Have You Ever Advised A Person Not To Buy A Car Knowing Your Instinct Tells You Not To

[TWR]

Your story!

[Mamyalynne]

Yes.

[yogi-bear]

Hi TWR

Yes

A couple of years ago, a friend asked me to go down with him to the Monday night Shoreham Car Auction, here in Sussex......went down and viewed the cars he was interested in by seeing them online in the week....He liked a Ford Escort '10 plate, but there was 'sold as seen'..very little service history....quite high mileage .....no 1 hour grace to ask auctioneers to take it out for test-drive with you, after leaving deposit...see how it handles etc.....and advised him that he might be taking a chance on it......Well, it went for a good price and always thought maybe advised him wrong.

On the plus side, he bid and bought a great Honda Civic '12 plate, full service history, lowish mileage, and the hour trial after winning bid, to take it out and try it.....So it worked out ok.....and he's still got it.....cant go wrong with Japanese cars in my opinion.

[TWR]

Tell you one about my stepson in a bit Yogi, he would not be told.

[yogi-bear]

Ok, TWR....Look forward to it :-)

[EcclesCake]

When my instinct tells me not to do something then I don't......generally.

You can only advise others, it is their choice whether they follow that advice. Do I care? No. Do I crow? No.

[ToraToraTora]

you mean you are against buying it but for some reason you don't think you should advise them against buying it? No, if I would not buy it myself then I would advise anyone against buying it.

[TWR]

My Stepson had seen an ad in the Auto Trader for a Pug 407 & was determined to buy it, went to Skipton, Ist omen, not going into that, 2nd car was right in the back of this Garage, 3rd Flat tyre, 4th would not start, 5th could not get the bonnet open due to a damaged Bonnet Lock, he was determined to have the car, I said to him you can do better believe, no that's the car I want, we come home & as far as I was aware that was it, the next thing the car was outside, 96 miles later I replaced the Engine, the car was then run for a couple of years trouble free then he got rid, 6>>8 months later the police was here, prior to my stepson buying this car it had been involved in car thefts, would he listen!!

[yogi-bear]

Sounds an absolute nightmare, TWR......There are so many dodgy dealerships out there and you get a feeling when you just view some of their cars on the forecourts that they don't care for them.
Haven't found that around this area since we've lived here in Sussex, since 2005, but plenty around London, Surrey and suburbs where we used to live.

Once went to the Brighton Road just past Croydon on the way to Purley....there was a lot of car dealerships.....wanted to buy a car for Mrs B....saw one she liked....I asked if all original parts, told 'oh yeah',....asked then for log book, as it was called then, put bonnet up and checked engine VIN number with one on the log book..... You guessed it.....different numbers!
Salesman just said 'Oh is it? We didn't notice'
I told him....' Make sure you tell your boss inside why we didn't possibly buy it, ok?'
We shook our heads and left him just standing there.

[TWR]

Without sounding Smug Yogi, I, & many on here advise people that's looking to buy & have no knowledge of the devious tricks used by "SOME" Dealers / Salesmen, you can only advise, at times they come back on maybe weeks / months later asking for advise due to a bad purchase, is surprising what can be hidden within a car.

[yogi-bear]

Not smug at all, TWR...and I think the advice and tips that you, and other ABers give, is really helpful and appreciated by the people asking.
Your right about what tricks some dealers would trying order to get a sale.......very wary in my elder years (I'm 51 next month )....Our two sons and daughter came to my wife and I for advice about their cars before buying....I even helped them with some extra lessons when learning, but they had a brilliant instructor, who's a friend too.....one more to go....She is only 15, and taking her final exams this summer, so like to think we can help, if needed, when she passes her test and wants a car. :-)

[tonyav]

Have You Ever Advised A Person Not To Buy A Car Knowing Your Instinct Tells You Not To

Many times, TWR.

[Peter Pedant]

No
but I wish a few people had ( told me not to buy some of the dogs I ended up with)

[TWR]

That twice it's happened Tony, the 2nd time it cost's my wife £500 " I advised her, but she would not listen" that car ended up as scrap £100, there will not be a 3rd time. there was a young lass where my daughter works " Hairdresser" she was on her own with a child, again the person in Q?????? put me off, the car was Multi colour, I advised leave it, we ended up buying one for £400, went through it completely, fully serviced & valeted, she's as happy as Pig SH--, had the car 1 year & running perfect.

[Islay]

No if they want to spend their money its up to them

[TWR]

Islay, I do not like people that will sting someone, some of us do care.

[Islay]

Fine tell people once but to then act so smug and do the 'told you so' dance is a bit beyond imo!!!

[TWR]

I'll say it again, get that chip off your shoulder, you then might turn around to be a helpful person.