New Car, concern about repairs done.

waveydave79 · 24 May 2006 at 00:30

I purchased an 02 plate nissan almera the other day. The car itself was a auction and I was offered it for a price of 3K, 40,000 on the clock. I went through the normal procedure HPI check, VOSA checked the MOT cert etc etc.

Before purchasing the car I found out abit about the history this was disclosed in the auction but not in detail so naturally I wanted to know more, The car itself was a CAT D repair that was writeen off by the original owners insurance company. It will have been scrapped and repaired by a 3rd party.

Occording to the seller the repairs are done, VIC test completed and MOT done

Hpi confirmed this, that accounts why the car was lower than book price. (Parkers guide price is around 3500-4000 depending on condition).

As I live in notts the guy selling was in sheffield, I had to pay deposit for petrol. he charged 60 pound for petrol and his time, I thought fair enough. (Most charge about 1 pound per mile) At this point I had not handed any cash. I have bought used before but took a friend in the know also.

To cut a long story short I ended up buying the car, the only concern is the Boot floor. It had been completely resealed and jigged out, so signs of corrosion as a result, There is however on closer inspection a small hole about the size of a pen nib around the base of the well, and a join where it wasnt sealed correctly. I took it to a local body shop in notts they qouted upto 200 pounds for resealing it, and stated it should be fully roadworthy.

The accident happened december last year 2005, I had an MOT and I checked that with VOSA its valid, so it must be alright, however even small holes bother me. Could anyone in the know why does MOTS perphaps give me a second opion from photos

http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g280/waveydave79/?action=view&current=23052006072.jpg

I would be very greatful.

David

waveydave79 · 24 May 2006 at 00:44

mattx2 said:
shocking amount of rust for an 02 car, but it shouldn't fail a MOT for that as it is not near the suspension or any load bearing area.

My main concern might be is that rust could delope easier underneath. But it has been treated with that black resin? The rest of the car is absolutly mint. Unfortunaly the offside near the light got the bash. its cuased this movement in this area.

waveydave79 · 24 May 2006 at 00:52

gc123 said:
personally, i repair cat c and d all the time. i would like to see a better picture and an underneath picture. also what is it like behind the plastic rear panel. there looks like some welt splatter evident.IF it is only that area then go down to your local diy shop and buy a tube of overpaintable sealant, seal the hole and paint over it. price wise we normally look at 2/3rds book for cat d,s and 1/2 book on cat c,s.. the bodyshop is probably quoting to spray seal the whole boot to back panel seam and paint it.

Good to know. Yep it does need sealing. I intend to keep the car for myself and keep it running, so I need to make sure problems will not pop up as a result of futher corrosion. I have uploaded a few more shots of the boot area. There nice and close. (Not that good quality - crap camera phone)

http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g280/waveydave79/?action=view&current=23052006073.jpg

http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g280/waveydave79/?action=view&current=23052006075.jpg

http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g280/waveydave79/?action=view&current=23052006069.jpg

BTW it was chucking it down when I took that picure its not the car leaking

The last one is the close up of the worst bit, its auctually still possible to get a pen in here. and it drops out of the car, this defenitly needs sealing - this is the only bit that is cuaseing water.

A question to gc123 - from what you can see how much should I be looking, obvoiusly it does not need a new boot well and there is no problems with the major stucture. will i have much to worry about if I keep hold of it.

waveydave79 · 24 May 2006 at 01:12

gc123 said:
tbh not more than about £50-75. the sound deadening pads are about £20 but you will get more than required, then some brushable seam sealer, around a tenner. then some stone chip or sprayable underseal. the biggest expense will be your time. take it slowly and make sure you have plenty of fresh air. as long as their is no other damage then the car will be fine, i would see if i could be creatuve with the sound deadening over the areas that have been thrashed out,though.

Fair enough! so by the sounds of it the original garage that did this rushed it! This is vibe I am getting.

Do you think considering this the car was worth it?

so far. its cost 3K to purchase.

- It Needs new clutch bearings, (It has a name that i havent remembered) when I put my foot on the pedal I get a whining sound I ve been confirmed this is not a big issue - also makes a whine when I put cluth pedal in when riving and whining tone changes with accleration.

- I was also only supplied the one key local Nissan dealer said another will be 114 pounds, so I will get this for peace of mind, so even if I have to speak 300 pounds to get it right. Was It still a good deal.

Maybe I am being super paraniod but after parting with so much cash I am still nervous.

This is the original auction

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1#ebayphotohosting

waveydave79 · 24 May 2006 at 01:19

moss said:
Its worth getting the whole clutch replaced instead of just the thrust bearing. You have to pretty much do everything you need to do to change the bearing as you would when doing the full clutch.
I'd get it done asap, it wont take long before it goes all together.

Thx moss,

It was quite amuzing the guy who delivered it said "oh they just sound like that" I laughed. I didnt expect a clutch to go as soon as 40K miles though.

I will get it entirely replaced Gc123 thx for all the help so far

waveydave79 · 24 May 2006 at 01:23

I will get the entire clutch replaced. I was considering doing that anyway to rule out it going!

The local garage qouted 200 pounds to have the work done. But even the owner of the garage wasnt sure if it was roadworthy (I guess he did not want to give opionion to prevent being liable) Its reassuring to know it shouldnt be a expensive project.

The only other bit thats taken a knock is a reinforcement like a sheet of steel behind the bumper bit of split in the corner. I could always post more detailed photos later if youre interested ?

waveydave79 · 24 May 2006 at 01:28

Cheers for youre help guys I think you have pretty much set my mind at ease.

waveydave79 · 24 May 2006 at 01:43

Liverpool-Lad said:
The auction seems dodgy as he mentioned it was written off for a cracked lamp? It looks like its had a fair old shunt up the arse more like.

Excatly m8 I will not be posting + feedback on this Im afriad, which is why i did all the checks, however witht he cracking help people have been on a few people have said that it can be put right to be made a serviceable car.

I wont buy on ebay again - its just asking for trouble in future! Oh well live and learn by expierence.

waveydave79 · 24 May 2006 at 01:58

okay cheers GC123.

Not all ebay adds are bad, 2 years back I got a 1999 Almera N15, its been fab not a fault this was also a repair but I know the repair was done via nissan dealer on that. The only reason I am buying it has higher mileage and things will go, plus I always liked the newer shape.

It will be a shame to sell it - but before I do Im gonna make sure this one will LAST! The missus has said this is the last one as she is insisting on children in the next few years! (sorry to go off topic) !

Just as a matter of interest GC I take it you work in car sales industry?

waveydave79 · 24 May 2006 at 03:14

When it comes to buying a pc im fine. I work in a copany relatied to purple shirt people, I look at customers who buy thinking what a bargain there getting and I can see beyond that. Where as I know I can build an fix pcs for a fraction of the cost.

Now turn the table on the car market, I am like this with cars. I did view the car, possibily my judgement my have been clouded slightly, We did see the state of the wheel well, and the rust was spotted. It doesnt help that I am not that expierence and maybe dont have a trained eye as some people.

From the advise ive been given it doesnt sound like I got that bad a deal, I hope not, all I after is second opion. When I ring up local shops they ask for opppointments want to charge instantly it took me 4 hours to find a place in nottingham just to take a look for an estimate

There is one thing I have noticed is that the damm hole they made below the light to push out the panel is letting in the water, this is about the size of a 5 pence piece. This will need sealing. I just removed the ***** tape on the wheel well around the edge, to find out there is no rust or corrosion and the oposite side underneath seems to be intact with no corrosion so everyone who has said the boot well is ok it correct so far.. Yes it dont look that attactive so they figure put some ***** plastic like tape, i used practically no force and it pushed off.

At the end of the day it is a learning expierence but I know its not a total waste of money I will do all i can of warning people from buying from this guy as he was not honest and I had to do all the chasing to get details of what happened. I understand that it was a risk due to my limited knowledge of bodywork, However I have learned a lot FAST in the last day about MOTS, VICS, its been a lot to take in.

Please dont think I am being defensive any way, simply trying to highlight they whole situation.

waveydave79 · 25 May 2006 at 04:05

GC123

- I made some progress on this today, On advise of a friend he said ring VOSA and just make sure the VIC marker has not been placed on it. It hasnt been. So thats one good thing.

Secondly i took the car to another bodyshop the enginner took one look at it, noticed the boot and first thing he said was "Wash youre hands of it!" I was horrified. he highled the fact there is slight gap inthe passenger side rear door. (Personally i can put up with this so long as it will never rust sooner) and the read panel infront of the boot does not align.

After consulting the local garrage on Nutall road that do my MOT on my last car they state the the boot well structure should not effect MOT whatsoever.

The bodyshop was a large one, I went over to hucknall / sandiclffe
They did not want to start any sort of repair as they would never garrentee it.

After speaking with a friend in the trade and others who have looked at it, say i would be lucky to get even 2000 for it. Im now left pretty demolarised about the whole ordeal.

As for where I live I m in north nottingham near Aspley. Maybe you could recommend anyone who could help do the sealing, I m in two minds about keeping the car now.

I will never buy on ebay again on a purchase of this scale i have last faith.

Other option would be and dont know if this would work out if I take the car to a main dealer with intent of buying a new car and ask for part/ex some places give a fixed mimimum part exchange. Im swaying on getting rid.

with refferce to section 13 of the sales of goods act does this apply to private sales and auctions and does the fact that i saw the car nulify section 13. Just asking it maybe worth a shot, but want to know frist before i speak to anyone in a legel position.

I really do feel quite angry at the ebayer that sold me this and I have sent him a email explaining why hes conned me, but I feel he doesnt care at all. He got my money and ran!

waveydave79 · 26 May 2006 at 11:13

GC,

This is has now been a long and horrible nightmare.

I spent yesterday taking the car around garages, like i said there was gaps in the panels and my conclusion is no one was going to touch the car. It is useless getting in touch with the ebayer, expect the fact the he misadvertised the damm thing, I got in touch with legal advise as my next step - im informed its useless as its less than 5K legal costs are likely to cost me more and I am not garrenenteed to win, as I did see the car.

Its my own fault for not getting the inpection done by a professional i should have known

Me and my partner has sat down and agreed that it has to go. We have come to the conclusion that we have been properly stung by this ebayer.

From now on I will be fully avoiding situations like this,

waveydave79 · 26 May 2006 at 15:55

Gc,

You have hit the nail right on the head. Its exactly what has happened, I ve had a lot of mixed opionions if I have a comeback, I had a written qoutel from the original bodyshop for repairs to the car, to bring it back to a working condition total cost is 1100, I think this is excluding VAT and painting. Its easy going to be over 1500. It having plenty of prev owners also reduces that, its probably worth no more than 1300.

On the lighter side of this I have been to a local dealership, and put a deposit down on a Y plate 1.5 E almera. Its standard model but still nice and has 22K, test drove it I am happy it drives better than the 02 Heap, as I would expect of the mileage.

Unforntunly with losing the money, Ive only been able to put 50% of the cost down as desposits, its left me with 69 pounds a month payment over 3 years. Iam likely to pay it off before then to save credit. The car is absotlutly spot on, after checking it agaist the 02 heap. + I get 12 months comprehsive engine and electrics warrenty

It now hightlights all the differences. This has been a very trumatic expierence that I am glad to be almost out of.

I have learned a very harsh lesson.

I would like to disclose the name of the ebayer so people could avoid this person, I personally would like to cuase him as much grief as possible. These 2 guys are asain and claim to have a car sales pitch everytime i have phoned them after they seem to be serving in a shop talking to customers, In the WF area. - without getting comeback from them that is as much as I will say at this point.

I pick that up on wendsay