Mileage clocking

[TOPTON]

About three weeks ago I rang about an Audi A4 2.5 V6 advertised in the classifieds on here by a dealer. There was no mention in the add about mileage so he told me it had 170k on the clock. Bit too high for me so I said thank you and left it at that.

looking again today, it is now advertised with 120k, so I rang again. It went like this--

Me: Hi, I am interested in the Audi A4 V6 you have for sale, Is the mileage genuine?

Dealer: Yep its genuine and we have just sold it sorry.

Me: But three weeks ago you told me it had 170k on it, how can this be?

Dealer: Oh the Audi, sorry, the add is wrong and we are correcting it now.

Me: But you have just told me the car is sold, so what is the point of correcting the add now!!! Never mind, thanks.

End of phone call. Glad I didn't just see it yesterday because I would be have been tempted. Is clocking still done as much as it used to be

[havoc]

TOPTON said:

Is clocking still done as much as it used to be

S2000 I sold at auction appeared a fortnight later on the website of a well-known specialist in that model, with a slight haircut (sold at 43k, advertised at 39k).

So I'd have to say 'yes', if a dealer thinks they can get away with it then some of them still will. One of the reasons I like to buy old cars privately - you can size-up the owner and check out a whole bunch of receipts which haven't had time to go missing...

[Beyond Rational]

7 and 2 can get mixed up, from the infomation you have, how can you be so sure they didn't have 120,000 misprinted?

[TOPTON]

Beyond Rational said:

7 and 2 can get mixed up, from the infomation you have, how can you be so sure they didn't have 120,000 misprinted?

Because 3 weeks ago, he checked the mileage whilst I was on the phone and he said "170k, although high is not too much for a car like this"

This mornings call definitely 120k was genuine UNTILL I queried it. I know mistakes can happen, but why tell me they are changing the add when they have already sold it. Maybe it was the tone of his voice and you just had to be there.

You're not a dealer that makes these genuine mistakes are you?

[Beyond Rational]

TOPTON said:

Beyond Rational said:

7 and 2 can get mixed up, from the infomation you have, how can you be so sure they didn't have 120,000 misprinted?

Because 3 weeks ago, he checked the mileage whilst I was on the phone and he said "170k, although high is not too much for a car like this"

This mornings call definitely 120k was genuine UNTILL I queried it. I know mistakes can happen, but why tell me they are changing the add when they have already sold it. Maybe it was the tone of his voice and you just had to be there.

You're not a dealer that makes these genuine mistakes are you?

From the way you portrayed your conversion, you asked if the mileage was genuine, you didn't mention the actual mileage nor where you would have got that figure from. But now you've changed the sequence of events.

[spikeyhead]

Considering I've known dealers jailed for a first offence with clocking, I'm surprised that anyone does it.

[Plotloss]

spikeyhead said:

Considering I've known dealers jailed for a first offence with clocking, I'm surprised that anyone does it.

I'd guess on high end gear, a substantial percentage has been clocked at one point or another.

[TOPTON]

Beyond Rational said:

TOPTON said:

Beyond Rational said:

7 and 2 can get mixed up, from the infomation you have, how can you be so sure they didn't have 120,000 misprinted?

Because 3 weeks ago, he checked the mileage whilst I was on the phone and he said "170k, although high is not too much for a car like this"

This mornings call definitely 120k was genuine UNTILL I queried it. I know mistakes can happen, but why tell me they are changing the add when they have already sold it. Maybe it was the tone of his voice and you just had to be there.

You're not a dealer that makes these genuine mistakes are you?

From the way you portrayed your conversion, you asked if the mileage was genuine, you didn't mention the actual mileage nor where you would have got that figure from. But now you've changed the sequence of events.

I haven't changed the sequence of events
Sorry, I didn't type the conversation verbatim, it actually went on longer than the 5 sentences that I put in the OP. I assumed anyone would understand what I asked. I actually asked if the 120k was genuine. I also didn't mention that he coughed at one point, that doesn't mean he didn't. It was a roundup of the call to explain what had been said, not a signed affidavit

I phoned to see if it was a genuine mistake, once I mentioned that I rang a few weeks(oops, there I go again ) 3 weeks ago it sounde 100% not.
At least I know I can knock this dealer off my list of where to shop.