Dealing with private sellers

Adam · 1 Dec 2006 at 11:30

Oh my god, what a nightmare this can be. I have always been of the opinion that you can tell a lot about the car from the person that is selling the car. Someone who is helpful, gives you lots of information, and friendly is someone who gives me that little extra confidence when buying a car.

Just called 1 guy about a Focus, 1 word answers the whole time, doesn't know much about the car at all. I asked when the next service is and he replied "next year". I asked him 3 questions, his replies were:

"Yes", "No", "Next year".

I said thanks and hung up. Can't be bothered with people like that they do themselves no favours whatsoever.

IT Insider · 1 Dec 2006 at 11:34

On the back of that, Ive had a potential buyer who spent all night texting me questions about the car - all the answers are in the advert!
Then said he didnt want to pay the asking price (which has already been reduced and I aint dropping again - Id rather keep it)...

Why text? didnt even know which car he had text me about.

Adam · 1 Dec 2006 at 11:40

I had someone like that, was eager to come to view my Clio 172 Cup over the weekend but couldn't pin me down to an exact time. I waited in all weekend and organised things so I could get back really quickly and he never turned up. Text a few days later saying "Car still for sale? Want to come and see it at the weekend". I enjoyed telling him it had sold

IT Insider · 1 Dec 2006 at 11:48

I remember years ago I went to look at a Mk1 RS2000 (this was 15 odd years ago but they were still a rarity).

I had spoken to the guy about 5 times and he seemed genuine enough. Remember this was before the age of Digital Camera's and Internet Pictures so I only had to go on what he was telling me on the phone.

I drove from London to the top of Norfolk, about a 3 and half hour drive on a Sunday Morning. When I got there, his wife cooked me and my friend a lovely bacon butty and a couple of cups of tea followed. Hadnt even seen the car yet. As we drunk the tea, all the paperwork on the car came out of the folder including original bill of sale MOT's etc..

We then went to a lock up on at the back of the garden, and the car was EXACTLY has he had described it. It wasnt Mint, but it was just what I was looking for - straight and something I could work on. I had explained what I was planning and that I wasnt too bothered with bodywork as long as everything was there (seats, clocks, wheels, etc etc). It was a runner and would still have turned heads even then.

I was so thankfull to the guy for not wasting my time and the bacon butties I gave him everypenny that he was asking for the car - didnt even try to haggle.

The car was then totally stripped and rebuilt/resprayed and entered in many RS owners club days. He popped up everynow and then saying how good the car looked. Ive not seen the car on the RS Websites for years now but really hope she is still around - My biggest regret was ever selling my RS2000!

moss · 1 Dec 2006 at 11:51

I was looking for a cheapo run about a few months back, most were described as good/excellent condition, every single one I went to see was in bad condition. I dont know how they could advertise something as good when its a wreck, I couldnt even call them fair condition. I wasted hours and spent a fair bit trailing around to see them too.