Buying Privately - bag of spanners?
Discussion
If buying privately how do I make sure I'm not buying a bag of spanners. Having never driven a V8V before I have nothing to compare. Trying to get test drives from dealers is like pulling teeth. Current car is Lotus Elise.
Paying for the 140point check at £375 seems like a good option i.e. asking the private dseller to take it to AM Dealer and I'll pay for 140 point check.
Is there anything else I can do to ensure that get a reasonable car? Is the 140-point check even worth doing if car is still under warranty anyway?
Paying for the 140point check at £375 seems like a good option i.e. asking the private dseller to take it to AM Dealer and I'll pay for 140 point check.
Is there anything else I can do to ensure that get a reasonable car? Is the 140-point check even worth doing if car is still under warranty anyway?
Neil1300R said:
How old? If under 3 years old with still have the factory warranty anyway.
Don't understand AM dealers not giving you a test drive - never had a problem. But then I did buy mine from an AM dealer
Looking at models from 2006 to 2008, so couple of 2008 one's have a few months left on warranty.Don't understand AM dealers not giving you a test drive - never had a problem. But then I did buy mine from an AM dealer
The local AM dealers are a snotty lot - went in in a suit mid week about a month ago (arrvied in Lotus) and were straight out to say hello, went in at the weekend in jeans and a scruffy shirt arriving in Peugeot 206 and they didn't even bother raising their heads from their glass boxed desks.
ferdi p said:
But why would you be interested in buying a car that you've never even driven ?
The V8V is acknowledged as a pretty special car. I do intend to test drive at least one from somewhere before parting witht hat much cash, but as above local dealer (can't name and shame so check my profile for my location and then put 2 + 2 together) is too snotty and told me "unless you want to buy a particluar car today, then you can't have a test drive of just any Vantage it has to be the particular one you're interested in"if the car in question passes the HPI check as not being bent, then I cant imagine many 3-4 year old cars with avg miles are going to be so terrible that they drive bad anyway
so if you buy private, with no warranty, you take the risk that a car has future problems or hasnt had all the niggles sorted etc
if you buy dealer you pay a few grand more and (hopefully) get the check, the warranty, and some come back if its not right a month later
unless you are buying right at the bottom of the market from some dodgy guy in a pub car park for £25K, I wouldnt worry too much, you are in effect buying the owner as much as the car...has the guy looked after it, does it all check out ?
so if you buy private, with no warranty, you take the risk that a car has future problems or hasnt had all the niggles sorted etc
if you buy dealer you pay a few grand more and (hopefully) get the check, the warranty, and some come back if its not right a month later
unless you are buying right at the bottom of the market from some dodgy guy in a pub car park for £25K, I wouldnt worry too much, you are in effect buying the owner as much as the car...has the guy looked after it, does it all check out ?
bogie said:
if the car in question passes the HPI check as not being bent, then I cant imagine many 3-4 year old cars with avg miles are going to be so terrible that they drive bad anyway
so if you buy private, with no warranty, you take the risk that a car has future problems or hasnt had all the niggles sorted etc
if you buy dealer you pay a few grand more and (hopefully) get the check, the warranty, and some come back if its not right a month later
unless you are buying right at the bottom of the market from some dodgy guy in a pub car park for £25K, I wouldnt worry too much, you are in effect buying the owner as much as the car...has the guy looked after it, does it all check out ?
My thoughts exactly. However with the Aston is it worth having the £375 140 point check done even if a few months left on standard warranty?so if you buy private, with no warranty, you take the risk that a car has future problems or hasnt had all the niggles sorted etc
if you buy dealer you pay a few grand more and (hopefully) get the check, the warranty, and some come back if its not right a month later
unless you are buying right at the bottom of the market from some dodgy guy in a pub car park for £25K, I wouldnt worry too much, you are in effect buying the owner as much as the car...has the guy looked after it, does it all check out ?
If your buying a second hand Aston with full service history then the dealer who has serviced the car will have full records for it......most service managers know the cars and their owners and should be able to give you an honest opnion regarding the cars condition......you may need to ask the owner to e-mail the dealer to give permission to release the details.
Mr Overheads said:
went in at the weekend in jeans and a scruffy shirt arriving in Peugeot 206 and they didn't even bother raising their heads from their glass boxed desks.
Mercedes dealers have a reputation for that as well. It is tempting to go in with a suitcase full of money, show it to them so their eyes pop out on stalks, then tell them that as they ignored you you'll be spending it elsewhere...Friend of mine (looks like a roadie) virutally had to grab a Merc bod by the lapels and say 'Look buddy, I earn three times more than you so sell me a damn car'
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