Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure?

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Tue 9 Jun 2015 16:51
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - J03y

Evening all.

I've been on the hunt for a Fiat 500c for my other half for the past month. It seems most are overpriced and are out of her budget (Sub £5,500 budget).
However I've come across a nice red one on Autotrader for £5,300

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20150518355...p

I've called up the bloke, and he seems to prefer cash, when I suggested making payment via debt he said I could transfer the money.
I've done a little bit of digging and can't find anything on google that leads to S&H motors. However when googling his number it leads to more autotrader adverts under the trading name of H&T cars (All the same distance away from me). The post code he text me just shows a random street. I can't find any garages near by.

So what's your opinion on the matter? Should I make a 200 mile round trip to view the car, or should I rule it out and keep on looking?

I mean the cars he has for sale seem pretty decent, I don't know. I just seem to be overthinking it and being over cautious.

Any advice/help would be much appreciated!

Joe

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Tue 9 Jun 2015 17:07
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - Fernando P

Unless a reader knows of this car trader, who may operate from a "private" address, you will have to make your own decision about purchasing it from the information you have. You need to take into account the cost and inconvenience of undertaking a "200 mile round trip" should you have to return the vehicle for any reason. If you were sure about buying this car you would not be asking readers to help you make your mind up. It may be better for you to pay a bit more for a car from a seller that you are more convinced about.

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Tue 9 Jun 2015 17:11
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - scot22

I agree with Fernando P. There are plenty of cars available. I wouldn't buy from so far away anyhow - what if there are problems ?

You say you are cautious ( I am as well ) and I would not consider it. Obviously your money, your choice.

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Tue 9 Jun 2015 17:37
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - Galaxy

He's probably trading from his house, that's why you can't find any garages or dealerships.

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Tue 9 Jun 2015 18:23
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - Falkirk Bairn

www,motorpoint.co.uk/vehiclesearch/fiat/500/1.2%20pop%203dr%20[start%20stop]

£700+ more BUT a lower mileage & a lot newer & still with some warranty!!

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Tue 9 Jun 2015 19:29
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - bathtub tom

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's probably a duck.

Same with something too cheap to be true.

Your nose is obviously twitching!

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Tue 9 Jun 2015 19:43
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - J03y

Unless a reader knows of this car trader, who may operate from a "private" address, you will have to make your own decision about purchasing it from the information you have. You need to take into account the cost and inconvenience of undertaking a "200 mile round trip" should you have to return the vehicle for any reason. If you were sure about buying this car you would not be asking readers to help you make your mind up. It may be better for you to pay a bit more for a car from a seller that you are more convinced about.


The 200 mile trip isn't that much of an invonvenience if the cars decent.

Does anyone have any experience of trading with a business from their house? It can't be legal can it?

www,motorpoint.co.uk/vehiclesearch/fiat/500/1.2%20pop%203dr%20[start%20stop]

£700+ more BUT a lower mileage & a lot newer & still with some warranty!!

Thank you, but it has to be a Convertible unfortunately, otherwise she'd have one a month ago! :)

Edited by J03y on 09/06/2015 at 19:45

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Tue 9 Jun 2015 20:47
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - RobJP

There is absolutely nothing wrong with your home being your business address.

I know a car trader (who deals in the higher end of the market) whose office is in his home, and cars are kept at a secure compound a few miles away. Perfectly legitimate.

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Tue 9 Jun 2015 21:13
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - J03y

There is absolutely nothing wrong with your home being your business address.

I know a car trader (who deals in the higher end of the market) whose office is in his home, and cars are kept at a secure compound a few miles away. Perfectly legitimate.

That's reassuring then. I wasn't too sure about the legitimacy of it all!

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Tue 9 Jun 2015 21:19
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - Fernando P

This car has been up for sale since 18 May 2015.

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Tue 9 Jun 2015 21:51
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - J03y

This car has been up for sale since 18 May 2015.

Flipping heck, that's a lot longer than I'd thought. EDIT: Figured it out

Edited by J03y on 09/06/2015 at 21:55

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Tue 9 Jun 2015 23:48
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - ExA35Owner

There is absolutely nothing wrong with your home being your business address.

I know a car trader (who deals in the higher end of the market) whose office is in his home, and cars are kept at a secure compound a few miles away. Perfectly legitimate.

However, keeping the cars at your home address while selling them runs you into all sorts of planning issues, among others. "Dealers" working like this need very careful scrutiny by their customers.

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Wed 10 Jun 2015 02:49
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - J03y

There is absolutely nothing wrong with your home being your business address.

I know a car trader (who deals in the higher end of the market) whose office is in his home, and cars are kept at a secure compound a few miles away. Perfectly legitimate.

However, keeping the cars at your home address while selling them runs you into all sorts of planning issues, among others. "Dealers" working like this need very careful scrutiny by their customers.

Please could you elaborate as to why they'd need more scrutiny? What is it I should be wary of.
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Wed 10 Jun 2015 08:23
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - Dwight Van Driver

Give an address Joey. Under the brotherhood of HJ someon emay live close and can advise?

dvd

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Wed 10 Jun 2015 11:27
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - scot22

If someone ignores regulations in one area it makes me concerned about their overall integrity.

If there is a problem with the car what back up does the 'dealer' have to put it right ?

It may be a marvellous bargain with no problems whatsoever. However, as has previously been posted, you must have some doubt or else you would not have posted.

To a certain extent car buying is a matter of chance and all that is possible is improving the odds of success by research.

If it is vital you buy that particular car then obviously you will do so. I would avoid the risk - possibly missing a good buy, and then get a lemon. Nobody knows anything for certain.

Good suggestion (as usual) from DVD.

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Wed 10 Jun 2015 12:16
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - daveyjp

Don't buy a convertible in summer, wait until a rainy week just before Christmas!

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Wed 10 Jun 2015 13:32
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - J03y

If someone ignores regulations in one area it makes me concerned about their overall integrity.

If there is a problem with the car what back up does the 'dealer' have to put it right ?

It may be a marvellous bargain with no problems whatsoever. However, as has previously been posted, you must have some doubt or else you would not have posted.

To a certain extent car buying is a matter of chance and all that is possible is improving the odds of success by research.

If it is vital you buy that particular car then obviously you will do so. I would avoid the risk - possibly missing a good buy, and then get a lemon. Nobody knows anything for certain.

Good suggestion (as usual) from DVD.

Thank you. I'll probably make a decision this weekend as to whether or not I'll be viewing it. It really is the fact he's trading at his home address that's making me uneasy. Not sure why, but it does.
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Wed 10 Jun 2015 13:29
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - J03y

Give an address Joey. Under the brotherhood of HJ someon emay live close and can advise?

dvd

nw95wn that's the post code he gave me
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Wed 10 Jun 2015 15:16
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - Happy Blue!

Hmmm....looks like a former Council Estate in the Colindale area of north London, just south of Edgware. I will be near there on Tuesday afternoon if you want something spying out.....

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Wed 10 Jun 2015 15:29
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - J03y

Hmmm....looks like a former Council Estate in the Colindale area of north London, just south of Edgware. I will be near there on Tuesday afternoon if you want something spying out.....

I wouldn't want you to go out of your way for me. But if you happen to go past and don't mind having a glance then I'd appreciate it :P

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Wed 10 Jun 2015 15:38
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - J03y

I think he lives on Heybourne Crescent. As it seems that's where most of the pictures are taken, outside the flats.

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Thu 11 Jun 2015 22:03
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - jgrahampo

never buy the cheapest of anything always buy something in the middle of a price range.

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Fri 12 Jun 2015 15:46
Alarm bells ringing. Can anyone reassure? - J03y

never buy the cheapest of anything always buy something in the middle of a price range.

When it comes to me changing my car, I always price mine as the cheapest on Autotrader. Not because the cars crap, but because I want a quick easy sale.
So I'd never avoid the cheapest cars.

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