Clocked Car - How much to offer trader.

benham3160

ailuro2 wrote: »

I'd go to the dealer via Trading Standards, think they'd be very interested in how the dealer advertises the car to the next mug who will buy it without checking...;)

Lets be frank here, it could have been a very genuine mistake. Dealer buys car from auction, clock says not particuarly low miles anyway, dealer has a scout around it, thinks "that's about right" and sticks it on the forecourt.

If it was bought by the dealer indicating say 130,000 and the car has covered 170,000 externally the car won't look much different. I'd be a lot more suspicous if he'd "genuinely" bought it indicating 50,000 and it'd covered 170,000 though.

The dealer has offered to rectify the mistake, he could fight it if he wanted (as said, mileage is only for reference etc) or let the whole thing drag in to a very costly court case. It's not as easy to spot a "clocker" as people suggest, especially on modern cars where they do age very well. Recently drove a car that was near 300,000 miles and was spot on internally, and externally. Engine drove fine too, just a little bit tappier than normal when it was cold.

Guys made a mistake, like I've said countless numbers of times now, it could be as simple as a replacement clockset due to a failure, I still insist despite what several have mentioned on the majority of cars adjusting mileage is not a "sixty second job." Most require removal of the clockset, then removing the EPROM and reflashing, along with potentially an ECU interrogation.

Let's not hang the guy out to dry here without knowing the full facts.

"Clocking" is an emotive term, it could simply be displaying "the wrong mileage" without quite the amount of foul-play people are suggesting.

Regards,
Andy

cyclonebri1

ailuro2 wrote: »

I'd go to the dealer via Trading Standards, think they'd be very interested in how the dealer advertises the car to the next mug who will buy it without checking...;)

It's actually the real issue here, the car is now being returned, will the dealer make the mileage issue known to a future potential purchaser? my !!!! he will.

Something similar happened to me some time back. Inadvertantly bougt a 3 year old Astra with 87K on the clock, just had new MOT, but it only had a 5 figure milometer, ie 100K, it had actually done 187K:eek::eek::eek:

Got the refund, but left a note with tel number under the spare wheel to help the next unfortunate that was taken in :T

darich

bullau wrote: »

Horsesh1t.

The trader cant fight it and it wouldnt be a long and costly court case. It would goto small claims and last about 5 minutes. Trader hasnt got a leg to stand on.

I would get the refund and report him anyway. Even if he made a genuine mistake in buying a clocked car he is the one that deals with cars for a living. He knew full well it was bent when he sold it on though.

Exactly right.
The trader would never offer a refund for the full value of the car if it was a genuine mistake.....he'd reduce the price and try to keep the money.
The fact that he's giving a full refund plus compensation tells you everything you need to know about the trader and his keenness to get the car back without trading standards finding out.

benham3160

bullau wrote: »

Horsesh1t.

The trader cant fight it and it wouldnt be a long and costly court case. It would goto small claims and last about 5 minutes. Trader hasnt got a leg to stand on.

I would get the refund and report him anyway. Even if he made a genuine mistake in buying a clocked car he is the one that deals with cars for a living. He knew full well it was bent when he sold it on though.

Explain why?

Dealer states mileage is not guaranteed as stated on the invoice. So a guy may have made a geniune mistake, and now those that know better are subjecting him to "Trial by Forum".

Speak to the guy, speak to others that have dealt with him. Sounds to me like he's accepted there is a mileage discrepancy (no proof at all the vehicle has been "clocked" to my knowledge,) seller gets his money back, dealer (who it's been decieded without any knowledge of the dealer whatsoever) is according to many on here just going to sell the car on to the "next mug." What concrete evidence is there the mileage is incorrect anyway?

What a sorry, sorry world we live in. Trading standards probably wouldn't be that upset about one vehicle with a mileage discrepency to be honest, unless the guy has been noted for it before.

Regards,
Andy

vaio

Millionaire wrote: »

………friend of mine has recently purchased a vehicle from a trader for £2900 advertised with 99,000 on the clock. It was on for £3000…….

The mileage was part of the advert and is therefore one of the points that induced the OP to buy. As it’s wrong then the car is not as described and compensation or rejection is available under SOG.

The fact that the dealer did this innocently doesn’t matter as far as the OP is concerned under SOG.

If the dealer did know (or clocked it himself) then in addition to SOG there is also the criminal offence of clocking which trading standards/police will pursue but either way OP is entitled to compensation or rejection under SOG.

As dealer has opted to refund then buyers out of pocket costs should be paid too

benham3160

"99,000 on the clock"

That's why people use the term "on the clock" :P

How is it misadvertised, he has stated the clock mileage, which was correct. Car was advertised with 99,000 "on the clock" and did indeed have that mileage "on the clock."

OP has also stated the "clocking" happened years ago. If he was genuinely trying to palm off a "dodgy" car, I'm sure all the paperwork would have "been mislaid", he wouldn't have left all the evidence in the glovebox. Dealer doesn't want the agro, and probably doesn't want to lose a customer, I don't understand this, what do people actually want the dealer to do?

Regards,
Andy

vaio

Advertising mileages as “on the clock” or tucking away an “indication only” phrase in the invoice doesn’t get him out of the misdescription bit under SOG.

As to what I would expect the dealer to do…….exactly what he has done, accept responsibility, try to negotiate a reduction that both parties are happy with and if that’s not possible then take the car back and refund.

He’s on an 8/10 at the moment which will go up to 10/10 if he pays the out of pocket expenses too

Millionaire

Update: Hi, The car was returned and my friend managed to get a full refund and £50 comp. The original sales guys were not in, spoke to the main owner.

Thanks for all your input.

vaio

10/10 for the dealer, name him so others know he's to be trusted and will sort out problems properly

cyclonebri1

vaio wrote: »

10/10 for the dealer, name him so others know he's to be trusted and will sort out problems properly

Exactly, give us the reg and dealer etc, MSE snoops will keep an eye on it :T