1st time buyer from Dealer (Audi TT 1.8 Quattro) - Advice?
Discussion
Recently made a purchase from a used car dealer, Audi TT 1.8 Quattro 180bp, after only ever really buying private (mainly motorcycles) but this is my first time getting a car from a delivery. It will be delivered to my address and have paid £100 'reserve' amount, rest to be paid when they deliver.
Any tips on dealing with dealers? I am thinking along the lines of legal recourse if things don't go well. Based on user reviews and communication, they seem a decent company, and the recent MOT is clean. I am thinking along the lines of: what if it turns out, that the MOT was somehow shifty (if I get an inspection after I have bought it) - do I have any kind of recourse? For example, if there turns out to be corrosion that wasn't shown on the MOT, would there be anything I could do legally?
They are offering 1 month warranty. Don't want to get stuck with a stinker but I know I am taking somewhat of a risk either way.
I'd appreciate any advice. For some reason, the idea of dealing with used dealers gets me on edge a bit.
Any tips on dealing with dealers? I am thinking along the lines of legal recourse if things don't go well. Based on user reviews and communication, they seem a decent company, and the recent MOT is clean. I am thinking along the lines of: what if it turns out, that the MOT was somehow shifty (if I get an inspection after I have bought it) - do I have any kind of recourse? For example, if there turns out to be corrosion that wasn't shown on the MOT, would there be anything I could do legally?
They are offering 1 month warranty. Don't want to get stuck with a stinker but I know I am taking somewhat of a risk either way.
I'd appreciate any advice. For some reason, the idea of dealing with used dealers gets me on edge a bit.
Hunts887 said:
Recently made a purchase from a used car dealer, Audi TT 1.8 Quattro 180bp, after only ever really buying private (mainly motorcycles) but this is my first time getting a car from a delivery. It will be delivered to my address and have paid £100 'reserve' amount, rest to be paid when they deliver.
Any tips on dealing with dealers? I am thinking along the lines of legal recourse if things don't go well. Based on user reviews and communication, they seem a decent company, and the recent MOT is clean. I am thinking along the lines of: what if it turns out, that the MOT was somehow shifty (if I get an inspection after I have bought it) - do I have any kind of recourse? For example, if there turns out to be corrosion that wasn't shown on the MOT, would there be anything I could do legally?
They are offering 1 month warranty. Don't want to get stuck with a stinker but I know I am taking somewhat of a risk either way.
I'd appreciate any advice. For some reason, the idea of dealing with used dealers gets me on edge a bit.
There is no such thing as one month warranty, you have distance sale and consumer rights which are much more than this unless the car is sold as parts.Any tips on dealing with dealers? I am thinking along the lines of legal recourse if things don't go well. Based on user reviews and communication, they seem a decent company, and the recent MOT is clean. I am thinking along the lines of: what if it turns out, that the MOT was somehow shifty (if I get an inspection after I have bought it) - do I have any kind of recourse? For example, if there turns out to be corrosion that wasn't shown on the MOT, would there be anything I could do legally?
They are offering 1 month warranty. Don't want to get stuck with a stinker but I know I am taking somewhat of a risk either way.
I'd appreciate any advice. For some reason, the idea of dealing with used dealers gets me on edge a bit.
If the car is not right in the first few days contact the garage, you have 14 days to return it.
Auto810graphy said:
There is no such thing as one month warranty, you have distance sale and consumer rights which are much more than this unless the car is sold as parts.
If the car is not right in the first few days contact the garage, you have 14 days to return it.
Good to know. How long exactly would I have in the car world? and how would it work returning it if they are further away?If the car is not right in the first few days contact the garage, you have 14 days to return it.
In my view there's two things
- having rights to support you
- enforcing those rights
They're quite different in practice.
The distance selling regs of 14 days should be a slam dunk for the "car doesn't pass inspection/ MOT", or sme other type of obvious / gross selling.
It should even cover buyers remorse to some extent
But enforcing it? This is where the price you're paying (Vs market price) a d distance from seller become important.
The 1 month warranty should - like all warranties (in my view) be ignored. Virtually everything on a used car can be dismissed as "wear and tear". Dealer ones are probably better for newer cars, but still not invulnerable.
The cra 2015 of faults in the first 6 months being present at sale is also strong, but again a 20 year old car is going to have problems. Ultimately if you ended up in front of a magistrate, what is reasonable?
Personally I buy cars near the end of their life so just repair as needed and suck up problems. However this suits me and won't suit others.
If you're risk adverse, then generally it's going to cost you to mitigate that risk.
If there was a perfect way to buy cheap cars avoiding risks, then a lot of car dealers would have gone bust, or only sell yarises (Yarii?)
Hth
- having rights to support you
- enforcing those rights
They're quite different in practice.
The distance selling regs of 14 days should be a slam dunk for the "car doesn't pass inspection/ MOT", or sme other type of obvious / gross selling.
It should even cover buyers remorse to some extent
But enforcing it? This is where the price you're paying (Vs market price) a d distance from seller become important.
The 1 month warranty should - like all warranties (in my view) be ignored. Virtually everything on a used car can be dismissed as "wear and tear". Dealer ones are probably better for newer cars, but still not invulnerable.
The cra 2015 of faults in the first 6 months being present at sale is also strong, but again a 20 year old car is going to have problems. Ultimately if you ended up in front of a magistrate, what is reasonable?
Personally I buy cars near the end of their life so just repair as needed and suck up problems. However this suits me and won't suit others.
If you're risk adverse, then generally it's going to cost you to mitigate that risk.
If there was a perfect way to buy cheap cars avoiding risks, then a lot of car dealers would have gone bust, or only sell yarises (Yarii?)
Hth
As an owner of a mk1 TT. The warranty won’t mean much as these cars have a long list of common problems. I doubt a dealer will take on fixing any problems on a car that’s 20 years old and worth not a right lot.
I certainly wouldn’t expect to have no issues with it once you’ve bought it.
I certainly wouldn’t expect to have no issues with it once you’ve bought it.
OP have you actually viewed it? Or just had a quick check of the MOT history and a chat with the dealer?
MOT just means its good to go on the day of inspection and not a promise of no issues in future.
An old car regardless of how well its been looked after, will be tired and no doubt require close maintenance and repairs.
A paper warranty 1 month or 3 won't really mean smooth running and 20 year old car gives the dealer a lot of wriggle room on niggles that might be present.
If that's not your bag then move on I'd suggest
MOT just means its good to go on the day of inspection and not a promise of no issues in future.
An old car regardless of how well its been looked after, will be tired and no doubt require close maintenance and repairs.
A paper warranty 1 month or 3 won't really mean smooth running and 20 year old car gives the dealer a lot of wriggle room on niggles that might be present.
If that's not your bag then move on I'd suggest
The variables here are the age of the car, your expectations and whether you can undertake pre-purchase inspection. They might not be compatible with each other in the scenario outlined here.
Buying via a dealer will generally offer some limited comeback, along the lines of redress where there is a failure beyond what could be reasonably expected for a 20-year-old car. This is something you won't get with a private sale.
But even with a dealer purchase, you would be incredibly fortunate to buy - blind - a 20-year-old car with zero faults or issues.
A post-purchase inspection will almost certainly find some (probably non-terminal) issues with the car, but that's to be expected.
Buying via a dealer will generally offer some limited comeback, along the lines of redress where there is a failure beyond what could be reasonably expected for a 20-year-old car. This is something you won't get with a private sale.
But even with a dealer purchase, you would be incredibly fortunate to buy - blind - a 20-year-old car with zero faults or issues.
A post-purchase inspection will almost certainly find some (probably non-terminal) issues with the car, but that's to be expected.
You're basically buying a classic car with all the expectations and issues a typical classic car may well have.
The dealer has an obligation that they have checked it as road legal and safe and described it as the right model etc.
You are never, ever, going to get an actual "warranty" on such a car. It's just not possible for anyone to provide one.
There is no reason why it won't be fine for what it is but please realise what you are buying. You really need to go and look at used cars unless they are nearly new and low mileage particularly classics.
The dealer has an obligation that they have checked it as road legal and safe and described it as the right model etc.
You are never, ever, going to get an actual "warranty" on such a car. It's just not possible for anyone to provide one.
There is no reason why it won't be fine for what it is but please realise what you are buying. You really need to go and look at used cars unless they are nearly new and low mileage particularly classics.
PT1984 said:
Sump sludge! If you can’t work the spanner’s I would walk away. 10 years go these took quite a bit of work to keep them in good health.
Thanks for all your input dudes, I appreciate it and helps me make a decision. After all your comments, and digging around mechanics about what these cars are like to live with lol, I've decided not to. I could have went down the "distance sale" route if it was a stinker, but who can be arsed with that kind of hassle?Biggest red flags for me was, it was advertised as being great condition inside and out, and yet one of the heated seat nobs were missing. I messaged them about when the last camchain was done, and I didn't hear back so I cancelled it.
Additionally, the trader in question had shifty reviews of some people having a clear MOT but also having underbody corrosion when they got it home to their own mechanic. But like you all say, a 20 year old car is going to take some maintaining (especially an Audi). Would you all agree that, for the average person, these MK1 TTs probably aren't worth more than 1k for the potential risks they offer?
I'm looking to replace a Toyota Celica with something as fun and reliable - any suggestions? xD
Hunts887 said:
I'm looking to replace a Toyota Celica with something as fun and reliable - any suggestions? xD
Id suggest you indicate a budget and any other parameters as otherwise you can have suggestions from a DB11 to a Fiat Panda 4x4. Both of which are probably as reliable as an elderly Celica and at least as much fun.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff