Advice needed purchasing a car from a reluctant seller
Discussion
A few years ago now, while acquainting myself to my new town on a Sunday bike ride, I noticed one of my dream cars, an old BMW, sitting in a driveway looking pretty sorry for itself. I didn't think much at the time, as I was fairly skint, and the idea of owning a car like that was still very much a pipe dream. Not remembering where the house was didn't help matters either.
Fast forward a year or so, in the midst of one of those lockdown strolls, I stumbled on the car again. This time a lady was outside the house. A little better off now and feeling like I could afford it, I asked about the car. It turned out her son had left the car in the driveway, and it had not been driven or moved for 8 and a half years (now closer to 10). She kindly gave me his number, adding a few people have tried to buy it over the years.
The first message didn't receive a response. It was not until a few months later, when a mechanic friend who said he knew the car, gave me the owner's Facebook details, and I managed to get a response. He was reluctant to give any details of the car and just wanted to know my offer. I didn't know anything about the car, so gauging what a reasonable offer should be was a long shot.
After a few more weeks of exchanging messages and being given a number of explanations why I couldn't see the car: he was going to tidy it up, put it in storage, etc.
None of these thing have happened and the car is still in the driveway. Now my messages are ignored, and i'm out of ideas on how to approach the situation next.
What advice do you guys have on getting through to the owner, or am I barking up the wrong tree?
Fast forward a year or so, in the midst of one of those lockdown strolls, I stumbled on the car again. This time a lady was outside the house. A little better off now and feeling like I could afford it, I asked about the car. It turned out her son had left the car in the driveway, and it had not been driven or moved for 8 and a half years (now closer to 10). She kindly gave me his number, adding a few people have tried to buy it over the years.
The first message didn't receive a response. It was not until a few months later, when a mechanic friend who said he knew the car, gave me the owner's Facebook details, and I managed to get a response. He was reluctant to give any details of the car and just wanted to know my offer. I didn't know anything about the car, so gauging what a reasonable offer should be was a long shot.
After a few more weeks of exchanging messages and being given a number of explanations why I couldn't see the car: he was going to tidy it up, put it in storage, etc.
None of these thing have happened and the car is still in the driveway. Now my messages are ignored, and i'm out of ideas on how to approach the situation next.
What advice do you guys have on getting through to the owner, or am I barking up the wrong tree?
Not everyone is just looking for a few quid.
It sounds like the money you're offering isn't of enough interest to make him part with the car.
Find out his attachment to the car. Perhaps it has sentimental value of some sorts, maybe he wants to be sure that whoever buys it will look after it in a certain way etc.
Perhaps he'll never be willing to let it go.
He is the only one that can answer
It sounds like the money you're offering isn't of enough interest to make him part with the car.
Find out his attachment to the car. Perhaps it has sentimental value of some sorts, maybe he wants to be sure that whoever buys it will look after it in a certain way etc.
Perhaps he'll never be willing to let it go.
He is the only one that can answer
I used to regularly drive past a V12 E Type that was left to rot in a driveway. It was there for at least 12 years or so completely open to the elements, and as each year passed it got visibly more derelict.
I moved jobs then so no longer drove that way, but a few years later I had to go past and it had gone.
Apparently the cars owner had passed away and his wife couldn't bring herself to sell it, despite many attempts by people who wanted a cheap donor car to restore.
It only moved after she passed away, so I was told.
I moved jobs then so no longer drove that way, but a few years later I had to go past and it had gone.
Apparently the cars owner had passed away and his wife couldn't bring herself to sell it, despite many attempts by people who wanted a cheap donor car to restore.
It only moved after she passed away, so I was told.
TCBCBB said:
A few years ago now, while acquainting myself to my new town on a Sunday bike ride, I noticed one of my dream cars, an old BMW, sitting in a driveway looking pretty sorry for itself. I didn't think much at the time, as I was fairly skint, and the idea of owning a car like that was still very much a pipe dream. Not remembering where the house was didn't help matters either.
Fast forward a year or so, in the midst of one of those lockdown strolls, I stumbled on the car again. This time a lady was outside the house. A little better off now and feeling like I could afford it, I asked about the car. It turned out her son had left the car in the driveway, and it had not been driven or moved for 8 and a half years (now closer to 10). She kindly gave me his number, adding a few people have tried to buy it over the years.
The first message didn't receive a response. It was not until a few months later, when a mechanic friend who said he knew the car, gave me the owner's Facebook details, and I managed to get a response. He was reluctant to give any details of the car and just wanted to know my offer. I didn't know anything about the car, so gauging what a reasonable offer should be was a long shot.
After a few more weeks of exchanging messages and being given a number of explanations why I couldn't see the car: he was going to tidy it up, put it in storage, etc.
None of these thing have happened and the car is still in the driveway. Now my messages are ignored, and i'm out of ideas on how to approach the situation next.
What advice do you guys have on getting through to the owner, or am I barking up the wrong tree?
How about leaving the poor bugger alone? Fast forward a year or so, in the midst of one of those lockdown strolls, I stumbled on the car again. This time a lady was outside the house. A little better off now and feeling like I could afford it, I asked about the car. It turned out her son had left the car in the driveway, and it had not been driven or moved for 8 and a half years (now closer to 10). She kindly gave me his number, adding a few people have tried to buy it over the years.
The first message didn't receive a response. It was not until a few months later, when a mechanic friend who said he knew the car, gave me the owner's Facebook details, and I managed to get a response. He was reluctant to give any details of the car and just wanted to know my offer. I didn't know anything about the car, so gauging what a reasonable offer should be was a long shot.
After a few more weeks of exchanging messages and being given a number of explanations why I couldn't see the car: he was going to tidy it up, put it in storage, etc.
None of these thing have happened and the car is still in the driveway. Now my messages are ignored, and i'm out of ideas on how to approach the situation next.
What advice do you guys have on getting through to the owner, or am I barking up the wrong tree?
TCBCBB said:
After a few more weeks of exchanging messages and being given a number of explanations why I couldn't see the car: he was going to tidy it up, put it in storage, etc.
None of these thing have happened and the car is still in the driveway. Now my messages are ignored, and i'm out of ideas on how to approach the situation next.
What advice do you guys have on getting through to the owner, or am I barking up the wrong tree?
You're barking up the wrong tree, bordering on harassment. If you pursued a "relectant" ex girlfriend like you'd have a restraining order against you. Let it go.None of these thing have happened and the car is still in the driveway. Now my messages are ignored, and i'm out of ideas on how to approach the situation next.
What advice do you guys have on getting through to the owner, or am I barking up the wrong tree?
If the time ever comes he decides to sell he's now well aware you're interested, and may contact you, if you haven't pissed him off.
I have witness the opposing side of this many many years ago.
They kept the car their son had died in suddenly. To them it was a shrine to his memory as it was his P&J.
We all knew about it, but even a ‘not for sale’ sign was enough to stop people asking about it and adding to their grief by insulting their motives.
I moved away for a while and it did disappear when I next passed by that way, but the rumour was that it went into storage somewhere to stop people knocking every few days.
They kept the car their son had died in suddenly. To them it was a shrine to his memory as it was his P&J.
We all knew about it, but even a ‘not for sale’ sign was enough to stop people asking about it and adding to their grief by insulting their motives.
I moved away for a while and it did disappear when I next passed by that way, but the rumour was that it went into storage somewhere to stop people knocking every few days.
This sounds like it could even be my brother's car.
BMW sitting on a driveway - check
Has been there for 10 years - check
Wants to fix it and put it in storage - check
Lady outside gave a phone number (sounds like my mother) - check
Car looks very sorry for itself, just keeps sinking into the ground - check.
People ask about it often, thankfully I no longer live with my parents.
BMW sitting on a driveway - check
Has been there for 10 years - check
Wants to fix it and put it in storage - check
Lady outside gave a phone number (sounds like my mother) - check
Car looks very sorry for itself, just keeps sinking into the ground - check.
People ask about it often, thankfully I no longer live with my parents.
There's nothing worse than seeing decent cars rotting away with neither love nor money being spent on them.
So in that case, bribe the mum to put pressure on the son to either sell it or move it by a certain date. Try not to make it obvious that you're the fiend behind the plan, when he finally agrees to move it on and you just happen to ask about the car when mum tips you off that the deadline is approaching.
So in that case, bribe the mum to put pressure on the son to either sell it or move it by a certain date. Try not to make it obvious that you're the fiend behind the plan, when he finally agrees to move it on and you just happen to ask about the car when mum tips you off that the deadline is approaching.
ReverendCounter said:
There's nothing worse than seeing decent cars rotting away with neither love nor money being spent on them.
I think, in some cases, people are harbouring a pipe dream of restoring a car to its former glory and are hanging on to it in the hope of coming into some money, while agonising over the sight of it gradually deteriorating.
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