Private sale by trader?

[Ken Figenus]

Getting a first car for son. Seen one that is sold by a guy doing it as a sideline. Not a registered company but he's obvs trading cars and offers an useless 3d party warranty. Do I have same comeback as with a proper garage? Thx

[chrisch77]

What do you think?

All will be well with the purchase until you have an issue with the car, and then you'll be fobbed off and/or directed to the third party warranty company.

[zedx19]

You do, but you know full well he won't be interested in any problems that arise with the car, which leads you with taking him to court, with all the associated time and stress.

Find another car.

[soxboy]

Alternatively, treat it as a private sale and make sure you pay no more than a private sale price (less a bit for him taking the pee!)

[911Spanker]

Hope he has informed HMRC

[Trevor555]

What has the seller said?

Are they suggesting it'll be a private sale?

If so, avoid, and just buy somewhere else.

I know a local chap to me who sold from home for years, albeit a very nice home, and he did the job properly.

So there is the odd one who does it properly.

[Hugo Stiglitz v2]

Ken Figenus said:

Getting a first car for son. Seen one that is sold by a guy doing it as a sideline. Not a registered company but he's obvs trading cars and offers an useless 3d party warranty. Do I have same comeback as with a proper garage? Thx

Personally I wouldn't. You'd be better off just buying privately and not paying the trader markup for the lack of trader come back.

[Ken Figenus]

Thanks guys - as I thought.

I now also have to report the car with a 'brand new MOT' to trading Standards for the sake of others - both front dampers were shot and it drove like a Porpoise.

I really don't know what is with these guys buying stuff at auction and then trying to pass them on for a grand more having barely touched them and been stuffed themselves.

I had no idea it was so dodgy and old school Arthur Daley out there - even tried to pass off the aux belt as a new cam belt. I guess the gullible with less cash/experience get suckered/ Sad and dangerous.

Please someone sell me a decent first car for the lad!!!! I would be better off going to an actual shed store based on my last 8 viewings

[sunnyb13]

link to the ad please

[highway]

Bought my daughter an IQ as her first car. It’s great. 2012 car, one owner from new (till we bought it) and lots of modern, big car features. Who knew keyless entry was a thing in 2012! Feels roomy inside, till you look over your shoulder, and it’s highly rated for safety.
Curiously, it’s also on the list of cars you aren’t allowed to take your test in.
I also think they are something of a modern classic! The Cygnet, based on this, is worth more than a 4.3 Aston!
Anyway, decide what you want, set the filters on Auto Trader and try to find something low miles and with 1 owner. Who you will meet. That formula has worked well for me over 30 plus years now

[davek_964]

highway said:

Curiously, it’s also on the list of cars you aren’t allowed to take your test in.

I never knew there was such a list. What determines whether a car is on that list?

[Watchthis]

Ken Figenus said:

Thanks guys - as I thought.

I now also have to report the car with a 'brand new MOT' to trading Standards for the sake of others - both front dampers were shot and it drove like a Porpoise.

I really don't know what is with these guys buying stuff at auction and then trying to pass them on for a grand more having barely touched them and been stuffed themselves.

I had no idea it was so dodgy and old school Arthur Daley out there - even tried to pass off the aux belt as a new cam belt. I guess the gullible with less cash/experience get suckered/ Sad and dangerous.

Please someone sell me a decent first car for the lad!!!! I would be better off going to an actual shed store based on my last 8 viewings

My in law is selling his daughter's Toyota aygo at the minute. Don't know whereabouts you are but we're just outside Glasgow

[Saudade]

What is your budget and location OP, let us look for you, it stops us looking for the next car we really shouldn't be buying anyway

[Ken Figenus]

I'm in Cardiff mate.

Sub 10yrs old

Sub 80k miles

100bhp

Sub £4k

Been serviced and a few receipts for say cambelt and brakes ideally - and not all service stamps done same day by same bloke as I saw on a Corsa last week... Ohh and oil in the sump would be nice unlike the arid Clio i saw Monday.

[PoorCarCollector]

Don't get stuck on the 'low' mileage, often the higher mileage cars are better maintained.

Service history and condition is everything

[V8 Bob]

It’s the dodgy mot stations that are the biggest issue bought a car for competition use off eBay recently. The model is notorious for rust…..mentioned on a mot two years ago, no mention 12 months ago and no advisories on the test done two weeks before I bought it blind from 200 miles away.
Sills were shot at rear…could put my fist through both sides, brake discs badly worn and pads worn right down. Windscreen washer working on one side.
Fortunately I got it at a good price and have friends who weld to a high standard. Brakes now upgraded to vented and drilled all round and other minor issues fixed. Dread too think if Joe Public had bought it with no garage visit for another mot scheduled for 11 1/2 months.
Don’t have any option but to report the mot station as the condition was so shocking not to have even an advisory

[Auto810graphy]

Hugo Stiglitz v2 said:

Personally I wouldn't. You'd be better off just buying privately and not paying the trader markup for the lack of trader come back.

A good idea in theory but not many people bother with selling privately anymore when they can sell via WBAC, Carwow, Motorway or one of the many small firms and avoid the hassle of dealing with the public.

If people do decide to sell privately there are hundreds of home traders who watch Facebook etc and buy any decent looking private cars within hours of them being listed.

[Ken Figenus]

This is exactly what has happened I think - dealers sit at their desk choosing which car to get into stock looking at detailed info on Motorway etc and they still get to check them out as they are bought to them - easy... Prices are better for the seller (shifted wife's M235i this way for great money after all...) and then someone looking at a 10yr old car like me anew is staggered at the asking price for what is a very old car... I hate the process by now as it takes so much interaction and time to get at the specific details on a car - here an 11 year old Honda and zero info on service history etc but reassuringly it has "a responsive manual transmission for a smooth and enjoyable driving experience"! https://www.hshmotorgroup.co.uk/used-cars/honda-ci...

The 2 bald tyres and literally ZERO oil in the sump Mini (with really rotting subframes) I saw at a small garage did their own MOT's and sales - its a recipe for disaster really...

I've been looking at the leasing thread and £150pm plus a couple of grand can get you in a new car - but that is really not what I should be doing for a 19yr old student's 1st car. My first car was a few hundred quid of 1300 Escort - I spun it and bashed it and fixed it with my mates and repeat! Back in the day ehh

[daqinggregg]

Sub 80,000 miles, rather have a well maintained higher mileage example.

Sub 10 years, you might struggle a bit on that budget.



https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409053...

just used as an example, check insurance before dismissing as an option.

[Rockets7]

V8 Bob said:

It’s the dodgy mot stations that are the biggest issue bought a car for competition use off eBay recently. The model is notorious for rust…..mentioned on a mot two years ago, no mention 12 months ago and no advisories on the test done two weeks before I bought it blind from 200 miles away.
Sills were shot at rear…could put my fist through both sides, brake discs badly worn and pads worn right down. Windscreen washer working on one side.
Fortunately I got it at a good price and have friends who weld to a high standard. Brakes now upgraded to vented and drilled all round and other minor issues fixed. Dread too think if Joe Public had bought it with no garage visit for another mot scheduled for 11 1/2 months.
Don’t have any option but to report the mot station as the condition was so shocking not to have even an advisory

How is the little Mazda