Dealer “selling car on behalf of mechanic”

[Alphabet]

What is the general consensus on cars being sold by a dealer mentioning it’s on behalf of their mechanic?

Seen a few of these listings pop up, tend to be hot Audis. Because they’re the mechanics personal vehicle does that mean they are fastidiously maintained and babied?

Or is it more likely they live a harder life because he or his employer can just fix/sell them?

On one hand seems like a way to get a cared for car that you know has had all the tinkering it needs, but could be complete opposite?

[Rough101]

My suspicions are that they are trying to get out of retail, obligations and offload as a ‘private sale’ with no comeback.

[larrylamb11]

In my experience some mechanics treat their cars better than their own children, babying and cossetting to the extreme...... others the polar opposite, with cars abused and used like they've been stolen, crashed, salvaged, stolen again, blown up, repaired on the cheap, crashed again, repaired again etc...... plus everything in between.....
You really need to have your eyes wide open if buying off a 'mechanic' and know what you are looking at. You might get lucky, you might get spectacularly burnt....

[Countdown]

Alphabet said:

Because they’re the mechanics personal vehicle does that mean they are fastidiously maintained and babied?

Or is it more likely they live a harder life because he or his employer can just fix/sell them?

A mate of mine is a mechanic - he does the bare minimum on his cars to keep them legal and mobile. It's basically bangernomics taking to the nth degree. He usually buys them from customers who can't afford the MOT failure repairs (or are tired of them and want them sold quickly), repairs them himself and runs them until they're dead.

[Alphabet]

This is one of the cars I spotted

https://www.ggcars.co.uk/detail/1327611/audi-tt-co...

It’s not local at all so haven’t seen it

[EddieSteadyGo]

Alphabet said:

This is one of the cars I spotted

https://www.ggcars.co.uk/detail/1327611/audi-tt-co...

It’s not local at all so haven’t seen it

Based on the MOT history, that doesn't look like a well maintained car to me.

Who drives their car and puts it in for an MOT with illegal tyre wear? Someone who doesn't care, and/or doesn't have the money to maintain their car properly, would be my guess.

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/results?regis...

[steveo3002]

Countdown said:

A mate of mine is a mechanic - he does the bare minimum on his cars to keep them legal and mobile. It's basically bangernomics taking to the nth degree. He usually buys them from customers who can't afford the MOT failure repairs (or are tired of them and want them sold quickly), repairs them himself and runs them until they're dead.

yeah i know a few , bare minimum work done , bought cheap and sold on for a profit before it sh*ts itself

[Drive Blind]

Rough101 said:

My suspicions are that they are trying to get out of retail, obligations and offload as a ‘private sale’ with no comeback.

this is my take on it.

[119]

That’s a lot of car for £6k

[FMOB]

I think it is a case of who wants to do the day job again when they get home?

Yes there are some who genuinely enjoying tinkering outside of hours but I suspect they are in the minority.

As for the advert, treat is as a private sale and you won't be dissapointed.

[Alphabet]

Rough101 said:

My suspicions are that they are trying to get out of retail, obligations and offload as a ‘private sale’ with no comeback.

I’ve seen this said on shed of the week when the car is advertised as spares and repairs. I wasn’t sure if that applied to the mechanic patter. But I definitely understand why they’d be run on on a shoe string even from what i’ve witnessed of mechanics myself

What was drawing me to this car was it has had a belt change and haldex service. There’s some closer to me though least a grand more and don’t think i’ve seen many with a belt change.

That said I feel like if turned out all good then as mentioned it’d be good value performance for the cash. Considering the GTI around this price point are largely mk5

Appreciate all the replies

[119]

Alphabet said:

Rough101 said:

My suspicions are that they are trying to get out of retail, obligations and offload as a ‘private sale’ with no comeback.

I’ve seen this said on shed of the week when the car is advertised as spares and repairs. I wasn’t sure if that applied to the mechanic patter. But I definitely understand why they’d be run on on a shoe string even from what i’ve witnessed of mechanics myself

What was drawing me to this car was it has had a belt change and haldex service. There’s some closer to me though least a grand more and don’t think i’ve seen many with a belt change.

That said I feel like if turned out all good then as mentioned it’d be good value performance for the cash. Considering the GTI around this price point are largely mk5

Appreciate all the replies

Just make sure you have done all the research on this model of car.

This car would have been expensive when new with expensive repair costs which don’t unfortunately depreciate.

Eyes wide open and all that.

Good luck!

[FMOB]

Alphabet said:

Rough101 said:

My suspicions are that they are trying to get out of retail, obligations and offload as a ‘private sale’ with no comeback.

I’ve seen this said on shed of the week when the car is advertised as spares and repairs. I wasn’t sure if that applied to the mechanic patter. But I definitely understand why they’d be run on on a shoe string even from what i’ve witnessed of mechanics myself

What was drawing me to this car was it has had a belt change and haldex service. There’s some closer to me though least a grand more and don’t think i’ve seen many with a belt change.

That said I feel like if turned out all good then as mentioned it’d be good value performance for the cash. Considering the GTI around this price point are largely mk5

Appreciate all the replies

I don't believe all car sales businesses are sharks and assuming this is the case might be unfair.

They could genuinely be trying to help their mechanic sell the vehicle and are declaring they have no interest in the sale. It is no different to the mechanic sticking it up on Autotrader or Ebay themselves but some just think the worst.

As with all purchases, go in with you eyes open.

[SFTWend]

You need to ask lots of questions to ensure it's not a trader with a dodgy motor and looking to avoid consumer rights obligations. For example, why are the 2023 and 2024 service stamps not the employers garage?

[Super Josh]

No service history between 2018 @ 69473 and 2023 @ 109257

[OutInTheShed]

Super Josh said:

No service history between 2018 @ 69473 and 2023 @ 109257

Which is what you'd expect with a mechanic doing DIY oil changes etc.

It's a 15 year old car with fairly low miles for £6k

If you want lots of main dealer history and a warranty, you can have that, at a price.

There are a lot of worse cars out there for more money.

[soad]

Personally, I’d leave it well alone. Mechanic could easily list it himself, on any online platform.