Mis-Sold a Car, What can i do?

[Dryce]

I think that is riskier buying from a private seller. The possible reason that that dealer has a dodgy car is that a private seller has sold it to him. People seem to think it is fair game to stitch up a dealer because once he has bought it there is no comeback on them.

I am afraid I would rather pay a little bit more and buy from a respected dealer and avoid all of this hassle, it isn't worth it just to save a few quid.

I have always found it surprising when trading in a car at a dealer it has involved only a very cursory inspection - all the more suprising given that main dealers have workshops, technical staff.

The possible reason that that dealer has a dodgy car is that a private seller has sold it to him.

Or they bought it at auction or from another dealer.

 

[BTB 500]

I have always found it surprising when trading in a car at a dealer it has involved only a very cursory inspection - all the more suprising given that main dealers have workshops, technical staff.

When we traded our S203 in against the S205 at a main dealer the EML was on - I mentioned this and they weren't bothered at all.

 

[Benz17]

I have always found it surprising when trading in a car at a dealer it has involved only a very cursory inspection - all the more suprising given that main dealers have workshops, technical staff.



Or they bought it at auction or from another dealer.

All depends on the age of the car one is trading in, main dealers would just send them to auctions, if it’s an older or less desirable car, or maybe sell it on to a small trader.

As far as the OP is concerned, he may have bought his car from a small trader, rather then a main dealer, this is why he is getting a sort of cold shoulder treatment.

 

[Benz17]

When we traded our S203 in against the S205 at a main dealer the EML was on - I mentioned this and they weren't bothered at all.

When I bought my current car in 2019, it was px for my E280 Sport W211, 07 plate, had 128k miles, gave them all the details of the car over the phone when doing the deal, when time came to change, they just gave it a once over, didn’t even look at all the paperwork which was in a file, salesperson said it would be going to auction.

 

[markjay]

This is why I NEVER buy cars from ‘traders’… I’d rather buy private at a lower cost and have any future issues sorted myself.

Agreed, though I would rephrase that.

I would say that I don't mind buying a car from a trader... but I'll look it over as if I was buying it from a private seller....

 

[clk320x]

Agreed, though I would rephrase that.

I would say that I don't mind buying a car from a trader... but I'll look it over as if I was buying it from a private seller....

That’s fair enough MJ, but you’ll always pay a premium for buying from a ‘trader’… one which I cannot justify if I cannot trust him/her to actually do his job properly!

 

[Benz17]

That’s fair enough MJ, but you’ll always pay a premium for buying from a ‘trader’… one which I cannot justify if I cannot trust him/her to actually do his job properly!

Say you were in the market for a car costing above and beyond 20k, would you still go private, which comes with no warranty, or come backs, or go to a main dealer, where yes you would be paying a premium, but would come with a years warranty, and some form of security if something goes wrong, or go to a Arthur daly type trader, who would give a 3 months warranty, which some would say would not be worth the paper it’s written on.

 

[clk320x]

Say you were in the market for a car costing above and beyond 20k, would you still go private, which comes with no warranty, or come backs, or go to a main dealer, where yes you would be paying a premium, but would come with a years warranty, and some form of security if something goes wrong, or go to a Arthur daly type trader, who would give a 3 months warranty, which some would say would not be worth the paper it’s written on.

I bought my Tesla last year privately and that cost more than that.. Not interested in traders at all…

 

[Darrell]

Say you were in the market for a car costing above and beyond 20k, would you still go private, which comes with no warranty, or come backs, or go to a main dealer, where yes you would be paying a premium, but would come with a years warranty, and some form of security if something goes wrong, or go to a Arthur daly type trader, who would give a 3 months warranty, which some would say would not be worth the paper it’s written on.

My bro in law sold his Q7 for more than £20,000 in about 2011. A couple of Ali G type blokes turned up with cash!!

No probs at all and never heard from them again.

 

[clk320x]

Not going to lie Darrel that sounds a bit iffy

 

[Darrell]

Not going to lie Darrel that sounds a bit iffy

It was very iffy and despite being a rather big (Mike Tindall type) chap, he was actually rather nervous.
He had one of those pens to check forged notes but didn’t have a plan of what he was going to if he did get a dodgy one.

 

[davymead]

My years in the trade, and having bought countless vehicles both privately and at auction tells me that car buying is often a lottery, and even those vehicles that you’d put your shirt on as being kosher, can end up being a nightmare.
We recently had an absolutely stunning Maserati Grandturismo in for a service and inspection which had been purchased by a local high end vehicle seller and on that inspection was showing under 30k on the clock, but three times that on another part of the car. Needless to say the car was backed by their sales team.
These days, and with vehicles complexities, I would never buy privately, that is unless I had one of our Mastertechs plus his equipment with me.

 

[E55BOF]

I've almost always bought privately, and not one private purchase was a disaster (not counting the R129; he was an ex-dealer and a professional liar). Dealers, on the other hand...

You get a feel for people by talking to them face-to-face, and can assess whether they're honest, but there will always be some minor fault to find that they didn't tell you about.

 

[Smiley]

I've almost always bought privately, and not one private purchase was a disaster (not counting the R129; he was an ex-dealer and a professional liar). Dealers, on the other hand...

You get a feel for people by talking to them face-to-face, and can assess whether they're honest, but there will always be some minor fault to find that they didn't tell you about.

This is my experience. If you are smart about where and from whom you buy (or don't buy) cars, then buying privately is much better and more rewarding than talking to a used car salesman who just tells you what you want to hear and offers a daft 3 month warranty to try and cover his own backside. I have a chat with the seller and in talking about the car I find out a bit about them, get a feel for their approach and assess is this someone who I want to deal with and trust or not. If I have any doubts then I don't proceed. Most calls I make don't lead to a viewing so that says something. I end up only dealing with completely trustworthy people with a genuine reason for selling and I have the benefit of knowing the history of the car.

 

[Headhurts]

I have not purchased a car privately for years but to be fair my cars recently have been new to nearly new.

The car I have at the moment is a 2021 Mercedes GLC purchased from Marshalls in Blackburn which is around 5 hours drive for me, when searching for a car there were none being sold privately.

Private buyers are wanting nearly trade prices when selling but offer below trade when buying, it’s a funny old world in the car market at the moment.

To the op I hope you get a satisfactory resolution but it could be a matter who has the best staying power.

Robin

 

[Darrell]

I've almost always bought privately, and not one private purchase was a disaster (not counting the R129; he was an ex-dealer and a professional liar). Dealers, on the other hand...

You get a feel for people by talking to them face-to-face, and can assess whether they're honest, but there will always be some minor fault to find that they didn't tell you about.

How did you fare in the court case with the ex dealer?? I remember you posting about it.

 

[E55BOF]

Still waiting for it to get to the head of the queue for hearing. Most recent development was a request from the court for my evidence that the seller was/is a dealer; he was still, and if he's stupid enough will continue, denying it. I quote from one of his ads around that time:

"I took this car in part-exchange from a good customer who sold it back and bought another car from me..." Stupid? Just keep digging, sunshine...