Buying a car used online, horrible idea?
Discussion
Most of the cars I'm interested in are pretty thin on the ground in my local area but seemingly plenty of choice in exactly what I'm looking for advertised as buy online with delivery (for a fee). Anyone any experience of this? Any tips? Anyone had to reject something bought online from one of these places? I have a few cars I'm honestly a bit uncertain about so it would also be nice to drive one for a week or so with the option to give it back.
My choices are basically, do it the old fashioned way and look at cars in person, which greatly limits selection and means I have to probably take a road trip. Or buy online.
My choices are basically, do it the old fashioned way and look at cars in person, which greatly limits selection and means I have to probably take a road trip. Or buy online.
sherman said:
How far would the road trip be?
Its a sufficiently big purchase to warrant the trip.
If its from a dealer they may be wiling to bring the car to their dealership closest to you.
I'm looking at the likes of Cazoo which looks like the nearest is about 1.5hrs away. I'm quite keen on being able to drive the car for a week and give it back if I don't like it, not sure I'd ever get that with buying of a forecourt.Its a sufficiently big purchase to warrant the trip.
If its from a dealer they may be wiling to bring the car to their dealership closest to you.
I’ve bought a couple of cars remotely through carwow.
Was a good process, as both were from main dealers but better prices than you’d get in person.
Last one was 3 hours away, not an issue with a new main dealer car but for something well used and a smaller dealer you can have problems if it’s far away.
I’ve bought a few cars myself from distant dealers before, but wouldn’t recommend it if things go wrong.
Was a good process, as both were from main dealers but better prices than you’d get in person.
Last one was 3 hours away, not an issue with a new main dealer car but for something well used and a smaller dealer you can have problems if it’s far away.
I’ve bought a few cars myself from distant dealers before, but wouldn’t recommend it if things go wrong.
People like you are the reason that the online model will collapse. It is simply not sustainable for people to be able to, in effect, have week long test drives only to subsequently reject the car and have their money returned. No other industry that I can think of has the consumer rights so heavily weighted in the customer’s direction.
With Cazoo on the brink, Cinch haemorrhaging money, and others already bust, the sooner it happens and we get back to trading cars the old fashioned way, the better.
With Cazoo on the brink, Cinch haemorrhaging money, and others already bust, the sooner it happens and we get back to trading cars the old fashioned way, the better.
Cazoo have a nice 2020 Honda Civic 2.0 VTEC Turbo Type R GT currently in stock. Rightmove have a lovely property in Ullapool with a panoramic loch view.
The property is a substantial investment at £525,000, if they just let me sample it for 7 days ...
It will make an ideal base for the NC500.
The property is a substantial investment at £525,000, if they just let me sample it for 7 days ...
It will make an ideal base for the NC500.
Some direct experience last month....I bought a car from Cazoo. Had my wife drive me and collected from the showroom. I could look over the car and start it up. The service history paperwork was minimal just a service book with a couple of stamps and printout of dates and mileages.
Drove off and had lunch 3 miles away. 2 hours later when I started the car "Engine fault, repair immediately" came across the display and the engine warning light came on. I drove straight back to the showroom and rejected the car. To do this I had to phone customer services. The money was refunded a few days later. Financially I am out of pocket as I had to change my insurance back to my old car and I still have to figure out how to refund the road tax as I don't have a V5.
At all times the staff at the showroom were very friendly and helpful. The manager offered me a temp car if I wanted it fixed but to give them credit they didn't push me to keep the car.
I really love the idea of buying online, I can do a lot of research and these days most cars are basically the same so I kind of know what I'm getting. As I said to them I am the easiest customer they will ever have, I just rocked up, paired my phone and drove off....but if the car simply doesn't work within a few miles I've zero tolerance.
Drove off and had lunch 3 miles away. 2 hours later when I started the car "Engine fault, repair immediately" came across the display and the engine warning light came on. I drove straight back to the showroom and rejected the car. To do this I had to phone customer services. The money was refunded a few days later. Financially I am out of pocket as I had to change my insurance back to my old car and I still have to figure out how to refund the road tax as I don't have a V5.
At all times the staff at the showroom were very friendly and helpful. The manager offered me a temp car if I wanted it fixed but to give them credit they didn't push me to keep the car.
I really love the idea of buying online, I can do a lot of research and these days most cars are basically the same so I kind of know what I'm getting. As I said to them I am the easiest customer they will ever have, I just rocked up, paired my phone and drove off....but if the car simply doesn't work within a few miles I've zero tolerance.
Nothing wrong with buying online. I purchased my Volvo V60 around 3 years ago from Carshop in Warrington which is just under 200 miles away. I was delighted with the car and now ready to sell after 3 years and 54k miles of driving on motorway commuting to work.
On the other hand, I thought nothing of hooking up a trailer and driving to Essex from just outside Glasgow to pick up a Mercedes SL.
I'd travel anywhere for the right car.
On the other hand, I thought nothing of hooking up a trailer and driving to Essex from just outside Glasgow to pick up a Mercedes SL.
I'd travel anywhere for the right car.
SeeNoWeevil said:
Most of the cars I'm interested in are pretty thin on the ground in my local area but seemingly plenty of choice in exactly what I'm looking for advertised as buy online with delivery (for a fee). Anyone any experience of this? Any tips? Anyone had to reject something bought online from one of these places? I have a few cars I'm honestly a bit uncertain about so it would also be nice to drive one for a week or so with the option to give it back.
There's usually a mileage limit of 100 miles, and then a charge per mile over that.But only if they inform you of it.
Also, you should get paperwork relating to the distance sale regulations explaining your right to "change your mind" within 14 days.
If they don't supply you with this, the 14 days extends until they do, up to one year.
I've known a few people return cars to Cinch because they were below what was expected condition wise.
The process was easy, and the cars collected promptly.
Trevor555 said:
There's usually a mileage limit of 100 miles, and then a charge per mile over that.
But only if they inform you of it.
Also, you should get paperwork relating to the distance sale regulations explaining your right to "change your mind" within 14 days.
If they don't supply you with this, the 14 days extends until they do, up to one year.
I've known a few people return cars to Cinch because they were below what was expected condition wise.
The process was easy, and the cars collected promptly.
My lad bought an MG EV from cinch a few weeks back. It had a charging issue (three pin plug) plus a few very minor issues that kind of took the shine off things. They didn't argue, just collected it a few days later with a no quibble refund. Being a bit of an old cynic I was quite impressed, I thought he'd have a battle on his hands.But only if they inform you of it.
Also, you should get paperwork relating to the distance sale regulations explaining your right to "change your mind" within 14 days.
If they don't supply you with this, the 14 days extends until they do, up to one year.
I've known a few people return cars to Cinch because they were below what was expected condition wise.
The process was easy, and the cars collected promptly.
I would personally, always view the car before buying. If you really want it, the trip is worth the hassle. My first car I travelled to Glasgow for and my second I have gone to Castle Brom. My brother went to Birmingham for his. Based in the NW so a few hours' drive for each vehicle.
I bought my current car during lockdown when viewing was not allowed, had pictures sent over. Decided it looked worth a punt, then got on a train to collect it. It’s the easiest purchase I’ve ever made.
But it was an approved used car from a main dealer, so I had a lot of confidence. I’d be very selective if I was to do it again and would probably only do it for a daily never a more specialist car
But it was an approved used car from a main dealer, so I had a lot of confidence. I’d be very selective if I was to do it again and would probably only do it for a daily never a more specialist car
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