Lee
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Was she screwed?
What is your worst/most ridiculous and best/easiest experience when selling your car ?
- Thread starter Razor.
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Was she screwed?
surprising_skoda
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So I had this one car, put it up for sale, was a stripped out E34 with no hint of legality, boy from Newry comes up, with his dad and brother, in a lorry. A rigid curtainsider. I said, how are you planning to get this back? Do you not have a forklift? they said. This was years ago, so no, I didn't have a forklift...
Anyway they poked at it for a wee while, fella haggles not too hard, hands me cash, and goes for a "test drive". The other two stand there talking to me. After about 20 minutes I'm pretty bored and want to go inside but then he lands back, car idling rough and back tyres warm. "This things running like ****. Am not buying this heap. Give me my money back NOW"
To which they got the obligatory no chance. So things started getting rough. This fellas up in my face now and I'm trying to back out of it, and also trying to back towards the house where my two brothers are to even the odds up but I get fenced in by the da and the braw. The da starts saying you cant do that now, like as if I've somehow conned them into buying some heap unseen.
Eventually after the boy shoves me in the chest and things get very dicey, I convince them I'll sort the da out if the two boys get back in the truck. Which they eventually do. Sometimes discretion is better than senseless bravado and I handed the oul boy back the money, drove in my 5 cylinder E34 and phoned the police to tell them I'd just been assaulted, gave descriptions, number plate off the truck etc. They arrived 90 minutes later to see if there was anything they could do.
I've a brave few to add to this post, I'll drop them in later.
Anyway they poked at it for a wee while, fella haggles not too hard, hands me cash, and goes for a "test drive". The other two stand there talking to me. After about 20 minutes I'm pretty bored and want to go inside but then he lands back, car idling rough and back tyres warm. "This things running like ****. Am not buying this heap. Give me my money back NOW"
To which they got the obligatory no chance. So things started getting rough. This fellas up in my face now and I'm trying to back out of it, and also trying to back towards the house where my two brothers are to even the odds up but I get fenced in by the da and the braw. The da starts saying you cant do that now, like as if I've somehow conned them into buying some heap unseen.
Eventually after the boy shoves me in the chest and things get very dicey, I convince them I'll sort the da out if the two boys get back in the truck. Which they eventually do. Sometimes discretion is better than senseless bravado and I handed the oul boy back the money, drove in my 5 cylinder E34 and phoned the police to tell them I'd just been assaulted, gave descriptions, number plate off the truck etc. They arrived 90 minutes later to see if there was anything they could do.
I've a brave few to add to this post, I'll drop them in later.
Burt2000
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The one that sticks in my head was my Evo 8 about 5 years ago. A young polish fella and his dad came from London, liked the car agreed the price all going well. He brought a couple of k cash and went to do the bank transfer for the rest. He had changed his mobile number and this somehow affected his online banking security and when he applied the new number it locked his account.
He was with Lloyds who didn't have a branch here, he phoned them and they wouldn't accept that he was genuine, his poor English didn't help him there. I explained that I couldn't let the car go until I had all the money even though they were genuine people, his eyes literally filled up in front of me the poor lad. My wife suggested he get a flight to Glasgow to withdraw the money before 5pm (he made it with 10 mins to spare) and then got another flight back to Belfast that evening. I picked him up at the airport for a second time, done the deal and left them to the ferry to Liverpool that night.
It was a complete cluster**** of a day but all ended well.
Oh then I left the 9 grand in a brown paper bag sitting on the window sill outside the house overnight after a few too many drinks. It was still there the next morning, but that's another story altogether.
He was with Lloyds who didn't have a branch here, he phoned them and they wouldn't accept that he was genuine, his poor English didn't help him there. I explained that I couldn't let the car go until I had all the money even though they were genuine people, his eyes literally filled up in front of me the poor lad. My wife suggested he get a flight to Glasgow to withdraw the money before 5pm (he made it with 10 mins to spare) and then got another flight back to Belfast that evening. I picked him up at the airport for a second time, done the deal and left them to the ferry to Liverpool that night.
It was a complete cluster**** of a day but all ended well.
Oh then I left the 9 grand in a brown paper bag sitting on the window sill outside the house overnight after a few too many drinks. It was still there the next morning, but that's another story altogether.
k20_chunky
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In complete comparison my worst sale ever was a nightmare. An older guy from Galway rang about a 2010 Focus I had for sale, Usual chit chat on the phone and then he got very serious all of a sudden. He started questioning the mileage, outstanding finance, accident damage. Of course the car was 100%, I offered to do a history check for him if he wanted and send it onto him via email. He laughed, do you think I'm stupid he said. I didn't know what to say.
He eventually agreed to come view the car, as if he was doing me a favour kinda way.
He came up with his mechanic, spent about an hour looking at the car, couldn't fault it, then asked could they take it to o local garage to get another opinion. At this stage I was getting fed up. Local garage looked at the car, the mechanics told me he had it all arranged since the day before. Again couldn't be faulted.
Now bear in mind I had the car very well priced, needing nothing whatsoever and came with one of the most comprehensive service history's I've seen with any car.
He turned around and offered me 1k less than the previously agreed price. Apparently he felt the car would benefit from a new clutch and flywheel and full service all that would have to be done through Ford. I just took the key out of his hand, got in the car, drove off and turned off my phone.
The next day I got a phone call from your man's mechanic, he was full of apologies, he couldn't believe what the guy had done. He ended up buying the car for his wife, even though she didn't need it, he couldn't get over the condition and the price.
He eventually agreed to come view the car, as if he was doing me a favour kinda way.
He came up with his mechanic, spent about an hour looking at the car, couldn't fault it, then asked could they take it to o local garage to get another opinion. At this stage I was getting fed up. Local garage looked at the car, the mechanics told me he had it all arranged since the day before. Again couldn't be faulted.
Now bear in mind I had the car very well priced, needing nothing whatsoever and came with one of the most comprehensive service history's I've seen with any car.
He turned around and offered me 1k less than the previously agreed price. Apparently he felt the car would benefit from a new clutch and flywheel and full service all that would have to be done through Ford. I just took the key out of his hand, got in the car, drove off and turned off my phone.
The next day I got a phone call from your man's mechanic, he was full of apologies, he couldn't believe what the guy had done. He ended up buying the car for his wife, even though she didn't need it, he couldn't get over the condition and the price.
big cyril
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Selling a Passat estate, probably nearly ten years ago now, member on here came to look at it, happy enough, seemed genuine, agreed to buy, said he'd ring the next day to arrange collection.
That was the last I heard of him, still read his posts on here now and again tho'.
That was the last I heard of him, still read his posts on here now and again tho'.
Rover Repair
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His ma certainly was Yeowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
longchamps
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Some of my experiences
The two hoods that named every made up mechanical part they could think of and told me it was done mate! needs a new superturbovalve mate!
The smart enough on first appearance guy that stood spitting on the drive then took me on a 60mph test drive thru the village and left doing a massive one wheel burnout
The guy that comes to view a car three times! to tell stories of one he owned leaves a deposit and is never seen again
The pro detailer lolz of this site once that views car with for his mate all good happy test drive cant fault it then takes a heart attack when you tell them its a cat d.....some detailer cant spot a car thats had the whole side and rear painted.
Another that views the car but just talks about his own car the whole time leaves deposit never seen again.
A fella i know had a go at wheeling dealing drunk buying of ebay etc but the buyings the easy part not the selling soon enough he had a load of cars lying about not selling and lost interest.Some of these cars where quite new or sought after but got abandoned in a field where grass grew up thru them and mice made themselves at home.They lay for years until a family member helped put them back on ebay most where taken away unviewed by transport companys but i remember a buyer from across the water arriving to drive back on the next boat the car wasnt even running he went bezerk hanging about all day waiting on repairs to be done but had to be sent away on a flight in the middle of the night as the car was beyond repair
A car i seen on here late one friday afternoon white ae86 import rang the guy raced up the motorway to coalisland left a deposit all good gets a text on the monday that the cars been destroyed wrote of by his drunk mate over the weekend it dawns on me this guys dodgy so arrange the deposit to be left with a business friend near him.
Never got the deposit and seen the car in ballymena at a cruise a couple of weeks later with some kid behind the wheel
The two hoods that named every made up mechanical part they could think of and told me it was done mate! needs a new superturbovalve mate!
The smart enough on first appearance guy that stood spitting on the drive then took me on a 60mph test drive thru the village and left doing a massive one wheel burnout
The guy that comes to view a car three times! to tell stories of one he owned leaves a deposit and is never seen again
The pro detailer lolz of this site once that views car with for his mate all good happy test drive cant fault it then takes a heart attack when you tell them its a cat d.....some detailer cant spot a car thats had the whole side and rear painted.
Another that views the car but just talks about his own car the whole time leaves deposit never seen again.
A fella i know had a go at wheeling dealing drunk buying of ebay etc but the buyings the easy part not the selling soon enough he had a load of cars lying about not selling and lost interest.Some of these cars where quite new or sought after but got abandoned in a field where grass grew up thru them and mice made themselves at home.They lay for years until a family member helped put them back on ebay most where taken away unviewed by transport companys but i remember a buyer from across the water arriving to drive back on the next boat the car wasnt even running he went bezerk hanging about all day waiting on repairs to be done but had to be sent away on a flight in the middle of the night as the car was beyond repair
A car i seen on here late one friday afternoon white ae86 import rang the guy raced up the motorway to coalisland left a deposit all good gets a text on the monday that the cars been destroyed wrote of by his drunk mate over the weekend it dawns on me this guys dodgy so arrange the deposit to be left with a business friend near him.
Never got the deposit and seen the car in ballymena at a cruise a couple of weeks later with some kid behind the wheel
56oval
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Easiest sale my mk2 escort harrier rep ( ish, at night if you squinted a lot ). Shed of a car had been sitting at the side of the house for 6 months. My dads mechanic friend asked if i would sell it as he knew a mate who was looking a cheap car. I said 50 quid take it away. I left the keys and log book in it and he posted the cash through the letterbox ( which was a balls as i owed my dad some rent and he got to it first lol )
Worst sale
Selling a mk2 escort blind only to be woken by the police knocking on the door the next morning asking where i was last night as said escort has been involved in a ram raid at the local shops.
Worst sale
Selling a mk2 escort blind only to be woken by the police knocking on the door the next morning asking where i was last night as said escort has been involved in a ram raid at the local shops.
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ChrisL
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ChrisL
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Think it was in WSM's M4 thread. By the looks of it the whole saga has been adapted into a novel
Neil_M
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I've had my fair share of time wasters and dishonest people... But also some cracking stories that restores your faith in humanity.
Mini Cooper
I'd a run about '01 Mini for a while. She was incredibly clean, had a few choice extras and was running perfectly.
Buying it was a great experience. Phoned up the dealer, who initially was very rude. I went to view the car and bought it with no BS in 20minutes.
Anyway, time came to sell it on.
The first viewer landed up 30 mins early with his aunt and uncle. He asked to drive the car, I was dubious and requested insurance and a license. He had neither, so to quickly defuse the situation, I suggested taking him for a drive. Test drive went perfectly, his uncle was very impressed with the car and pointed out the new tyres, brakes, condition and history file to the nephew. The nephew went down the road (not even half a mile away) to get the money. I'm still waiting on him, that was nearly a year ago.
The second potential viewer gave me a call. He was very well spoken, asked all the right questions and seemed very genuine. He arrived that evening with his wife. Both seemed lovely people, so we walked round the car, discussed everything, showed the history file etc etc. The test drive went perfectly.
I chatted to the two people a little more and their aim was to buy their son his first car, as he done so well in his a-levels. Anyway he left a deposit and we agreed he would collect the car the following night. I also suggested that I should have the car all cleaned up ready for the son to collect, which they were very pleased about.
Anyway the following day arrives. I get home from work early, and had the car absolutely minted. The couple arrived on time, with the son and daughter. They drove past the house, with the rear of their car facing the mini. The kids were told there dad had to see a man about a dog... The deal was done and the father asked the son to come out for a second. He questioned the son as to whether he would like to go home with him in the mini or his mum. A puzzled look appeared on the sons face, the father mentioned it's "your car". I've never seen a young lad so lost for words and so delighted. Me and my dad both got handshakes and one hundred thank you's.
Me and my dad stood back nearly welling up and watched the son stand there speechless. I gave the son a quick tour of the car and job done! That really made our day.
Mini Cooper
I'd a run about '01 Mini for a while. She was incredibly clean, had a few choice extras and was running perfectly.
Buying it was a great experience. Phoned up the dealer, who initially was very rude. I went to view the car and bought it with no BS in 20minutes.
Anyway, time came to sell it on.
The first viewer landed up 30 mins early with his aunt and uncle. He asked to drive the car, I was dubious and requested insurance and a license. He had neither, so to quickly defuse the situation, I suggested taking him for a drive. Test drive went perfectly, his uncle was very impressed with the car and pointed out the new tyres, brakes, condition and history file to the nephew. The nephew went down the road (not even half a mile away) to get the money. I'm still waiting on him, that was nearly a year ago.
The second potential viewer gave me a call. He was very well spoken, asked all the right questions and seemed very genuine. He arrived that evening with his wife. Both seemed lovely people, so we walked round the car, discussed everything, showed the history file etc etc. The test drive went perfectly.
I chatted to the two people a little more and their aim was to buy their son his first car, as he done so well in his a-levels. Anyway he left a deposit and we agreed he would collect the car the following night. I also suggested that I should have the car all cleaned up ready for the son to collect, which they were very pleased about.
Anyway the following day arrives. I get home from work early, and had the car absolutely minted. The couple arrived on time, with the son and daughter. They drove past the house, with the rear of their car facing the mini. The kids were told there dad had to see a man about a dog... The deal was done and the father asked the son to come out for a second. He questioned the son as to whether he would like to go home with him in the mini or his mum. A puzzled look appeared on the sons face, the father mentioned it's "your car". I've never seen a young lad so lost for words and so delighted. Me and my dad both got handshakes and one hundred thank you's.
Me and my dad stood back nearly welling up and watched the son stand there speechless. I gave the son a quick tour of the car and job done! That really made our day.
I have had a few bad ones
guy comes to look at my Altezza - spend an hour and a half between the test drive and going round it. Put it in the garage for him to jack it up and look underneath. He says '' The wee cars in some order. ill be back in 20 minutes. just scooting in to the house to lift the cash here and ill be back'' - 7 years later and still no sign of him lol
Spanish guy rings about my evo iv. He lives in Belfast and would get the train to Coleraine to meet me. He intends to buy one and take it back to Spain with him. the guy nearly crashed it twice as he clearly had never driven on the other side of the road or a right hand drive car before. I asked him to pull in and said I would drive from there on in before he wrecked it. Left him back off at the train station and away he went. Same craic. was going to organise the money and contact me. Never heard from him again but wasted an afternoon.
Sold my CLK a few months ago - Guy comes with his wife from Portadown to look at the car. leaves a deposit and says he will be back on Saturday to collect the car.
Sure enough Saturday comes and the guy gets a lift down from Portadown by his brother in law. I take him into the house and he gives me the money. I count it out and we are 2 grand short. Instantly he goes into panic mode patting his pockets and checking his jacket. Ballox ive left the rest in the cupboard at home
So he gets a lift home to Portadown and I have another car lined up to collect that afternoon with the money I am supposed to have. I end up driving to Bangor with a car transporter in tow to pay it on my credit card which gets declined for no apparent reason. An hour of phone calls later and payment is approved. I lift the guy from Portadown on the way home at Nutts corner which I have stopped at to buy a set of alloys for the new car. Long feckin day but all turned out ok. He got the CLK, I got my money and the wife got her new car with a nice set of wheels
guy comes to look at my Altezza - spend an hour and a half between the test drive and going round it. Put it in the garage for him to jack it up and look underneath. He says '' The wee cars in some order. ill be back in 20 minutes. just scooting in to the house to lift the cash here and ill be back'' - 7 years later and still no sign of him lol
Spanish guy rings about my evo iv. He lives in Belfast and would get the train to Coleraine to meet me. He intends to buy one and take it back to Spain with him. the guy nearly crashed it twice as he clearly had never driven on the other side of the road or a right hand drive car before. I asked him to pull in and said I would drive from there on in before he wrecked it. Left him back off at the train station and away he went. Same craic. was going to organise the money and contact me. Never heard from him again but wasted an afternoon.
Sold my CLK a few months ago - Guy comes with his wife from Portadown to look at the car. leaves a deposit and says he will be back on Saturday to collect the car.
Sure enough Saturday comes and the guy gets a lift down from Portadown by his brother in law. I take him into the house and he gives me the money. I count it out and we are 2 grand short. Instantly he goes into panic mode patting his pockets and checking his jacket. Ballox ive left the rest in the cupboard at home
So he gets a lift home to Portadown and I have another car lined up to collect that afternoon with the money I am supposed to have. I end up driving to Bangor with a car transporter in tow to pay it on my credit card which gets declined for no apparent reason. An hour of phone calls later and payment is approved. I lift the guy from Portadown on the way home at Nutts corner which I have stopped at to buy a set of alloys for the new car. Long feckin day but all turned out ok. He got the CLK, I got my money and the wife got her new car with a nice set of wheels
ChrisL
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I have had a few bad ones
guy comes to look at my Altezza - spend an hour and a half between the test drive and going round it. Put it in the garage for him to jack it up and look underneath. He says '' The wee cars in some order. ill be back in 20 minutes. just scooting in to the house to lift the cash here and ill be back'' - 7 years later and still no sign of him lol
Spanish guy rings about my evo iv. He lives in Belfast and would get the train to Coleraine to meet me. He intends to buy one and take it back to Spain with him. the guy nearly crashed it twice as he clearly had never driven on the other side of the road or a right hand drive car before. I asked him to pull in and said I would drive from there on in before he wrecked it. Left him back off at the train station and away he went. Same craic. was going to organise the money and contact me. Never heard from him again but wasted an afternoon.
Sold my CLK a few months ago - Guy comes with his wife from Portadown to look at the car. leaves a deposit and says he will be back on Saturday to collect the car.
Sure enough Saturday comes and the guy gets a lift down from Portadown by his brother in law. I take him into the house and he gives me the money. I count it out and we are 2 grand short. Instantly he goes into panic mode patting his pockets and checking his jacket. Ballox ive left the rest in the cupboard at home
So he gets a lift home to Portadown and I have another car lined up to collect that afternoon with the money I am supposed to have. I end up driving to Bangor with a car transporter in tow to pay it on my credit card which gets declined for no apparent reason. An hour of phone calls later and payment is approved. I lift the guy from Portadown on the way home at Nutts corner which I have stopped at to buy a set of alloys for the new car. Long feckin day but all turned out ok. He got the CLK, I got my money and the wife got her new car with a nice set of wheels
Haha made me laugh quite loud that
k20_chunky
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@Neil_M
Something similar happened me back a number of years ago. I was selling my girlfriends Audi A4.
A young guy rings up about the car, Usual questions and says his mum will ring later. She rang the same evening after doing Hpi check, was happy with everything and arranged to meet me the next day. The deal was that of he was happy with the car hed leave a deposit and pick up a couple of days later. They landed up in a brand new Audi A7, very well dressed and lovely people. They done all the looking they wanted, we agreed a price and the young fella gave me the deposit. I get a phone call 2 mins after they leave to meet them at a KFC up the road. I pulled in a bit puzzled to meet the father standing with his arms folded. He asks me to stay there a minute, he goes gets the son who also looks puzzled. The father hands me the cash and says to the son that he's taking the car home with him, he nearly died with excitement.
This was a £10k car, it turns out his father was a co owner in a massive franchise of DIY stores around Ireland. Money wasn't an issue for then but they had taught there son the importance on it and how to look after it. The son told me then that he worked weekends for his father and his father would take money out of his wages to cover his insurance and that he had saved up the money to buy the car himself and that he would still be paying for the car.
Something similar happened me back a number of years ago. I was selling my girlfriends Audi A4.
A young guy rings up about the car, Usual questions and says his mum will ring later. She rang the same evening after doing Hpi check, was happy with everything and arranged to meet me the next day. The deal was that of he was happy with the car hed leave a deposit and pick up a couple of days later. They landed up in a brand new Audi A7, very well dressed and lovely people. They done all the looking they wanted, we agreed a price and the young fella gave me the deposit. I get a phone call 2 mins after they leave to meet them at a KFC up the road. I pulled in a bit puzzled to meet the father standing with his arms folded. He asks me to stay there a minute, he goes gets the son who also looks puzzled. The father hands me the cash and says to the son that he's taking the car home with him, he nearly died with excitement.
This was a £10k car, it turns out his father was a co owner in a massive franchise of DIY stores around Ireland. Money wasn't an issue for then but they had taught there son the importance on it and how to look after it. The son told me then that he worked weekends for his father and his father would take money out of his wages to cover his insurance and that he had saved up the money to buy the car himself and that he would still be paying for the car.
Neil_M
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@k20_chunky Great story! It's the simple things in life.
k20_chunky
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@k20_chunky Great story! It's the simple things in life.
It's really is, automatically you'd think these people were going to be snobby and hard to deal with. It was the complete opposite, absolute pleasure so they were.
The son really impressed me, not your usual spoilt brat. He had only turned 18. Not bad going for somebody his age and he also had an ek9 that he was keeping. (Paid for fully by himself)
I'd say the mechanic possibly talked sense to the original viewer and ended up "buying" it himself to save face!
theres 2 minutes of my life il never get back, would you take a drink now and again? whos the pro detailer?
k20_chunky
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Maybe, you could be right. One of the strangest dealings I've had with anybody before lol
big_pete
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It wasn't me anyway lol
Boabybooster
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Aye you're right, he said "pro".
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