Peugot 106 1999 modle - Dodgy car dealer or bad luck?

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Sat 27 Nov 2010 08:28
Peugot 106 1999 modle - Dodgy car dealer or bad luck? - emm
Hello all - I'd really appreciate your thoughts on this...
We bought my son a car last week from a "part time" car dealer - 600 quid, ran ok on test drive and seemed ok for the money. Needs some new tyres & brake pads which we knew about however, in the week since we bought it, the radiator failed, we took that on the chin so to speak and its been fixed, then one of the rear light clusters failed as there's water in there. And last night after hearing a knocking/banging sound the front wheel has wobbled almost off - thank goodness my son was only driving at 25 MPH as it was cold and icy last night he managed to get it to the side of the road and no one was hurt. As his mum I am furious that this bloke has sold us a potential death trap, however, I do reasonably see that it's entirely possible that it's something the seller may not have known about - we are not sure where we stand legally - do we simply ask for our money back, ask for a portion of it back to cover the necessary works or what - one of my main concerns is that if he is selling lots of dodgy old bangers onto first time drivers there's a very real danger of someone being hurt.

Anyway, what do you think? Thanks so much for reading!
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Sat 27 Nov 2010 13:55
Peugot 106 1999 modle - Dodgy car dealer or bad luck? - Dutchie

What I think its a nasty world out there and for £600 pound your son could have been killed if he had been driving on the motorway at speed.

Where you stand legally I dont know.I doubt if you got a warranty sold as seen and tested i suppose.

Give the dealer a ring and tell him what happened.

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Sat 27 Nov 2010 16:46
Peugeot 106 1999 model - Dodgy car dealer or bad luck? - Avant

It could just be that the wheel nute were loose. Whether the dealer bears any responsibility depends on whether he did any work on the car before sale, or claimed that he'd checked it out. Or did he state on the invoice 'sold as seen'?

Have a look at 'Ask Honest John' on this site - question 5 - where you'll find some useful advice. You have some protection under the Sale of Goods Act, but you have to bear in mind that 'satisfactory quality' doesn't necessarily mean perfect condition and makes allowances for the age of the goods concerned. But in the case of a car it does imply that the car is roadworthy.

Edited by Avant on 27/11/2010 at 16:57

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Thu 2 Dec 2010 21:07
Peugeot 106 1999 model - Dodgy car dealer or bad luck? - danidge

You owe it to yourself........and morally you owe it to all the potential customers of this "car dealer". Go back to him and challenge him about what happened. If you have no joy and if you believe he is selling deathtraps report him to Trading Standards. Do not leave it at that-find out if they are prepared to act. If not go to your local newapaper-they are always looking for stories.

It is easy to be wise after the event but never,ever ,buy a secondhand car without getting a new MOT test done at a testing station of your choice with you paying the bill. To back up this logic reflect on your car. "Your " MOT station would have picked up defective/water in the rear lights. They are almost certain to have picked up the wheel wobble when checking for play/wear in the wheel bearings and again when checking the brakes. They are also likely to have spotted the coolant leak with the engine running doing an under bonnet check , then emissions check, underside/exhaust check etc.

Best of luck-keep us all posted.

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Wed 8 Dec 2010 12:06
Peugot 106 1999 modle - Dodgy car dealer or bad luck? - auctioneerjim

anyone dealing in used cars part time or full time have a duty of care to ensure the car is roadworthy and safe.i think this guy actually broke the law by offering you a car which needed brakes etc. i would approach him first,with the threat of trading standards if he does not take the car back and refund you. it also shows how these 'part time 'traders can be dangerous,at if you go to a dealer forcourt you will pay more but at least you can be reasonably confident they will have checked it.

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Wed 8 Dec 2010 13:45
Peugot 106 1999 modle - Dodgy car dealer or bad luck? - bonzo dog

it also shows how these 'part time 'traders can be dangerous,at if you go to a dealer forcourt you will pay more

The problem is AJ that most used car buyers won't pay more, they buy the type of car they are after at their chosen budget. Most would rather buy a "newer" car from a part time trader than an older one from a bona fide retailer.

I've made lots of comments on here about how untrustworthy car dealers are in general, but when you get to 7 year old plus, I would look to a long established family owned used car dealer who has been recomended to you rather than who is the cheapest.

Although if I'm being totally blunt (& not wishing to offend the OP) whilst traders SHOULD have a duty of care, anyone thinking a £600 car will be reliable in any way is either silly or naive. My kids will be starting driving in a few years time & until they (well me I guess!) can afford £2500 to spend then it's busses, trains & two legs for them; a £600 car is way too risky for me to let my kids in one.

Edited by bonzo dog on 08/12/2010 at 13:46

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Wed 8 Dec 2010 14:47
Peugot 106 1999 modle - Dodgy car dealer or bad luck? - pd
I suppose it depends on why the wheel came undone. Dealers can't sell unroadworthy cars but the issue is whether it was roadworthy at the time of sale, if it became unroadworthy then the question is whether that is something which could have been picked up at point of sale as about to happen.

To be brutally frank £600 is absolute rock bottom banger money these days - it is not easy to buy something for under a grand which works.

It is very difficult for a proper dealer to make any profit on a £600 (no I'd go further - it is impossible) car so few deal in them.

The harsh reality is that you really need to up your budget to get something decent.
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Wed 8 Dec 2010 16:02
Peugot 106 1999 modle - Dodgy car dealer or bad luck? - TheOilBurner
True pd. Last time I traded in an old car for £500 it appeared in Autotrader a week later on someone's driveway for £1,500. And that was about 6 years ago.

For a car to be going for just £600 from a dealer (whether from their driveway or a forecourt), I'd be surprised if it even starts and moves under its own power.
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