New car purchase help!

[Franklies]

My 20 yr old son totalled his motor on Saturday. I found him another car and he agreed to buy it, deposit paid job done. Nothing flash just a runner, but on car dealer prices.

I called today to see if it was ready to collect and they said it was having some work done for the MOT.

I’ve checked the MOT online and I think he should walk away from it, but I’m obviously no expert

Can anyone tell me is he’s looking at a rust bucket here?

[Jamescrs]

Looks like one to be avoided to me based on the rust issues, I imagine at best the dealer is going to repair the failed part and leave the rest, at worst they will bodge it through.

Don't know what the car is but it's highly unlikely the dealer has the profit in the car to sort all the advisories out properly

[Franklies]

Jamescrs said:

Looks like one to be avoided to me based on the rust issues, I imagine at best the dealer is going to repair the failed part and leave the rest, at worst they will bodge it through.

Don't know what the car is but it's highly unlikely the dealer has the profit in the car to sort all the advisories out properly

It’s a 2010 Ford KA (cheap insurance) so condition isn’t unexpected, but I don’t want to be chucking good money after bad.

Thanks for the reply.

[Al U]

Sounds like that first dangerous defect is going to need welding to be put right.

My first question to you would be how confident are you that they are going to do the repair well and will you be able to check it afterwards before buying it?

My second question would be how long is it going to be until the offside needs the same work?

I'd be walking away from it personally, not sure how much deposit you put down or how much of a battle you are in for to get it back.

[Jamescrs]

Franklies said:

It’s a 2010 Ford KA (cheap insurance) so condition isn’t unexpected, but I don’t want to be chucking good money after bad.

Thanks for the reply.

Yes as you say rust is almost a given on a Ford Ka of that vintage but I would expect that you will be dealing with the same issue again on it's next MOT and likely every year after until you scrap it.
I'd walk away and look elsewhere.

[Franklies]

Al U said:

Sounds like that first dangerous defect is going to need welding to be put right.

My first question to you would be how confident are you that they are going to do the repair well and will you be able to check it afterwards before buying it?

My second question would be how long is it going to be until the offside needs the same work?

I'd be walking away from it personally, not sure how much deposit you put down or how much of a battle you are in for to get it back.

We are only talking £100 deposit, so I’d sooner walk and surrender that than end up with a load of ongoing aggravation. If it’s rusty to me it’s just a pile of trouble and expense.

Thanks for the reply.

[QJumper]

I'd be concerned that they'll do just enough to pass the MOT, and so the problems will just return and/or get worse. Had similar on a previous car, and it needed patching every year.

I'd walk away, even if it cost the £100 deposit.

[sunnyb13]

most old ones suffer from this to be frank. If the dealer is good, maybe ask for them to send a few pictures of the before and after

[SteBrown91]

Why do people not check this before putting down a deposit?

[Franklies]

QJumper said:

I'd be concerned that they'll do just enough to pass the MOT, and so the problems will just return and/or get worse. Had similar on a previous car, and it needed patching every year.

I'd walk away, even if it cost the £100 deposit.

Thanks for the reply. That’s what I intend to do.

[Franklies]

sunnyb13 said:

most old ones suffer from this to be frank. If the dealer is good, maybe ask for them to send a few pictures of the before and after

I’ve decided to leave it, I’ve had a rust bucket that needed welding every year and it’s a real pain.

Thanks for the reply.

[J1990]

Franklies said:

I’ve decided to leave it, I’ve had a rust bucket that needed welding every year and it’s a real pain.

Thanks for the reply.

I too used to own a defender!

With regards to this, walking away certainly seems the sensible approach but surely MOT history check is the first thing you do after viewing a car and before leaving a deposit?

[sunnyb13]

Franklies said:

sunnyb13 said:

most old ones suffer from this to be frank. If the dealer is good, maybe ask for them to send a few pictures of the before and after

I’ve decided to leave it, I’ve had a rust bucket that needed welding every year and it’s a real pain.

Thanks for the reply.

fair enough. plenty more fish in the sea

[QJumper]

Franklies said:

Thanks for the reply. That’s what I intend to do.

If these issues only came to the dealer's attention after you paid the deposit and only before the MOT, then I would think you could back out and get your deposit back.