Brother's bought a car with possible 'dodgy' MOT
Discussion
Hi all. I'm well aware there are many threads on the matter, and the sticky at the top of the page, although that's usually about selling a car, not buying one...
Basically bro travelled halfway across the country (from Essex to Wales) to pick up his first ever Boxster. Initially he was happy with the car, although found there was no paperwork for the IMS bearing, which he was told there was... got a reduction on the price he was happy with, and drove it back to Essex.
Then he started to discover a few issues with the car, nothing major but just annoyances. He took it to his mechanic who has said nearly all tyres are shot, the discs and pads need replacing, and there's a suspension issue. Now, the car passed it's MOT just under a month ago, and my brother's mechanic said there is no way in hell it would have passed with these tyres (cracked and worn) and brakes. The MOT on the car has no advisories. I should point out that the car hadn't moved much, it had been standing for months, possibly over a year. Seller didn't live at the same location as the car anymore, and said he got his mum to go and move it around every now and then
Woke up to messages from him saying definitely a dodgy MOT and he's going to return the car, to a private seller. I said no chance, unless he's specifically lied about something on the advert, right? However if it is a dodgy MOT, can anything be done there? I know you can report a garage online with the DVLA, although I don't really see what that's going to achieve for his situation right now. He is also worried his insurance would be invalid. He said he's going to call the guy demanding a further refund or he'll be reporting him, and the garage (to the police) this doesn't sound like the way to go! So thought I'd come on and ask for opinions here...
Any advice appreciated!
Oh and he knows he's a doughnut and should have been more careful checking... but he was just too excited about getting his new/first Porsche. I'm sure we've all been there where the heart takes over!
Basically bro travelled halfway across the country (from Essex to Wales) to pick up his first ever Boxster. Initially he was happy with the car, although found there was no paperwork for the IMS bearing, which he was told there was... got a reduction on the price he was happy with, and drove it back to Essex.
Then he started to discover a few issues with the car, nothing major but just annoyances. He took it to his mechanic who has said nearly all tyres are shot, the discs and pads need replacing, and there's a suspension issue. Now, the car passed it's MOT just under a month ago, and my brother's mechanic said there is no way in hell it would have passed with these tyres (cracked and worn) and brakes. The MOT on the car has no advisories. I should point out that the car hadn't moved much, it had been standing for months, possibly over a year. Seller didn't live at the same location as the car anymore, and said he got his mum to go and move it around every now and then
Woke up to messages from him saying definitely a dodgy MOT and he's going to return the car, to a private seller. I said no chance, unless he's specifically lied about something on the advert, right? However if it is a dodgy MOT, can anything be done there? I know you can report a garage online with the DVLA, although I don't really see what that's going to achieve for his situation right now. He is also worried his insurance would be invalid. He said he's going to call the guy demanding a further refund or he'll be reporting him, and the garage (to the police) this doesn't sound like the way to go! So thought I'd come on and ask for opinions here...
Any advice appreciated!
Oh and he knows he's a doughnut and should have been more careful checking... but he was just too excited about getting his new/first Porsche. I'm sure we've all been there where the heart takes over!
CrippsCorner said:
However if it is a dodgy MOT, can anything be done there? I know you can report a garage online with the DVLA, although I don't really see what that's going to achieve for his situation right now.
Report to DVSA.Within a month.
Or I think within 3 months for structural corrosion issues? (from memory)
But then his car will be an MOT failure after the inspection, and he'll have to deal with the issues.
Private seller will probably deny all knowledge of any wrong doing on the MOT.
What did the private sellers advert say?
Edited by Trevor555 on Thursday 7th September 08:12
CrippsCorner said:
...
Oh and he knows he's a doughnut and should have been more careful checking... but he was just too excited about getting his new/first Porsche. I'm sure we've all been there where the heart takes over!
That's pretty much it, and as it is a private sale it is pretty much 'sold as seen'. Oh and he knows he's a doughnut and should have been more careful checking... but he was just too excited about getting his new/first Porsche. I'm sure we've all been there where the heart takes over!
I'd just get a new MoT with a load of fails and advisories (as evidence that the earlier test was too lenient) and then dob the MoT garage in to DVSA.
Sounds like most of the issues are with consumables that are easily fixed.
How old is the car, and how much did he pay?
If it's a very early model or priced significantly "under" market value then I'd argue he should just suck up the cost and get it sorted. Buying something like a used Boxster I'd always want to have a bit of contingency fund to deal with any issues.
If he paid market value for a 3 year old model then I'd be a little more pissed... either way I'd probably still report the garage to the DVSA.
If it's a very early model or priced significantly "under" market value then I'd argue he should just suck up the cost and get it sorted. Buying something like a used Boxster I'd always want to have a bit of contingency fund to deal with any issues.
If he paid market value for a 3 year old model then I'd be a little more pissed... either way I'd probably still report the garage to the DVSA.
no-one can prove the tyres that are on it now are the tyres it had on it for its mot. if it was major corrosion around a structural point then yes dodgy mot but imo the tyres thing will not prove a dodgy mot. Edit: just re-read OP's 1st post, so the discs and pads are shot too? hmm not sure about that 1. i still think that as these are consumables it'd be hard to use them as proof of a dodgy mot. i'm sure there are mot testers on here who can offer an educated opinion.
Edited by hunt123 on Thursday 7th September 08:39
Zetec-S said:
How old is the car, and how much did he pay?
If it's a very early model or priced significantly "under" market value then I'd argue he should just suck up the cost and get it sorted. Buying something like a used Boxster I'd always want to have a bit of contingency fund to deal with any issues.
If he paid market value for a 3 year old model then I'd be a little more pissed... either way I'd probably still report the garage to the DVSA.
Agreed, let's hear a few more details.If it's a very early model or priced significantly "under" market value then I'd argue he should just suck up the cost and get it sorted. Buying something like a used Boxster I'd always want to have a bit of contingency fund to deal with any issues.
If he paid market value for a 3 year old model then I'd be a little more pissed... either way I'd probably still report the garage to the DVSA.
steveo3002 said:
suck it up
the tyres were on view when he viewed it , brakes must have worked enough to drive home and seemed okay on the test drive?
brakes dont have to be very good at all to pass an mot , certainly dont need to be like new
Agreed, the jump towards "it must have been a dodgy MOT" is usually the first sign of buyers remorse. the tyres were on view when he viewed it , brakes must have worked enough to drive home and seemed okay on the test drive?
brakes dont have to be very good at all to pass an mot , certainly dont need to be like new
No mention of the price, but presumably this was a super ass cheap Boxster (as it had been standing etc).
It passed an MOT a month before it was then sold, was bought sold as seen, and the brother looked it over (including seeing the tyres in the flesh).
Yes, the seller might have changed the tyres, but in more likelihood, they were surface cracked but technically a pass when the car was put in for its test.
Put new tyres on, and enjoy it. Next time, pay more to get one that hasn't been standing around and buy from a dealer if you want some more protection.
Unfortunately your brother has next to no chance of any come back on the seller, he can report it to the DVLA (Or should it be VOSA?) and Police if it makes him feel better but Police won't be interested and DVLA/ VOSA may look into it but it won't help your brothers case.
I assume he got it at what he thought was a bargain price to travel from Essex to Wales for it?
I assume he got it at what he thought was a bargain price to travel from Essex to Wales for it?
I've had a similar issue, with a car I bought online recently having significant undisclosed structural corrosion, and old, cracked tyres, yet a recent MOT with no advisories.
Not much I can do, as reporting the MOT would leave me with the MOT being revoked, and then the 'black spot' on the car's otherwise immaculate history, which would affect future resale value.
So i'm sorting it out, reluctantly, before it next visits an MOT station, to ensure the next (honest) test will be a clean pass also.
Not much I can do, as reporting the MOT would leave me with the MOT being revoked, and then the 'black spot' on the car's otherwise immaculate history, which would affect future resale value.
So i'm sorting it out, reluctantly, before it next visits an MOT station, to ensure the next (honest) test will be a clean pass also.
Caveat emptor so no chance of any come back with the seller.
RE MOT - can't prove those tyres were on it for the MOT and brakes were good enough to drive home so probably passed the MOT. Your brother's mechanic is probably over cautious. Suspension component, assume bush, could easily fail a month after a MOT test, especially on a car that hasn't been used properly for a while.
In my view, rightly or wrongly, your brother has bought a project boxster (you said it has sat for a long time) that I hope was for project money so should expect to have to change brakes, bushes and whatever else it needs.
Ironically spending a little more and getting a well prepped car from a dealer will be cheaper than your brother's route but some people like the project journey.
RE MOT - can't prove those tyres were on it for the MOT and brakes were good enough to drive home so probably passed the MOT. Your brother's mechanic is probably over cautious. Suspension component, assume bush, could easily fail a month after a MOT test, especially on a car that hasn't been used properly for a while.
In my view, rightly or wrongly, your brother has bought a project boxster (you said it has sat for a long time) that I hope was for project money so should expect to have to change brakes, bushes and whatever else it needs.
Ironically spending a little more and getting a well prepped car from a dealer will be cheaper than your brother's route but some people like the project journey.
It's an early 987 and I would say probably one of the cheapest in the country.
I think the discrepancy/annoyance comes from looking at the MOT history. You can clearly see here that were tyre issues for years. In fact just, where it says there's a nail in the tyre in 2021 - Then not in 2022/2023 - But, it's still there!
And tyres and brakes on advisories 2022. The car has done only 500 miles, and they're not there for 2023 but clearly worn out:
This year perfect (or not)
He doesn't have buyer's remorse as is still happy with the car, just frustrated at the seller/garage and the situation he's in now. I've spoken to him this morning, and mentioned much of the above, so thanks for that. I pointed out that if he plans to keep the car 4 years or so, these are consumable items that would have needed replacing anyway at some point. He did say yes, but he was buying this particular one with a clean MOT as it meant he wouldn't have needed those things straight away...
He's not going to report the garage I don't think as mentioned above this would then leave a mark on the history as such. Better off just replacing the items, and then hoping it's clean (genuine this time) again next year!
He's just ordered 4 tyres for it
I think he just ignored what I said before heading off to see it, that every secondhand car out there is a piece of s
t, and if you get anything better than that, you've done well!
I think the discrepancy/annoyance comes from looking at the MOT history. You can clearly see here that were tyre issues for years. In fact just, where it says there's a nail in the tyre in 2021 - Then not in 2022/2023 - But, it's still there!
And tyres and brakes on advisories 2022. The car has done only 500 miles, and they're not there for 2023 but clearly worn out:
This year perfect (or not)
He doesn't have buyer's remorse as is still happy with the car, just frustrated at the seller/garage and the situation he's in now. I've spoken to him this morning, and mentioned much of the above, so thanks for that. I pointed out that if he plans to keep the car 4 years or so, these are consumable items that would have needed replacing anyway at some point. He did say yes, but he was buying this particular one with a clean MOT as it meant he wouldn't have needed those things straight away...
He's not going to report the garage I don't think as mentioned above this would then leave a mark on the history as such. Better off just replacing the items, and then hoping it's clean (genuine this time) again next year!
He's just ordered 4 tyres for it
I think he just ignored what I said before heading off to see it, that every secondhand car out there is a piece of s
t, and if you get anything better than that, you've done well!CrippsCorner said:
I...You can clearly see here that were tyre issues for years. In fact just, where it says there's a nail in the tyre in 2021 - Then not in 2022/2023 - But, it's still there!....
A valuable lesson in checking the paperwork to confirm that advisories no longer appear because the work has been done, rather than just ignored on the subsequent test(s).We all should perhaps be taking a friend along with us when looking at cars to be a neutral observer or second pair of eyes, who can spot such items without being blinded by the bargain price or excitement of getting a dream car (plus having a lift home so you don't feel you have to buy the car just because you've travelled halfway across the country).
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