We've all done it - looked at an advert and thought "Yep - I can see myself having some fun with/in that"
After a couple of fun but *very* frustrating days (and 450 miles) going to have a look at a car which I would have been happy with but which I decided not to buy, I thought I'd try to put together some positive lessons.
Feel free to learn from my mistakes, please post any do's or don'ts so other don't make the same mistakes we have!
My Qualifications ? We had a (rather drunken) family quiz about 10 years ago when we were trying to work out how many cars I'd had.
We got to about about 30 cars + 35 bikes when we stopped counting. Add in any we didn't think about then and add in anything since and I think it's fair to say I've had a bit of experience buying / fixing up / running / selling.
Tips and advice to follow in the next post - watch this space...
Buyers (Q1)
What can a seller do (before or when you go to view your new wheels) to get in your good books?
Communication! Don't ignore my questions - if I'm asking it's because it's important to me and I want to know!
Either reply to my questions, or at least let me know you've got my message but you're hectic but I can expect an answer in 2 days etc.
Answer any questions I ask, don't just fob me off with "come and have a look"
Prepare the car :
I'm not interested in a valet and detailing the interior, but if it's advertised as "complete" "everything is here" etc, don't have some bits in the loft and some in the garden/garage when I come to view!
If you say ""engine runs" - I'd like to hear it so I know if I need to think about a rebuild before I start to use it!
Also make sure you have some fuel and a good charged battery (or jump leads). I'd like to check it cold before you start it up so please don't warm it up "so it's ready for me"
Take out the trash before I come to view. Using a "spare" car/van/truck to storejunk useful spare stuff makes a lot of sense but I don't want to have to shift bin-bags out of the boot before I can check if the floor needs welding.
Buyers (Q2)
What has happened to you in the past to spoil or stop what looked like a done deal / what should sellers avoid doing?
Seeing adverts "must sell in the next 2 days or it gets fragged". What - you won the lottery 2 days ago and the first thing you did was buy a new car? How else do you get so little time to sell a car?
- I've seen a few potential motors listed like this but I know I can't arrange a daytrip and then get it collected in 2 days (a 500 mile round trip to view a car isn't unusual - but I like a weeks notice so I can find someone to look after the pets then arrange a mini-tour to pick up/drop off stuff, catch up with mates on the way past etc).
Sellers asking over-optimistic prices (so inflated that you don't even ring up even though you'd like the car) - seller then weighs the car in for scrap as "nobody wanted it"
Sellers being vague "just turn up and see if it's what you want".
If it's a 500 mile trip for me and I ask if you have the V5 / will it start / will it drive around the block, I want "Yes" or "No" answers - but any extra info is good.
Car is not what you expected? Did you let the seller know what you were expecting?
My latest? Recently went to view a car listed as "have had the engine running"
I need it to drive 200 yards so if I get it delivered, we can get it off the flatbed and around a couple of tight corners and up a slope into the workshop.
I turned up hoping to hear the engine (V6) running and to try moving it a few yards to check if the autobox and drivetrain was working / look for seized brakes etc.
What I found was the carb off the car ("so it doesn't get stolen"), some plugleads missing, others hanging loose ("I was going to get a new set made up"), no battery, and a jerry-can working as a temporary fueltank as the main tank was gummed up. The jerry-can made sense, the other bits broke the deal for me
Sellers (Q3)
What can a buyer do (before or when they come to view the motor) to get in your good books?
Communication! Let me know ASAP if something comes up and you think you can't make the arranged time & date.
I can be very flexible if you need to change the plans, especially if you give me good reason and let me know in plenty of time so I don't waste an evening waiting in for you.
Ask any questions that are important to you. If you want XYZ options and mine has ABC (petrol/ diesel/ bosch/ lucas/ carb/ Efi/ Auto/ Manual, etc), you can have a think before wasting your time and mine arranging a viewing.
Sellers (Q4)
What has happened to you in the past to spoil or stop what looked like a done deal / what should buyers avoid doing?
Communication! Asking me to stop in so you can view / move stuff out the way so you can collect the car / asking me to take it for an MOT may be ok - but then either changing your mind at the last minute or just not turning up isn't.
Promise the earth, then fail to deliver.
My worst personal experiences?
I got a phone call at 11pm when I was selling a car, seller sounded genuine and deperate "mines just been stolen and burnt out - I need a car tomorrow - I like yours and can pay full asking price in cash if you can deliver tonite"
Sounds too good to be true? It was! I drove the car to the far side of town, buyer came out the house, had a very quick look at the car under yellow streetlights (never the best way to view a motor) and the first words were "I'm not paying full price for that"
The other one (a long time ago - before mobiles) I had bought a new car, was moving to a new house, had keys but no light or power connected yet. Had parked the old car at the new house while it was up for sale.
Had a buyer ring up "can I view tonite - will be along at 7pm" Fine, I went and waited in the (unlit & cold) house, gave up after a couple of hours and went home.
Got a phone call a couple of days later "my mate was giving me a lift but he got called into work - I'm still keen - not a timewaster - Honest! - is it ok to view tonite?" Deja-vue anyone? I eventually gave up waiting and went home.
Cheeky monkey had the nerve to ring back a week later - "If it's still for sale - will you drop the price" It still hurts that I scrapped a working Viva with MOT rather than waste more time with idiots.
Spot the pattern? If anyone says "I'm not a timewaster" to me now, it sets BIG alarm bells ringing.
Ebay. Haggling after winning my car/bike. If I want to haggle I'll advertise it on the web or sell it at the local carboot sale. Ebay SHOULD be simple - you make your bid - turn up with cash - buy the car. Simples?
I sold a bike ( a bit of a monster but road legal. FUN!), winning bidder turns up with a mate on nice shiny new bike. Not good - and it soon went downhill...
"I didn't realise it's got no electric start" (it's a advertised as a genuine competition spec off-roader with a numberplate - what did you think you were bidding on??).
They eventually decided to take it (Yippee) - he then asked for £20 "good luck" money off the price.
Obviously, the info above is just a guide and can be ignored if the need araises : bringatrailer.com/2010/04/17/28-year-uk-garage-find-1972-lamborghini-espada/
blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2009/05/05/coches-de-los-muertos-an-argentinian-barn-find/
Funnies below (if the links work )
www.google.com/imgres?q=barn+find+images&client=aff-maxthon-newtab&sa=X&channel=t13&biw=1042&bih=678&tbm=isch&tbnid=aTvHNxQNM9GI0M:&imgrefurl=http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp%3Ft%3D697764&docid=92L0TItx45RqyM&imgurl=http://www.demobbed.org.uk/images/xd403.jpg&w=819&h=552&ei=P0vcUe3OFsiw0AWAtYGoBg&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:7,s:0,I:102&iact=rc&page=1&tbnh=180&tbnw=274&start=0&ndsp=13&tx=147&ty=27
After a couple of fun but *very* frustrating days (and 450 miles) going to have a look at a car which I would have been happy with but which I decided not to buy, I thought I'd try to put together some positive lessons.
Feel free to learn from my mistakes, please post any do's or don'ts so other don't make the same mistakes we have!
My Qualifications ? We had a (rather drunken) family quiz about 10 years ago when we were trying to work out how many cars I'd had.
We got to about about 30 cars + 35 bikes when we stopped counting. Add in any we didn't think about then and add in anything since and I think it's fair to say I've had a bit of experience buying / fixing up / running / selling.
Tips and advice to follow in the next post - watch this space...
Buyers (Q1)
What can a seller do (before or when you go to view your new wheels) to get in your good books?
Communication! Don't ignore my questions - if I'm asking it's because it's important to me and I want to know!
Either reply to my questions, or at least let me know you've got my message but you're hectic but I can expect an answer in 2 days etc.
Answer any questions I ask, don't just fob me off with "come and have a look"
Prepare the car :
I'm not interested in a valet and detailing the interior, but if it's advertised as "complete" "everything is here" etc, don't have some bits in the loft and some in the garden/garage when I come to view!
If you say ""engine runs" - I'd like to hear it so I know if I need to think about a rebuild before I start to use it!
Also make sure you have some fuel and a good charged battery (or jump leads). I'd like to check it cold before you start it up so please don't warm it up "so it's ready for me"
Take out the trash before I come to view. Using a "spare" car/van/truck to store
Buyers (Q2)
What has happened to you in the past to spoil or stop what looked like a done deal / what should sellers avoid doing?
Seeing adverts "must sell in the next 2 days or it gets fragged". What - you won the lottery 2 days ago and the first thing you did was buy a new car? How else do you get so little time to sell a car?
- I've seen a few potential motors listed like this but I know I can't arrange a daytrip and then get it collected in 2 days (a 500 mile round trip to view a car isn't unusual - but I like a weeks notice so I can find someone to look after the pets then arrange a mini-tour to pick up/drop off stuff, catch up with mates on the way past etc).
Sellers asking over-optimistic prices (so inflated that you don't even ring up even though you'd like the car) - seller then weighs the car in for scrap as "nobody wanted it"
Sellers being vague "just turn up and see if it's what you want".
If it's a 500 mile trip for me and I ask if you have the V5 / will it start / will it drive around the block, I want "Yes" or "No" answers - but any extra info is good.
Car is not what you expected? Did you let the seller know what you were expecting?
My latest? Recently went to view a car listed as "have had the engine running"
I need it to drive 200 yards so if I get it delivered, we can get it off the flatbed and around a couple of tight corners and up a slope into the workshop.
I turned up hoping to hear the engine (V6) running and to try moving it a few yards to check if the autobox and drivetrain was working / look for seized brakes etc.
What I found was the carb off the car ("so it doesn't get stolen"), some plugleads missing, others hanging loose ("I was going to get a new set made up"), no battery, and a jerry-can working as a temporary fueltank as the main tank was gummed up. The jerry-can made sense, the other bits broke the deal for me
Sellers (Q3)
What can a buyer do (before or when they come to view the motor) to get in your good books?
Communication! Let me know ASAP if something comes up and you think you can't make the arranged time & date.
I can be very flexible if you need to change the plans, especially if you give me good reason and let me know in plenty of time so I don't waste an evening waiting in for you.
Ask any questions that are important to you. If you want XYZ options and mine has ABC (petrol/ diesel/ bosch/ lucas/ carb/ Efi/ Auto/ Manual, etc), you can have a think before wasting your time and mine arranging a viewing.
Sellers (Q4)
What has happened to you in the past to spoil or stop what looked like a done deal / what should buyers avoid doing?
Communication! Asking me to stop in so you can view / move stuff out the way so you can collect the car / asking me to take it for an MOT may be ok - but then either changing your mind at the last minute or just not turning up isn't.
Promise the earth, then fail to deliver.
My worst personal experiences?
I got a phone call at 11pm when I was selling a car, seller sounded genuine and deperate "mines just been stolen and burnt out - I need a car tomorrow - I like yours and can pay full asking price in cash if you can deliver tonite"
Sounds too good to be true? It was! I drove the car to the far side of town, buyer came out the house, had a very quick look at the car under yellow streetlights (never the best way to view a motor) and the first words were "I'm not paying full price for that"
The other one (a long time ago - before mobiles) I had bought a new car, was moving to a new house, had keys but no light or power connected yet. Had parked the old car at the new house while it was up for sale.
Had a buyer ring up "can I view tonite - will be along at 7pm" Fine, I went and waited in the (unlit & cold) house, gave up after a couple of hours and went home.
Got a phone call a couple of days later "my mate was giving me a lift but he got called into work - I'm still keen - not a timewaster - Honest! - is it ok to view tonite?" Deja-vue anyone? I eventually gave up waiting and went home.
Cheeky monkey had the nerve to ring back a week later - "If it's still for sale - will you drop the price" It still hurts that I scrapped a working Viva with MOT rather than waste more time with idiots.
Spot the pattern? If anyone says "I'm not a timewaster" to me now, it sets BIG alarm bells ringing.
Ebay. Haggling after winning my car/bike. If I want to haggle I'll advertise it on the web or sell it at the local carboot sale. Ebay SHOULD be simple - you make your bid - turn up with cash - buy the car. Simples?
I sold a bike ( a bit of a monster but road legal. FUN!), winning bidder turns up with a mate on nice shiny new bike. Not good - and it soon went downhill...
"I didn't realise it's got no electric start" (it's a advertised as a genuine competition spec off-roader with a numberplate - what did you think you were bidding on??).
They eventually decided to take it (Yippee) - he then asked for £20 "good luck" money off the price.
Obviously, the info above is just a guide and can be ignored if the need araises : bringatrailer.com/2010/04/17/28-year-uk-garage-find-1972-lamborghini-espada/
blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2009/05/05/coches-de-los-muertos-an-argentinian-barn-find/
Funnies below (if the links work )
www.google.com/imgres?q=barn+find+images&client=aff-maxthon-newtab&sa=X&channel=t13&biw=1042&bih=678&tbm=isch&tbnid=aTvHNxQNM9GI0M:&imgrefurl=http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp%3Ft%3D697764&docid=92L0TItx45RqyM&imgurl=http://www.demobbed.org.uk/images/xd403.jpg&w=819&h=552&ei=P0vcUe3OFsiw0AWAtYGoBg&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:7,s:0,I:102&iact=rc&page=1&tbnh=180&tbnw=274&start=0&ndsp=13&tx=147&ty=27