If they are a genuine trader then you are protected under consumer legislation, which is likely to be stronger than an iffy warranty. But if you have trouble it sounds as if they'll become a fly-by-night company with no assets once you win in Small Claims.

I'd let someone else have the hassle, and look at a less apparently shady dealer?

The fact that the trader is an appointment only, trading estate operation is nothing to be concerned about. This is increasingly common as internet sales conitnue to increase and make the more expensive, typical high street premises less favourable. It also means that repair and preparation are more easily carried out on site rather than shuffling cars on and off a retail site.

Autotrader feedbacks are worth nothing, you can write your own and people frequently do. The offer to sell off the books is a big alarm bell and of course sharp practice. In reality you still have consumer rights but what are they worth with somebody who is demonstrably dodgy?

There are lots of cars out there and many legitimate traders who will do an honest deal. The fact that you are here asking the question suggests you are uneasy about things. Follow your instinct!

Every time I read anything like the above I'm reminded of the Rover 216 that I bought in the early 90s.

The guy advertised as a private seller from an address in Southport, which is where I went to see the car. It looked good (and in fact mechanically it was fine). I drove it home, and a couple of weeks later one entire side of the car starting losing its paint. I called him but got nowhere because to all intents and purposes it was a private sale.

The speech he gave me when I called to complain sounded like a well used script, and although I have no evidence to back up my suspicions, I reckon he was dealing cars, keeping them elsewhere and simply parking each car outside his house when anyone showed interest.

Don't risk it.

Edited by argybargy on 12/01/2018 at 18:28

Walk away..or preferably RUN away...and don't risk your hard-earned money on something so obviously full of "iffyness".

There is always another car.

Mind you, having said all the above my son saw a car advertised on Autotrader, rang up about it and was told that he could view it on an industrial estate about 20 miles away. Long story to get to the deal but he bought it, got a simply amazing trade-in for his 100k plus Ford Fiesta and is extremely happy with the car. The only slightly unusual thing about the vehicle, which is a 14 plate Kia Ce'ed, is that it has one of those Irish registrations: MAZ, GAZ, something like that.

All the paperwork is in order and no coppers have come knocking on the door just yet, nor has anything serious gone wrong with it. In addition he's also managed to get a broken electric window fixed under his Kia warranty, which still has 3 years to run. So if the detail is right, maybe, just maybe.

I need to add, lest I make an invalid comparison, that the company he bought from does appear to have a permanent presence on the estate because the name is on display on the gate, so its not one of those "here today, gone tomorrow" outfits. However, as with the OP's car, you do have to make an appointment before you can go and view advertised vehicles.

Edited by argybargy on 13/01/2018 at 10:20

"The only slightly unusual thing about the vehicle, which is a 14 plate Kia Ce'ed, is that it has one of those Irish registrations: MAZ, GAZ, something like that."

That'll be a Northern Ireland registration, so it's a perfectly straightforward UK-registered car. NI as far as I know still use the 3-letter and 4-number registrations (MAZ 1234 etc), whereas the Republic have gone on to a system not unlike Britain's - year of regstration, then initial of the county, then a number.

Only just come across this response to my post, so thanks for that.

I only mentioned it because I knew a chap years ago who bought a Sierra with a similarly unusual reg and had the devil's own job getting it registered in this country. Perhaps it was from the Republic rather than from Ulster. Or maybe there was some other problem with its provenance.

As well as having the name and address of the car dealer make sure you look up the company and address details etc on the Companies House website.

I once tried to sue my landlord for not getting a collapsed ceiling repaired for several months and it turned out that the house was not registered as belonging to him, it was registered as belonging to his company which he was the director.

If you don't have the exact details of the person/company you are trying to make a claim against it can be very difficult.