what would you do here when buying a car?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

i get what you say hammy, what i'm saying is isnt it funny how none of these points were picked up as an advisory at the very least, any tester seeing a trye close or on limit will advise so wont they?

as for the light beam high, if you consider seeing the tip of the bulb protruding over the top of inner plastic bulb shroud pointing upwards over the shroud within the headlamp and no signs of tamper on the back of the headlamp access seems like its been like that since it was changed. the metal clip on the back was half in half off.

both front discs look like this not actual photo of them but to give you an idea both sides of the discs are like the outer part you see here. the rear of the disc is mostly showin signs of cracking where the solid parts of the inner vent is coming through the disc.

he's on the phone to vosa who sounds of if they want to see the vehicle, and the tyres that were changed over as we still have them.

fair enough they didnt want the corsa understandable.

garage says the spare is in the valet bay down there and to pick it up. also mentioned the purchase reciept of trade purchase, said he does all his part ex vehicles on trade purchases and is perfectly legal to do.

scheming_gypsy

Strider590 wrote: »

This highlights what I was being shot down for saying months ago...... When a garage MOTs a car they intend to sell, you really have to take that MOT certificate as being an entirely meaningless scrap of paper!

To be honest I've found things to be the opposite way around; especially as this wasn't MOT'ed at the place they bought the car from.
I've always found that you can get a 'friendly' MOT if you're keeping the car yourself but if it's going to be sold, they'll do a proper test. That's usually so if the buyer spots something and complains; they won't lose their license.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Hammyman wrote: »

No matter what or where you're buying from or how much you are paying, you should always treat a MOT as a meaningless scrap of paper. It has absolutely no bearing on the relevance of the condition of the car once it has left the test station. Also it only covers a very limited list of checks.

Why people think a MOT is an indication of the condition of a car is beyond me. You could have a car where absolutely none of the electrics other than the lights, horn, wipers and ignition system work and it will pass an MOT. You can have one with an engine that is at the point of grenading and it will pass an MOT if it can get through the emissions check. The clutch could be shot and it'd pass. You can have the entire floor of the boot missing and as long as it wasn't structural or within 30cm of a suspension mounting point it'd pass.

MOT is an indecation of how roadworthy the car is, and as such youd expect to be told your brakes are shot and its failed its not roadworthy.

maybe banger money but to some its a hell of alot of hard saving and alot of cash to some.

Hotspur

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

also mentioned the purchase reciept of trade purchase, said he does all his part ex vehicles on trade purchases and is perfectly legal to do.

The trader is incorrect. A trader can't get out of his resposibility when selling to a consumer by claiming it is a 'trade sale'. This term would be deemed to restricting the rights of a consumer. Unfair terms in consumer contracts regulations if they still if force or the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations will apply.

If the car is unroadworthy, and it may or may not be, it would be illegal to sell it knowing it was to be driven away rather than being taken on a trailer.

I'm not saying it will get to this but with any claim taken to a court the price paid, age of the vehicle, condition etc.will be taken into consideration.

The term 'trade sale' can be used in a genuine trade to trade sale where both parties would be expected to have a greater knowledge of the goods subject to the transaction.

scheming_gypsy

might be worth taking it for another MOT. If it fails then you can go back to the garage with the failure sheet as some leverage before threatening to report the dodgy MOT station.......

almillar

Yep, a trade sale is sold as seen, no warranty, buyer beware, once it leaves the garage you're on your own. That's all fine, even with a member of the public, as long as the person requests it! Clearly OP's cousin, enquiring about warranty etc, was performing a consumer purchase, and would be covered by sale of goods act etc, and the trader clearly thinks he can just shun these laws by counting everything as a trade sale. Wonder if an HPI check has been done and whether it's a CAT C or D?

Hammyman

colino wrote: »

Isn't it just the teensiest bit late to haggle, ask for a(n additional) warranty and pick at the transaction after the deal is done?

The going rate for a 2002 Astra is £1500. The going rate for a 2004 Astra is around £2300. It is already at a giveaway price.

Hammyman

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

MOT is an indecation of how roadworthy the car is, and as such youd expect to be told your brakes are shot and its failed its not roadworthy.

The MOT is a visual inspection only. If they can't see the brakes, they aren't even allowed to take a wheel trim off, let alone a wheel. Cars with drum brakes can pass with the shoes worn to metal.

maybe banger money but to some its a hell of alot of hard saving and alot of cash to some.

Not really. Front brakes under £60 for parts, £60 for the exhaust, £20 for an indicator stalk...

There's maybe £150 in parts and 2hrs labour. The going rate for a 2004 Astra is about £800-£900 more than the person paid - I know this because my parents have just bought a 2002 Astra for £1500 from a dealer and asked me to research prices. If a car is 2/3 of the normal price they are, there is usually a reason why.

andygb

Hammyman wrote: »

The going rate for a 2002 Astra is £1500. The going rate for a 2004 Astra is around £2300. It is already at a giveaway price.

Doesn't that very much depend on - specification, mileage adjustment, colour, trim, general condition etc.?

Wh05apk

As has been said, it sounds like the car was cheap, a £1400 car from a garage was probably £8-900 privately so will likely need work, which is why at that level, you really need to know what you are looking at.

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned sale of goods act yet, on a recent thread where somebody had gearbox failure, the implication was that effectively SOGA applied giving you in effect a lifetime warranty!