Idiot car dealers

rev_henry

Joe_Horner wrote: »

It doesn't matter. The rules are quite simple:

You describe the car and point out any known faults. Those are NOT covered by SOGA because the buyer knows about them.

If other faults appear then you deal with them if they're serious enough to make a significant dent in the quality of the car.

If the car has so many faults (or you think it might) that the above isn't practical then you either sell it on to another nona fide trader, put it through an auction, or weigh it in.

What you don't do is play on the average person's desire for aa bargain by passing it off as "no problems I know of but it's trade so take your chance" because the average punter won't have the professional knowledge to make that judgement.

Bottom line is, a trader is supposed to know his stock and know if it's likely to be a dog. The law expects him to have the experience and expertise to do make these judgements as part of his business, and also says that when his professional knowledge suggests "dog" he's not allowed to pass it on to a member of the public by trying to "contract out" of their rights in return for a "bargain".

Good traders manage to do it the right way all the time. Like any other business, they might get the odd one wrong and lose a bit but, on balance, they get it right and have happy customers.

I know. I am realistic, if the whole thing blew up the day after I bought it I'd take it back, if the electric windows broke in 3 months time I would not.

If he'd said what he said in a reasonable, polite manner I would have gone and looked and probably bought; just sold my old one so I have the funds.

Glad to see most people are of the same opinion as me.

rev_henry

maninthestreet wrote: »

How much did this dealer want for a 13 year old BMW 318 TDS ??

£995, now sold I think.

Can anyone help me find something similar? Or is this a stupid idea bound to leave me with a four figure bill in a few months?

Rolandtheroadie

I'd have this over a 13 year old 318 any day of the week.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-80-ESTATE-1-9-TDI-RED-/190707657356?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D919061429708907048%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26

But then again, I'm biased lol.

Joe_Horner

rev_henry wrote: »

I know. I am realistic, if the whole thing blew up the day after I bought it I'd take it back, if the electric windows broke in 3 months time I would not.

If he'd said what he said in a reasonable, polite manner I would have gone and looked and probably bought; just sold my old one so I have the funds.

Glad to see most people are of the same opinion as me.

And I totally agree with that approach.

The trouble is, a lot (if not most) of the dealers who try the "trade only" line are the ones who'll either disappear or set their pitbulls on you if you dare to go back when it does "blow up the next day".

Which is why the law is like it is.