Such a lovely post and it wasn't a let down even after that huge build up!
V interesting too so I have taken the liberty of shifting it to a brand spanking new thread.
"Here goes (fingers crossed)...
Just recently i have been looking to buy a Alfa 155.
Last weeks Exchange and Mart had a advert:
Alfa Romeo 155 2.5 V6, 1996/N ,Black ,Sports pack, 45K,Just serviced,Climate,new mot ............ £ 3850 private sell
Sounds promising especially with the rare sports pack and climate. I explained to the seller that i would be travelling 70 miles to view the car so i would like to know everthing about the car beforehand. He explained that he was the second owner the car had full Alfa history and was in excellent condition.
So i set off quite hopeful about buying this car.
On arrival the seller started to open the doors/tailgate/bonnet and started a conversation about where he bought the car (Bradford)alarm bells started to ring, on the phone he said Bolton ! . More bizzare comments followed. I walk round to the engine bay and then came then relevation "the radiator was replaced because a stone went thru it (not too bad) ,and oh yes the engine was also damaged and was replaced by one which has done 45K,the clock shows 85K and oh yes the front subframe was also replaced"
What did you say ? you must be joking!
I had travelled 70 miles to see see a car with 45K not 85K.His advert was misleading and he lied on the phone.
He carried on " the aircon does'nt work , and why do you have a problem with high milelage ?"
Could not believe this guy. Must have been in late 50's very well spoken lived posh area. Its true what they say you cannot trust anyone these days.
Very next day i looked at a XR2 with a friend who was looking to buy it.Again it sounded excellent 2 owners, owned a professional couple in there 40's nice house e.t.c . Lots of reciepts and was in excellent condition (best 1987 XR2 i have seen in a long time).HPI check was clear so i checked the chassis number only to find there was'nt one just a bodged plate and of course the engine number had been ground off. Its a RINGER....
Its a dodgy world"
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Forgot to add, beautifully crafted by Steve G...
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Thanks Dan J
Must admit that i felt a bit of pressure after the incredible response to a blank post !
Good to see so many of the backroomers have a sense of humour !
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Steve,
Top stories. Worth the wait but we're all so wacked on Friday night the response might be sluggish 'till Sat.
A while ago I mentioned a Mondeo TD one of my contacts was selling, one I'd looked after for the past 24K or so. OK it wasn't worth much but what is worth a bit is me knowing what it has needed for the past four service intervals. I always try to pass these cars onto someone else I know because the secondhand market can be wicked once cars are a few years old.
I do inspect cars for folks but the number that are clocked, crashed and junk amaze me.
David
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why not try an alfa romeo 33, as you can get a 1992 K 1.5IE, for £499. plus its only done 58000 miles.
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Dan
There are no doubt some dodgy characters trying to sell cars that they have personally bodged or ringed.
However, one does wonder how many cars are being sold on by the unwitting 'professional' couple, who are completely genuine, but were conned when they purchased the car themselves.
The other thing really infuriates me is turning up to see an 'immaculate' car that is 'mechanically perfect' that looks like a tip and is riddled with faults. I just wonder what standards people judge cars by.
I had this a few years back - described as above, which had more owners than the advert, filthy, faded paint, rusty bonnet, needed tyres, engine had been steam cleaned to disguise the cam shaft oil leak, numerous other faults including a couple of MOT fail items (despite new MOT).
I said I wouldn't bother with a test drive. 'Why not?' says owner. So, somewhat peeved, I reeled of the faults. 'You're in the ****ing trade aren't you' says owner, slamming the bonnet and walking off.
Regards
John
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I too have been amazed at the heaps of junk that their owners genuinely believe are immaculate, and then accuse you of trying to steal it from them when your valuation falls well below theirs. On the other side of the coin, selling a car privately can be even more of a nightmare. 60% of callers make an appointment and don't bother to turn up, most of the others seem to just want to drive someone elses car with no intention of buying and then you have to diplomaticaly get rid of the one who expects you to let them drive away in exchange for a cheque!
I now always trade my old car PX when I buy another. Loses you money against a private sale, but my hair has already gone as grey as it can and I just don't need the aggro.
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Agreed, Tom. I pointed this out to the owner of the caravan dealership when I traded the old one in. I said a trade-in from a reputable place was like money in the bank compared to the risks of selling privately. He said that he'd never thought of it like that before. (?)
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John,
Yes; I was being driven in an Audi 100 some years ago that we were thinking of buying.
As the seller demonstated its speed by doing a smooth 90 along a dual carriageway, I asked if I could look in the service book. Sure he said. Fumbling in the glove box, I found a sticker which said "Next service due at 90,000. Clock showed 50,000.
When this was pointed out, he looked genuinely gutted. He told me the salesman - from a well known "reputable" garage - had brought the car to his house and kept him away from the trade premises.
Perhaps the salesman was doing a bit of dealing on the side. Unfortunately, I don't know the outcome. I did ring the previous owner mentioned in the documents who confirmed miles at 85,000 when he sold it "to a garage"
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It makes you wonder where all the decent, well maintained cars that belong to regular contributors end up? Whenever I try to sell mine privately I always end up practically giving them away for about 40% less than you see old ex-company hacks on the main dealers forecourt for.
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I read frequently on this site and elsewhere that you'd be a fool to buy a 'new' as in brand new car. Very few people counter this with the advantages of a new car, but reading these (perfectly understandable and believable) tales of woe, surely it can be seen why some do buy new. I've read here, and a million other times, of horrendous repair bills and think that if you buy and sell sensibly then there can be good reason to buy new. This has been covered here before and I'm aware of the examples of 'new' cars standing in fields, or being thrashed up motorways during delivery, so don't need to be reminded. And has been said - if no-one bought new, there wouldn't be any used ones. I've had my share of both so can see both arguments, and have one old and one new between us, but I do get slightly irritated when almost everyone knocks the new'uns. I'll bet quite a few contributers here spend a bit on some used tasty BM's, Merc's and Supra's. My little Yaris is tame by comparison.
The biggest disadvantage for new cars for me is the disappointment at getting the first 'shopping trolley' damage and the higher Main Dealer servicing cost during the warranty period. We always park somewhere out of the way if poss. and always get silver now coz it doesn't seem to show little digs as much as darker colours. The joy of an oldie is the carefree attitude you can take regarding parking. Also no-one wants to nick a Maestro and it costs nothing to maintain an old Maestro (second hand spares/easy to repair etc.).
So, horses for courses.
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KB mentions the joy of an oldie. We have three oldies - the newest is a 96N 306 Cab (bought last year at 18K miles and almost spotless) and two 205s, 91H and 93K. The oldest we have had for 8 years, so most of the little dings are ours. The 93K is a joy to drive (1360 engine) and has only 48K, and one of the joys was offering the dealer 1000 below his windscreen price of 2995. When he decided to accept I realised I couldn't really back off! But I don't regret it as I have had lots of fun giving it the full treatment (AutoGlym etc.)
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This response to my post really demonstrates just how careful you have to be when buying new or used. Its been said often "if you dont like the seller dont buy the car" this certainly applied to the Alfa 155. But the XR2 was a different ball game the sellers were a nice couple who had been duped into buying a ringer.
With so many clueless people buying cars privately you have to wonder how many are driving dodgy cars with reaslising it.
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An '80s' acquaintance in a cut throat business bought a BMW from a lovely couple at thir own house after showing them in a take it or leave it way a briefcase full of cash (Him at the time:" Bid 'em in the b*****ks") (Them:''Oooo, Ethel, we really should accept his offer, don't you think the the car's worth that, he's such a nice young man, etc"). Eight months down the line there was a knock on the door from the local stolen car squad who, after extensive examination, declared it stolen. £8,000 down the swanney. Get it checked every time.
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