Lemon car, private seller

threedee

Do i have any legal way of getting my money back for a car that falls to bits a month after i buy it ?

Well, a bit more than a month, more like two.

Bought a used Nissan Almera Tino (2001, 2.2 S Di, 94k miles) and was assured that it works fine. Bought upon recommendation of a friend mechanic (who knows his stuff well). I trusted him (still do), and he trusted the seller, and thats why he now feels like s**t for recommending me the motor.

Car has all sorts of problems, from back window wiper/heating packing up in a week, oil measure thingy breaking, vibration of a car at or more than 55 mph, to inability to drive due to windows not demisting on a rainy day (full blast, hot air = foggy windows... go figure)...

I've already sunk more than 500 quid into it (including taxing it). Not willing to burn more money.

Is there any way i can demand my money back for a car, including all the cash i've wasted fixing it ?

Granted, a car cost me 900 quid, but come on. Last car i bought was 306D for 1500 and it ran like a charm for three years without a single repair needed, except obvious things (brake pads, clutch disks, tyres). It still runs, i still have it and its too small for a family with incoming second baby... Hence 5-seater, Tino...

A bit bummed (lots bummedm actually), no money and no car at the moment.


Any advice is appreciated...

Cheers...

P.S. I did not approach seller yet, i need solid advice before i do...

pulliptears

threedee, I think you may have unrealistic expectations of a £900 car...

Your dipstick breaking is hardly reason to reject, nor for me is the fact that the heaters don't demist the screen. Rear wiper and screen heater could be something as simple as a relay.

Anihilator

threedee wrote: »

Do i have any legal way of getting my money back for a car that falls to bits a month after i buy it ?

Well, a bit more than a month, more like two.

Bought a used Nissan Almera Tino (2001, 2.2 S Di, 94k miles) and was assured that it works fine. Bought upon recommendation of a friend mechanic (who knows his stuff well). I trusted him (still do), and he trusted the seller, and thats why he now feels like s**t for recommending me the motor.

Car has all sorts of problems, from back window wiper/heating packing up in a week, oil measure thingy breaking, vibration of a car at or more than 55 mph, to inability to drive due to windows not demisting on a rainy day (full blast, hot air = foggy windows... go figure)...

I've already sunk more than 500 quid into it (including taxing it). Not willing to burn more money.

Is there any way i can demand my money back for a car, including all the cash i've wasted fixing it ?

Granted, a car cost me 900 quid, but come on. Last car i bought was 306D for 1500 and it ran like a charm for three years without a single repair needed, except obvious things (brake pads, clutch disks, tyres). It still runs, i still have it and its too small for a family with incoming second baby... Hence 5-seater, Tino...

A bit bummed (lots bummedm actually), no money and no car at the moment.


Any advice is appreciated...

Cheers...

P.S. I did not approach seller yet, i need solid advice before i do...

Unless the seller directly lied about something then no.

The faults you list don't seem that extreme anyway and just problems that will happen on a cheap second hand car.

£900 seems on the cheap side for this car too so it isnt even like you paid a premium.

Inactive

threedee wrote: »

.

Car has all sorts of problems, from back window wiper/heating packing up in a week, oil measure thingy breaking, vibration of a car at or more than 55 mph, to inability to drive due to windows not demisting on a rainy day (full blast, hot air = foggy windows... go figure)...

Are you being serious?...£900 for a car and you seem to expect perfection.

(1) The vibration is almost certainly only a need for the front wheels balancing, cost; about a tenner.

(2) The windows not demisting, easy cheap cure, open your drivers window.

(3) The " oil measure thingy " is I guess your dipstick, cost of replacement, a few quid at your local car breakers.

Get real.

Hintza

That is the joy of running a banger. If you want trouble free motoring buy a new or nearly new car still under warranty. Or alternatively pay a bit more and buy from a dealer with some sort of warranty attached.

As has been mentioned faults don't sound too bad.

threedee

Ooookay...

Listing further...
No power below 1.5k rpm,
Oil changed twice, still black (some *** wasnt changing oil regularly ?)
Car is not drivable on a rainy day due to misting, i don't care if you think its a "small" problem, it affects main function of the item - getting from a to b faster than on foot. Which is kind of a purpose to a car.


As for expectations. I'm already 1400 down and there's still no end to spending (apparently), while 306 cost me 1500 from private seller, and no more spendi ng for three years. 1500, period. If i knew i'd waste so much TIME and money with the nissan, i'd have stumped up some more to get me a "proper" car.


I'm not having any illusions about getting a perfect car for 900 quid, but this is ridiculous. I was expecting to spend up to 500 pounds to get it up to scratch and on the road, which didnt materialize. Now thinking either returning (if possible at all) or selling at a huge loss...

maninthestreet

The problems you describe are relatively minor, and most of them easily fixable - what has your £500 been spent on, ignoring the tax??

harveybobbles

regards the misting up - have you got the fan set to recir instead of fresh air? Had it got aircon? Use it for demisting !!!!!!.

Get the wheels balanced.

Buy a new dipstick.

Not many diesels have much power below 1500rpm. Specially that awful 2.2 lump!

You can change the oil every week and it'll still be black on a diesel.

whood

Im afraid with a private seller you have no come back as private sales are sold as seen and I think your mechanic needs to retake his tests , he should have noticed oil gauge and wheel wobbling upon test drive, I advise anyone buying private vehicles to really do a good 1hour minimum test drive and look at everything. As for the £500 spent it should only cost £200 for the repairs so I feel you have been let down upon repairs.

LandyAndy

Is the ventilation system set to 'recirculate' ? That would cause the steaming up.

ETA: harveybobbles beat me to it:mad:.:D.

tuggy12

Caveat Emptor