Becareful when selling your Merc..

[BillyW124]

Car Jacking right under your nose

Be weary to those who are selling their prode and joy privately. I was having a chat to my neighbor a couple of houses down and although the car jacking didnt happen on my street just be mindful that you cannot trust anybody.

The father of my Neighbor's girlfriend was selling his W211 E-Class via Auto Trader. On Sunday a chap came to view on his own. (came in a cab).
The chap was described as 'normal' and really didnt raise any eyebrows, dressed and spoke well, asking all the right questions about the car etc.

There was the neighbor, father and son collectively 'sitting' in on this viewing and engaging in conversation about the car with the potential buyer.

Outside scrubbed up well so onto the interior and to start her up....


...no guessing as to what happened next.

my neighbor explained to me that all three of them where in total standstill shock for a few moments until they realised what had just happened.

Trust no one!

 

[jaymanek]

drove off?

 

[BillyW124]

yep, the guy locked the doors and sped off.

 

[10EDD]

It's pretty sad. A good friend of mine recently had his 59 plate ML advertised privately. Another well informed 'normal' chap came around, they went for an accompanied test drive and returned to his driveway.

The prospective 'buyer' had driven back and had quietly kept the keys in his hand while starting to talk a deal though didn't make any attempt to hide them, just acting casually. He then said he wanted any agreed price to take into account of the scratch on the tailgate. The owner wasn't aware of a scratch so went to have a look when the chap got back into the car and drove off.

The police were called immediately but said that the thief was likely to have an accomplice parked close by with different plates to mount and then they would have no chance to pull the car over. Neither car nor thief were seen again.

Edd

 

[d w124]

Go on then Billy,come clean.How much is WeBuyAnyCar is paying you

 

[GreetMe]

When I recently sold my M5 (and the RS4 before that) I made absolutely sure that at no point was the test driver alone in the car with the keys. I even went as far as to tell the chap who eventually bought the M5 to take the keys out and pass them across to me before I got out of the car. I explained why and he was fine with it.

 

[BillyW124]

The thing is though, even though you are in the car test driving with the buyer or even just sitting in it, if they have intentions to rob it they are going to do it either way i think.

Imagine going on a test drive and the chap kicks you out of you own car!

That would be taking the Piss!

 

[jaymanek]

Happened locally, threw him out on a busy A5 at 60mph... chap was in hospital for a while, ripped his ear off IIRC..

 

[renault12ts]

The thing is though, even though you are in the car test driving with the buyer or even just sitting in it, if they have intentions to rob it they are going to do it either way i think.

Imagine going on a test drive and the chap kicks you out of you own car!

That would be taking the Piss!

Have someone else sit in the back.

 

[BillyW124]

Happened locally, threw him out on a busy A5 at 60mph... chap was in hospital for a while, ripped his ear off IIRC..

who, you did? :bannana:

Have someone else sit in the back.

Yes agree with that but going on what nutty people can do these days all he has to do is pull out a knife/gun then what?

..even with someone in the back.

There were 3 of them and the **** still had the balls to jack the car. I wouldnt be surprised if he had a contingency plan should the first plan have had failed i.e. ppl riding in with him on the test drive?


Who knows!

 

[Rory]

The prospective 'buyer' had driven back and had quietly kept the keys in his hand while starting to talk a deal though didn't make any attempt to hide them, just acting casually.

Apparently one thing that's done is to swop the key without the owner realising and the thief comes back a few mins later and takes the car.

When I recently sold my M5 (and the RS4 before that) I made absolutely sure that at no point was the test driver alone in the car with the keys. I even went as far as to tell the chap who eventually bought the M5 to take the keys out and pass them across to me before I got out of the car. I explained why and he was fine with it.

That's pretty brave to sell those sorts of car yourself - someone I know through work got rid of his RS4 after being mugged for the keys twice while getting in to it.

 

[GreetMe]

That's pretty brave to sell those sorts of car yourself - someone I know through work got rid of his RS4 after being mugged for the keys twice while getting in to it.

Believe me, it's not something I undertook lightly on either occasion; I knew it was risky but I took every precaution I could think of and I guess I got lucky.

I'd have PXed them both if the offers hadn't been so rubbish.

I'm dreading having to sell the E55 which is a good incentive to keep it for a while.

 

[camerafodder]

This is similar to something that happened to my father about 25 years ago. The 'client' was being taken for a test drive in a cobra replica that my father had built to sell. Halfway through the test they swapped seats but before my old man could get into the passenger side the extremely credible prospective client drove off never to return. Leaving my old man in the middle of nowhere near Burton-on-Trent. Be very careful out there folks!

 

[Igurisu]

Imagine going on a test drive and the chap kicks you out of you own car!

This also happened at our local BMW dealer, the thief drove off in a nice new 325 cab after pushing out the sales guy at 40mph.

 

[renault12ts]

This also happened at our local BMW dealer, the thief drove off in a nice new 325 cab after pushing out the sales guy at 40mph.

How do you push someone through a closed (and locked) door?

 

[Alex]

How do you push someone through a closed (and locked) door?

You point a (dummy) gun at them and they help themselves.

 

[Doodle]

I'm dreading having to sell the E55 which is a good incentive to keep it for a while.

I'll pop up and keep you company

 

[GreetMe]

I'll pop up and keep you company

Good lad.

 

[John]

I've sold a couple of fruity cars privately.

Like anything - there is a risk and you have to decide whether you are prepared to take it.

Certainly trading with a main dealer or trusted non-franchise etc. will bear fruit but you do pay for the privilege.

 

[Niks]

Thats crazy, i'd never have previously thought for a second that selling your own car could be unsafe.

Good job im never selling my car!