Pros and cons of buying a council car (Auctions from car pounds)

Grumpy_chap

I think it was the X5 that had the engine warning light, or has the Vauxhall got that also?

facade

No the vauxhall has no lights on, but does have a lot of miles ( I know, right for the age- but I think high milers will need wheelbearings, alternators, waterpumps etc, so I would expect to spend about £100 on parts fairly quickly ), and is quite tatty & knocked about even for a 13 year old car, if it was tarted up and the interior sorted it might sell for £500 at a bargain trader.

I don't know where the Council bit came from either, they look like trade-ins (usually with problems ) from dealers who won't touch them and don't like Copart/BCA.

ontheroad1970

williamgriffin said:

ontheroad1970 said:

williamgriffin said:

AdrianC said:

Freecall said:

alihd said:

1. They hide the plate numbers, unless you email them and ask for it, why?

It is common to obscure number plates when posting pictures of a car you own on the internet.

This prevents those who wish to stop their own car being traced from 'cloning' your vehicle.

Except the listings have the reg in them.

They're unlikely to be insured and showing as being in trade which make freecalls point somewhat limp.

Private ads on auto trader etc are more likely to still be in use and fully taxed and insured.  So not so limp after all.

This isn't about private sales. 

But it is covering the point that Freecell made.

williamgriffin

ontheroad1970 said:

williamgriffin said:

ontheroad1970 said:

williamgriffin said:

AdrianC said:

Freecall said:

alihd said:

1. They hide the plate numbers, unless you email them and ask for it, why?

It is common to obscure number plates when posting pictures of a car you own on the internet.

This prevents those who wish to stop their own car being traced from 'cloning' your vehicle.

Except the listings have the reg in them.

They're unlikely to be insured and showing as being in trade which make freecalls point somewhat limp.

Private ads on auto trader etc are more likely to still be in use and fully taxed and insured.  So not so limp after all.

This isn't about private sales. 

But it is covering the point that Freecell made.

The point about cars for sale in auction?

Grumpy_chap

facade said:

the vauxhall is quite tatty & knocked about even for a 13 year old car, i

I agree, the Vauxhall look rather tatty, especially inside.  Maybe it was a decorator's workmobile or similar? 
It was MOT'd at the end of November and done 1k miles since. 
If it starts and runs, and bidding closes at £100, it might be worth a punt - if you get a month of use from it before scrapping it you've done OK and will get something back for scrap value.  If you really just need an emergency car to get by, this is cheaper than a hire car for a week.
The only thing is, decorator's workmobiles tend to be run until they run no more

facade

Grumpy_chap said:

facade said:

the vauxhall is quite tatty & knocked about even for a 13 year old car, i

I agree, the Vauxhall look rather tatty, especially inside.  Maybe it was a decorator's workmobile or similar? 
It was MOT'd at the end of November and done 1k miles since. 
If it starts and runs, and bidding closes at £100, it might be worth a punt - if you get a month of use from it before scrapping it you've done OK and will get something back for scrap value.  If you really just need an emergency car to get by, this is cheaper than a hire car for a week.
The only thing is, decorator's workmobiles tend to be run until they run no more

I thought decorator's workhorse too, and nasty suspicious person that I am, I thought it significant that there are no shots of inside the load area

Jumblebumble

alihd 

1. I asked the seller whether they will MOT the car before giving it to me. The dealer (auctioner) said that these cars "will definitely pass the MOT", but I have to pay for it. What if it didn't pass it? What if it wasn't roadworthy? How much is the risk? Any chances of disputing the deal if the car wasn't working fine or even wasn't roadworthy?
2. In general, how much is the expected gain of buying the car (the profit of a 'lucky' case), compared to the risk (the 'unlucky scenario'). Is it worth trying for a first-time car buyer?

You are setting yourself for a big mistake and getting very badly burned
Someone claiming it will definatly pass an MOT is talking nonsense
These Cars are old nails and if you think you are going to  be able to dispute a write off that does not work properly you are going to be sadly disappointed
Look at their T and C and then as a first time buyer RUN
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You acknowledge that our business is that of selling used, recovered stolen, accident-damaged and/or insurance write-off vehicles and other used goods. You acknowledge that as a registered Trade or Privat Member you are a trader in such vehicles and/or other goods and, whether or not this is your first occasion that you are using our Services, you are purchasing all Lots with a view to your trade and with a view to a profit.

YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU ARE NOT A CONSUMER OF OUR SERVICES, BUT A TRADE PURCHASER. AS SUCH YOU ACCEPT THAT IT IS FAIR AND REASONABLE IN ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR US TO EXCLUDE, RESTRICT OR LIMIT (AS THE CASE MAY BE) OUR OBLIGATIONS AND LIABILITY TO YOU IN RESPECT OF THE LOTS WE OFFER FOR SALE ON BEHALF OF SELLERS (WHO ON OCCASIONS MAY BE US).

Homer_home

AdrianC said:

Homer_home said:

Don't forget you will be spending a fair bit of money getting it back on the road

The one the OP posted has done 3k from the last MOT in November.

And?

Doesn't change the fact its gonna cost a hell of a lot more than £100 to get it on the road , I suspect it will turn into a money pit.

facade

I just checked, out of interest, what the vauxhall and that x5 sold for, and both of them still have 11 hours to run, I don't remember exactly what it said on Sunday, but I didn't think it was anywhere near this long?

AdrianC

Homer_home said:

AdrianC said:

Homer_home said:

Don't forget you will be spending a fair bit of money getting it back on the road

The one the OP posted has done 3k from the last MOT in November.

And?

Doesn't change the fact its gonna cost a hell of a lot more than £100 to get it on the road , I suspect it will turn into a money pit.

What are you basing the fact it isn't already "on the road" on?

The EML is the X5.
The OP said about several years out of MOT - but this car has a fairly new test.

It's a shed, and it'll almost certainly turn out overpriced - sure. But we don't KNOW it's a broken shed rather than just a scruffy one.