Have you ever bought a car on Ebay-We just have! advice please.

Peakma

We have been searching for a people carrier for ages, and been keeping an eye on whats around on Ebay for some time.I'm so sick of searching autotrader, and getting nowhere, but were a little nervous to bid on Ebay for a car we'd not seen or heard.Any way I found one today that was only listed under Toyota rather than the MPV section.The absolute max we could afford was £2000, as we are borrowing off parents, so that some what limits the choice.
We took the plunge and bid on it, and won.It's not exactly our ideal car( but thats more in the region of £10,000!) We wre fairly optimistic about getting it, but my Dad thinks were bonkers, and thinks it's well dodgy! So I'm feeling a bit up and down about it, so I thought I'd ask you lot for a bit of advice( I've only ever received excellant advise from this forum).
If it looks terrible and there are unmentioned faults when we collect it tommorrow, are we committed to buying, or is the worst they can do is leave us neg feedback?Are theye any checks we should be doing to see if it's ever been in an accident or been stolen? Should we have anyone witness the money exchange?Is it really any different from buying from autotrader ?Are jap imports generally good buys?etc....
Your help and opinions would be welcomed,The item number is 4597011771. I really want to be excited, but my Dads so pesimistic about it ,(this is not unusual!-His car was £20.000 10 years ago and is now worth £1000, we obviously can't afford to do things that way around).
What do you think good/ bad deal?

Hammer_Slammer

If its !!!!!! nobody says you have to pay for it.Certainly dont feel cos you won you must pay,the guy may get the hump and you get a neg but i would rather live with that and buy a lemon.
Anyway you could be pleasantly surprised tomorrow but honestly for a grand i wouldnt expect much.

jason.lawrie

Hi, me personally I wouldnt buy a car off ebay but I guess there are bargains out there. I would enter it with caution. Firstly the guy has 1 feedback from 7 months ago. Secondly there is no tax - strange as it may seem may not be a problem but if you look how he is describing the vehicle he doesnt know much about it - ie had a respray sometime in the past. Leads me to believe he has not be a true owner of the car and has acquired it from somewhere. I can safely bet a few quid his name or address is not on V5 - if so get away quick dont touch with a bargepole. Ring him and ask if it is - if not dont go and save yourself a trip.

nearlyrich

I bought a car off ebay, it was a non-runner but my DD had damaged the front of hers in an accident, the scrapyard wanted about £250 for all the bits, the car cost £29 and it was only 10 miles away. It worked out great for me, hope it does for you too.

Hintza

It may be as Jason says.......but at the end of the day its the same as buying on Autotrader....just don't part with a deposit. As far as I can see the guy is listing a whole load of faults so it might be ok.

Best bet is arrange to see it, get details and phone your insurance company they will tell you if it has been in any major prangs etc.

K9cuddles

Why did you go for that type of car? jap import. have got you got insurance quotes will be more expensive being an import? Being jap, parts will be expensive and labour charges more so then the average.

If you want a people carrier.. well MPV when a Citroen Picasso is super value for money!! (but only 5 seats) but French so you want lower mileage!!! But they drive really well. But I'm no expert!

jaffa30

Hi

You have been very lucky in the sense the price wasnt pushed up.

Check the sellers other items and bidding history ali786* seems to like the sellers auctions very much.

I have reported the seller for shill bidding lets hope ebay boot them asap.


Jaffa

jaffa30

Hi sara

Ive got a picasso and i have to say they are excellent value for money.

Jaffa

K9cuddles

What's shill bidding?

Jaffa.. there super cars.. my bro had one as a company car and my friends have one for there dogs, it's one of the few cars I don't get travel sick in!!

Peakma

shill bidding is when the seller gets a friend to bid, to up the price(I think).
Erm it is looking slightly dodgy, isn't it?
I just found this site, off the motoring section.It checks the vehicle history via text message http://www.onesoon.co.uk/textcheck/
Do you think this is worth doing.The rac do a similar online service.
I still want to be optimistic about it though, because I'm eager to get a bargain, and desperate for a larger vehicle!
But we will obviously be very cautious.Thanks for advice so far,I'd still be intrested to hear more opinions.

jockettuk

ive got a couple of friends who buy cars off ebay all the time.. sometimes cheap ones and sometimes not so cheap lol.. one friend now goes online to buy for family etc, he takes a friend who is a mechanic to all the viewings and if things arnt what they appear or there is obvious faults that havnt been advertised then he walks away.. he has had some fantastic bargains ... one thing he always says is always meet at the sellers home. if the seller wants to meet elsewere and they say things like oh we can meet half way at such and such service station then he declines because thats how the dodgy brigade operate..if the details on the log book dont match what he is telling you its not always dodgy he could be selling it for family etc.. ask him to show you his driving licence that way you get a address off him and also if he a driver etc... my friend got a bargain of a people carrier as the couple selling it had got a brand new company car and they didnt have the room for 2 cars so they had to sell theres off cheap..

use your gut feelings if it doesnt feel right then dont go for it tell him you want to do a few checks on the car and if he not dodgy he will be happy abt this..