Neighbour bought a now broken down car on gumtree..

robbies_gal

there was a poster on here who sold a car it broke down a few weeks later and they got taken to court and had to pay out

would cost him but maybe try and make a claim

Tenpmix

I would be the worst person to bring along about cars. Tbh we don't know each other that well, he's been in this country for about three years and wanted our advice on what he could do. I'm not sure there is anything more we can do. It is a Nissan Primera.

chrisw

It may not be too bad if he started it in the car park and drove it home ok. Can he get a second opinion-it might be something straight forward like the battery.

PCMcGarry

Tenpmix wrote: »

Our neighbour came to our door this morning asking for advice. He bought a second hand car for £500 via gumtree. He met the vendor in a shopping centre car park. The car got him home but the next morning it wouldn't start. A mechanic has looked at it and it will be £300 to fix. He contacted the vendor who won't take it back. Is there anything he can do? It's £500 they barely can afford but he needs the car to get him to his work. I feel so sorry for them especially at Christmas. Thanks.

So your neighbour buys a crap car and you join this forum for the first time to tell us?:T

Tenpmix

Thanks to all that gave helpful replies to my first ever post on mse forums. For me forums are a place to share and learn from other people's knowledge and experience and give back where you can. I was at a loss to think of other options for someone who asked for my help. I'm hoping it will be easy fixed after all. Merry Christmas!

zaax

Most of the £300 repair with be labour. If you going to buy old cars you need to be able to repair it yourself.

peter12345678910

My first car was a Ford Escort for £700, mot cost over £300, but it did run for 5 years.

If your neighbour lacks the money, he can use a private engineer who fixes the car in his back garden and only accepts cash.

EdGasket

peter12345678910 wrote: »

My first car was a Ford Escort for £700, mot cost over £300, but it did run for 5 years.

If your neighbour lacks the money, he can use a private engineer who fixes the car in his back garden and only accepts cash.

Well of course they're easy to find aren't they?

motorguy

robbies_gal wrote: »

there was a poster on here who sold a car it broke down a few weeks later and they got taken to court and had to pay out

would cost him but maybe try and make a claim

Thats assuming he has the details for the seller - "meet you at tescos" is a dead cert way of making sure you dont have to let the buyer have your home address if your a rogue trader, and a disposable phone thats switched off when the heat gets too much and replaced.

motorguy

chrisw wrote: »

It may not be too bad if he started it in the car park and drove it home ok. Can he get a second opinion-it might be something straight forward like the battery.

You'd have to have a particularly naff mechanic who recommends £300 repairs for a car with a flat battery.

Most likely glow plugs if its a diesel, or injectors.