and has barely depreciated in its 6 years with us. In any case, it's such a custom vehicle that it's practically and emotionally irreplaceable.
[I should add that the R32 buyer had some poor luck - the car detonated a piston, resulting in an engine rebuild and it made sense to replace the chains and clutch at the same time... ouch! It was later rear-ended and then resurrected at least once more before disappearing without trace).
Bought a 2.5 boxster sight unseen and travelled about 300 miles to collect it. I had arranged to sell my outgoing TT to a chap who lived even further away and he met me 5 mins from the garage that was selling the boxster. By the time I had sold the TT and made my way to the garage for the Boxster it was dark and raining.
I had no way of getting home without the boxster so I quickly settled the deal and got in the car to drive home. I immediately could hear and feel a really annoying knock coming from the rear suspension and my heart sank. I had no choice but to continue driving home. The next day I also found the air con wasn’t working and it had a leaky radiator.
I had been assured by the seller that the car was in great condition and I wouldn’t be disappointed with it. Lesson learned and I now know never to trust used car dealers.
I had no way of getting home without the boxster so I quickly settled the deal and got in the car to drive home. I immediately could hear and feel a really annoying knock coming from the rear suspension and my heart sank. I had no choice but to continue driving home. The next day I also found the air con wasn’t working and it had a leaky radiator.
I had been assured by the seller that the car was in great condition and I wouldn’t be disappointed with it. Lesson learned and I now know never to trust used car dealers.
Buying a Jap import P38 RR from a particular seller in the north west (I’m south east).
I bought in to the mystique that Jap imports are solid.
In my case, it meant it didn’t have rust. Everything else was a ticking time bomb of misery, and I later found out the seller has a tendency to twist and turn until you throw the small claims court at him whilst trying to reject.
I’ve made myself sad now just recalling it. Shame as this story doesn’t have a happy ending, other than the fact it finally got solved, just at much time and grief.
I bought in to the mystique that Jap imports are solid.
In my case, it meant it didn’t have rust. Everything else was a ticking time bomb of misery, and I later found out the seller has a tendency to twist and turn until you throw the small claims court at him whilst trying to reject.
I’ve made myself sad now just recalling it. Shame as this story doesn’t have a happy ending, other than the fact it finally got solved, just at much time and grief.
Bit of sellers and buyers remorse wrapped in to 1...
Had a Nissan 300zx TT SWB. Bought from a very shady posh dude in London with minimal history but cheap. Mate was telling me to walk away but I was young (22) and foolish so went ahead. Instant sweating on the drive home but turned out to be a lovely example that I sold within a year to settle credit cards. Huge regrets over that - 5 years later and less fiscally irresponsible, I could have kept it and imagine I'd still have it now as a weekend car.
Bought a LWB version a year later that was never quite right and had constant little niggles that meant I never really enjoyed it. Fortunately the wife (then girlfriend) wrote it off for me after months of failing to sell it.
Had a Nissan 300zx TT SWB. Bought from a very shady posh dude in London with minimal history but cheap. Mate was telling me to walk away but I was young (22) and foolish so went ahead. Instant sweating on the drive home but turned out to be a lovely example that I sold within a year to settle credit cards. Huge regrets over that - 5 years later and less fiscally irresponsible, I could have kept it and imagine I'd still have it now as a weekend car.
Bought a LWB version a year later that was never quite right and had constant little niggles that meant I never really enjoyed it. Fortunately the wife (then girlfriend) wrote it off for me after months of failing to sell it.
Drew106 said:
willmagrath said:
I'll start. I bought myself a 30 year old MX5 from a nice guy who knew a lot about these cars.
The car looked great and my heart beat my head. 4 weeks later the head gasket went and the mechanic spotted some bad damage on the underside (couldnt see on inspection), cost 1200 in total to sort eveything, more than the cost of the car.
I still own the car but i feel i was taken for a ride by the guy and should have just walked away.
Any bad experiences?
How long ago was this? If I was looking at Mk1 MX5s now, I'd expect one less than £1.2k to be very ropey. You'd still make your money back if it's clean and straight now. The car looked great and my heart beat my head. 4 weeks later the head gasket went and the mechanic spotted some bad damage on the underside (couldnt see on inspection), cost 1200 in total to sort eveything, more than the cost of the car.
I still own the car but i feel i was taken for a ride by the guy and should have just walked away.
Any bad experiences?
Not really buyers remorse but many years ago, around 97/98 I bought from a dealer a really nice one owner from new 1993 MK3 Fiesta RS1800. A pretty rare model that sat somewhere between the XR2i and the RS Turbo.
The car appeared and was spot on, being in the motor trade I took a work mate with me to cast a second eye over the car and it really was a gem.
This car turned out to be one of the most unreliable vehicles I have ever owned. I reckon about every two weeks something either broke or randomly fell off it. And it wasn't ragged either, just a crazy run of bad luck. Back in those days you just fixed it and got on with it, no running back to the second hand car dealer.
But you know what, I really loved that car despite its issues.
The car appeared and was spot on, being in the motor trade I took a work mate with me to cast a second eye over the car and it really was a gem.
This car turned out to be one of the most unreliable vehicles I have ever owned. I reckon about every two weeks something either broke or randomly fell off it. And it wasn't ragged either, just a crazy run of bad luck. Back in those days you just fixed it and got on with it, no running back to the second hand car dealer.
But you know what, I really loved that car despite its issues.
I bought my Twingo 133 unseen on
EBay during lockdown as a runaround because I was bored essentially.It’s a bit ropey but I’m sorting it out for about £500-£700.
I wouldn’t ever do it again though and I’m glad
I learnt a lesson on a cheap car.
I’d definitely do it again though. The process of buying it killed a week of boredom which in lockdown was well worth a few hundred quid!
EBay during lockdown as a runaround because I was bored essentially.It’s a bit ropey but I’m sorting it out for about £500-£700.
I wouldn’t ever do it again though and I’m glad
I learnt a lesson on a cheap car.
I’d definitely do it again though. The process of buying it killed a week of boredom which in lockdown was well worth a few hundred quid!
During the first lockdown I bought a 2016 bmw 320i from a dealer in Edinburgh. The car was a really good example and I was attracted to it as it was a petrol which is quite rare (especially with the 4 cylinder engine). After a couple of months of having the car I felt that the build quality was not quite upto scratch. This was a car that always had some form of noise coming from it and I never gelled with it as a result. I felt that the car was fragile and wanted to get shot of it. I had traded in my 2012 Golf TDI against it which was a great car.
As you all know car prices went crazy this year so I decided to sell it to a well known reputable dealer for a couple of hundred less than I paid (£600) less to be precise. I had added 6k to the clock so I supposed £100 per 1k miles.
I decided to put £6k of the money in the bank for when I drive more and bought another 2012 Golf TDI.
As you all know car prices went crazy this year so I decided to sell it to a well known reputable dealer for a couple of hundred less than I paid (£600) less to be precise. I had added 6k to the clock so I supposed £100 per 1k miles.
I decided to put £6k of the money in the bank for when I drive more and bought another 2012 Golf TDI.
Virtually every car I ever bought until I started being paranoid about the seller, service histories, getting them inspected and walking away at the merest sniff of something untoward. Yes, it's a PITA, you lose a lot of cars and it takes ages to find one, but since I started doing this, we've had no horror stories.
Possibly today - looked at a cheap convertible that was under £2k. No record of cam let being changed and it was due. Offered cash at £150 less than asking and seller declined.
I walked away where usually I would have just bought it because I was there.
Nothing wrong with the seller, nice chap and car as described, but did suggest he’s never had a cam let snap so don’t worry about it. My local garage quoted £5-600 for the job so will keep on looking and no doubt find another.
I walked away where usually I would have just bought it because I was there.
Nothing wrong with the seller, nice chap and car as described, but did suggest he’s never had a cam let snap so don’t worry about it. My local garage quoted £5-600 for the job so will keep on looking and no doubt find another.
Bought over 20+ cars in my driving career to date with only 2 of those being bought at a dealer.
Only 1 clanger. A cheap E92 335i Manual a few years ago via ebay. Didn't test drive it properly and the guy suggested I "take it easy as a few police around". Sure enough as soon as I put my foot down on the motorway on the way home, it threw an EML. Turns out the classic N54 30FF feck all boost scenario when the turbocharger wastegates fail to hold boost. Ended up selling with the fault declared a few months later at a small loss.
Seller blatantly knew it was fecked.
Only 1 clanger. A cheap E92 335i Manual a few years ago via ebay. Didn't test drive it properly and the guy suggested I "take it easy as a few police around". Sure enough as soon as I put my foot down on the motorway on the way home, it threw an EML. Turns out the classic N54 30FF feck all boost scenario when the turbocharger wastegates fail to hold boost. Ended up selling with the fault declared a few months later at a small loss.
Seller blatantly knew it was fecked.
Years ago I wanted a Renault Espace.
Found a top-spec V6 diesel version for sale, and proceeded to ignore all the basic rules of car buying.
Took it for a test drive and it seemed OK. Did a deal including a fresh MOT. Dealer promised to sort the ABS light, missing trim and brakes as part of the prep.
Went to collect the car and it had a fresh MOT with no advisories but ABS light was still on. Dealer claimed that the light went off during the MOT and then came on again afterwards. It was obvious that the MOT was dodgy.
Dealer asked that I come back in 2 weeks and he would sort it.
During that time I was on the M4 and it lost 90% of power. Got it home eventually and called dealer. After some to-ing and fro-ing he agreed to take it in and fix it.
After massive chasing he claimed that it needed a new fuel pump and ABS pump and this was an engine out job so while he was there he would do all the belts. He would correct the mileage at the same time. And he knew the guy who used to run Renault servicing in the UK and would get him to do it. This turned out to be fiction.
After 4 weeks of chasing I got the car back.
Took it to local trusted main dealer for a full check-over and service/MOT. They came and back and said it had been botched so badly that they didn't know where to start with it. The gearbox had been fitted incorrectly and the engine was dripping diesel into the gearbox. The engine air filter was missing. The MAF was broken. Bolts and clips were missing everywhere. Neither the ABS pump nor fuel pump had been replaced. They said it would never pass an MOT and they basically refused to work on it, suggesting that I trade it in.
Sold it to WBAC with full disclosure of faults. Bought it for £9k and sold it for £3k. A hard lesson learnt and a sad one because if it was fully working it would have been an awesome car.
The dealer is still in business, I would not touch them with a barge pole.
Found a top-spec V6 diesel version for sale, and proceeded to ignore all the basic rules of car buying.
- Dealer was 120 miles away (in Bristol), not local.
- Paid a deposit to the dealer (at his insistence) before I had even seen it.
- Mileage did not match documentation.
- ABS light was on.
- Bits of trim were missing.
- The mechanic (who struck me as a decent guy) told me that the brake discs were worn.
Took it for a test drive and it seemed OK. Did a deal including a fresh MOT. Dealer promised to sort the ABS light, missing trim and brakes as part of the prep.
Went to collect the car and it had a fresh MOT with no advisories but ABS light was still on. Dealer claimed that the light went off during the MOT and then came on again afterwards. It was obvious that the MOT was dodgy.
Dealer asked that I come back in 2 weeks and he would sort it.
During that time I was on the M4 and it lost 90% of power. Got it home eventually and called dealer. After some to-ing and fro-ing he agreed to take it in and fix it.
After massive chasing he claimed that it needed a new fuel pump and ABS pump and this was an engine out job so while he was there he would do all the belts. He would correct the mileage at the same time. And he knew the guy who used to run Renault servicing in the UK and would get him to do it. This turned out to be fiction.
After 4 weeks of chasing I got the car back.
Took it to local trusted main dealer for a full check-over and service/MOT. They came and back and said it had been botched so badly that they didn't know where to start with it. The gearbox had been fitted incorrectly and the engine was dripping diesel into the gearbox. The engine air filter was missing. The MAF was broken. Bolts and clips were missing everywhere. Neither the ABS pump nor fuel pump had been replaced. They said it would never pass an MOT and they basically refused to work on it, suggesting that I trade it in.
Sold it to WBAC with full disclosure of faults. Bought it for £9k and sold it for £3k. A hard lesson learnt and a sad one because if it was fully working it would have been an awesome car.
The dealer is still in business, I would not touch them with a barge pole.
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