Real-life MMD: Should I keep schtum about car problems when I flog it?

ronangel

gumtree for cash, and tell them check themselves to make sure they are happy sold as seen and tested no returns.

jagu

Don't sell anything to a friend that might break, whether you know about its condition or not.

My brother bought a car from a friend and then had to pay £1,000+ to fix it. The friend genuinely thought the car was a bargain. My brother was highly miffed. Their friendship survived but it caused a lot of grief.

Don't sell cars or computers to anyone you know, either as friends or work colleagues.

careerbee

Its close to an "advisory". It doesnt mean bits are going to start falling off.

I would tell them that it was close to an advisory as you are selling to a friend, but be sure you are clear that if a car has an advisory it would still pass an MOT. If you were selling to a stranger therefore, even with advisories you would be able to sell as passed MOT - beyond that, not really your problem.

joannie

Yes, yes, yes.

Please tell your friend. You would want him to tell you if the position was reversed. What sort of friend are you?:j

rojanich

Seakay wrote: »

Definitely! Can't believe this is a quandary for you - how do you define friendship?

:T Exactly.

Cookiecrumble

NEVER sell a car to a friend. Simples

sandyhatter

I'd tell the friend all about it.

But, most of the time these advisory notes are no more than general maintenance which anybody buying a car of a certain age should expect. I got an advisory note and the car actually didn't need the repair for another two years according to the main dealer, in addition my latest MOT gave me an advisory notice as required because two of my tyres were slightly worn although still well within legal limit. If it was close to a fail then that is an entirely different thing.

SandraDJ

I would be careful about selling to a friend - not always a good idea.

The mechanic probably shouldn't have told you that it was 'close to an advisory'.

I've had an advisory in the past, did nothing about it, and didn't get it again the next MoT!

I also had an advisory on tyres. They were still legal for the next MoT, a year later!

daveeeeed

MSE_Debs wrote: »

the mechanic told me it was close to getting an advisory note - at some point soon, £1,000 of work will need to be done. A friend is keen to buy the car and has offered the market value of £3,000.

There's a win-win here for you and your friend. Tell him you have been advised some work may need doing in the not-too-distant future - this would be expected of pretty much any car with a market value of £3000. Offer him a discount of, say, £250, and give him first refusal with an opportunity to have a second opinion/look at the car, service history etc. End result: friend gets a bargain/discount, is aware of a potential problem further down the line (as with most cars), you sell your car with a clear conscience and still close to market value and both of you come out with your friendship & integrity intact :T

What you haven't disclosed is:

• Is there full service history and has it been maintained in line with proper service schedules?
• Is the "potential advisory" related to a safety issue?
• Will it cost more than £1000 to rectify if the work is doing reactively (as opposed to as a prophylactic measure)?

Ashagill

Yikes, how good a mate is he/she?
If it were me, I'd probably have all the problems fixed then up the price. (Informing them beforehand)...