Sold as Seen ?

MataNui

I would think LilElvis has a point. If you have a lemon you px it or send it to auction or dispose of it in the easiest way that gets you the money with no chance of comeback. You dont sell it to someone you work with then say they can pay in installments.

hollydays

I've never understood how giving the buyer a piece of paper saying" sold as seen" gives the seller any protection?
Surely it's the seller who'd need to get the buyer to sign something to that effect, and keep it.

pinkshoes

LilElvis wrote: »

Would someone who knew the car had a major fault which would soon become apparent a) sell it to someone they know and b) accept payment in instalments? I would expect them to sell to a stranger with cash on collection.

Very true, which is why something is rather amiss... the head gasket issue or at least something has clearly been covered up or given a short term fix, and if it wasn't the previous owner who was it??

SouthUKMan

It's best not to assume that the sealant was put in the cooling system because of the head gasket issue (although of course, it might well have been for that reason!). There might have been a problem with the radiator previously or perhaps a gasket on the water pump was leaking, etc. Cooling system sealants work by being distributed around the entire cooling system rather than being applied to a specific spot. Back in the day, I remember using one of those sealants on an old MG Metro (classy, I know) which had a small radiator leak. It fixed the leak and must have held for two or three years until I scrapped the car.

And as others have said, if the previous owner knew the car was faulty, it would be a very strange move to sell it to a work colleague where you could be in daily contact and where you could potentially bad mouth the seller to all your colleagues. That would be a very silly move. Or an inspired move!

stueybuk

I must agree that I think it is unlikely that this guy has sold it knowing about the issue. He was very apologetic and we are going to take the car to the garage who have serviced it for the last few years. However, on further investigation it seems that he has been regularly putting sealant in the system himself thinking he was helping the car but has over time clogged up the entire system which in turn pu pressure on the gasket causing it to fail.

stueybuk

For others asking the car is a 207 on a 57 plate which we agreed a price of £1200. It has done 69k miles. The garage want £800+ to do the head gasket.

neilmcl

stueybuk wrote: »

However, on further investigation it seems that he has been regularly putting sealant in the system himself thinking he was helping the car but has over time clogged up the entire system which in turn pu pressure on the gasket causing it to fail.

If this is the case then I'd be wanting a refund, he's clearly misdescribed the car.

macman

hollydays wrote: »

I've never understood how giving the buyer a piece of paper saying" sold as seen" gives the seller any protection?
Surely it's the seller who'd need to get the buyer to sign something to that effect, and keep it.

It doesn't. A private seller doesn't need such protection. It's up to the buyer to ask questions about the condition of the vehicle. All the seller has to do is answer truthfully if asked. They do not otherwise have to disclose any known faults.
Sellers use that phrase because they think it protects them from any comebacks.

firefox1956

stueybuk wrote: »

For others asking the car is a 207 on a 57 plate which we agreed a price of £1200. It has done 69k miles. The garage want £800+ to do the head gasket.

Well that price sounds a bit OTT to me & I would be looking for another quote to be honest
207 is a good solid little car.
Sounds like a bit of negotiation with the seller is the way to go ??

bris

neilmcl wrote: »

If this is the case then I'd be wanting a refund, he's clearly misdescribed the car.

That's nonsense, there need to be clear intent to misdescribe it leading to knowingly providing false information.


The seller didn't believe he was doing anything wrong so didn't lie. This is where private buyers need to do there own due diligence.