Brought a car thats now dead...

[AdamB]

Ok, so I brought a daily whilst my starlet is off the road for a forged build.
I didn't pay much for it but nevertheless this isn't the problem, I took the car for a test drive round the block since the car didn't have road tax and all was fine.

So the story goes, I brought the car, took it to work the following day, even before I had travelled 4 miles the clutch started slipping, ok not a problem, I didn't pay much for the car and just thought I would get a new clutch. So on my way home from work the car through up every single possible light on the dash, oil pressure, water temperature, air bag etc. I stopped, checked it had oil in it, which it did, checked the water level, it took about 0.2 litres of water, so I assumed most of the radiator was full (I did wait until the engine had cooled before checking oil level and putting cold water in a hot engine).

I started the car up again and carried on my journey home, about 1.5 miles from my front door the car died, I didn't know what it was at this time, so I tried bump starting it since the ignition was on and it wouldn't go. I rolled the car to a bus stop, stopped the car safely, got out and there was steam pouring from the car.

At this point im farily pissed off that i've had the car less than 24 hours and its completely dead. I left the car in the bus stop with hazards on, walked home and sorted out a tow to get it back to my place. By the time my tow had arrived, I went back to the car where it had dissapeared.

I contacted the seller I brought the car from who isn't interested which I assumed would happen anyway , I expected the car to atleast last longer than an hours worth of driving.

Now I have just had a phone call from the police saying they recovered the vehicle and that I have to pay to get the car out of the impound.

Quite frankly, I don't care about the car, I just don't want to end up in shit from this.

Any suggestions on what I should do?

Thanks
Adam

 

[J25GTi]

Depends what the fault is,

you have the same consumer rights with a second hand car as if it was bought from a dealer, get on to http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Consumerrights/index.htm

give them a call, and take it back to the guy

 

[jomista2k8]

if it was broke down why do the guards have it

 

[weeJohn]

Check with the police if you dont lift the car and they crush it will you still have to pay costs to them? Its a problem with buying 2nd hand cars privately, especially older ones, you just have to suck it up.

 

[J25GTi]

Check with the police if you dont lift the car and they crush it will you still have to pay costs to them? Its a problem with buying 2nd hand cars privately, especially older ones, you just have to suck it up.

I dont know about in ireland, but in england you have rights to return the car etc...

 

[weeJohn]

On private sales?

 

[AdamB]

Thanks Jay,
I did phone citizens advice and they said the only grounds I would have in my favour would be the fact that in the advert the car was listed as in perfect working conidition. Ie fit for purpose.
But I suppose as i've taken delivery of the vehicle and as it was working fine at the time of purchase (which is quite obvious as if it was faulty I wouldn't have brought the vehicle) I don't have much to go against.

I was in contact with the seller again today, he did seem really apologetic, but never offered me any compensation. I would be willing to pay for the car to be released from the impound if I was to get a full refund of the purchase price and he can take the car back and do what he will with it, but I doubt thats going to happen seeing as he doesn't want a duff car back.

The car was a 2001 model with less than 100k miles on the clock with very good service history

 

[J25GTi]

what is the fault with it? because depending on the fault will depend if you can argue to get a refund....

 

[Paul_JJ]

What car is it? also how much was it? Did you buy it at the seller's address or you met him somewhere else? I know it's a bit off topic but that would give us an idea about the sale and if the seller was geniune in the first place!

I hope you will sort it out, but doubt you will be able to get a refund or anything else.

 

[AdamB]

I'm pretty certain the headgasket has gone, will more than likely need a new head but can't tell unless it's pulled off.
The car was a fiat punto 2001 98k miles, was brought from the sellers address and I paid £600.

I'm going to give the seller a ring later today once I finish work and discuss it a bit more and hopefully he'll feel a bit shitty and offer me something back at the very least.

 

[sx_turbo]

i have been in this situation when i sold my starlet,

when i sold it the car was in perfect working order, oil pressure etc etc were all as they should, the fella then drove 300 miles home and all was fine, the following evening the guy was driving it around then suddenly the engine let go, and spun a big end,

the guy phoned me up obviously upset that the forged engine let go, after all it was meant to be built for track,

it was an extremely difficult situation, but i didnt want a broken car back cos then i would have to fork out for the repairs, and the guy wanted his money back, understanably,

thing is though the car was working fine when it left, and for the next 300 miles so as far as i was concerned it was one of them things, because of wherew i work i offered the guy all the parts to fix the car at cost price, and that seemed a fairly good arrangement,

i felt unbelievably bad for the guy but what do you do, at the end of the day your both gonna be out of pocket,

if the guy who bought my car had broken down 50 maybe even 100 miles up the road then i would have instantly given him his money back and taken the car back,

 

[Texx]

You inspected the car in person which gave you ample opportunity to identify any issues with the car. After inspection you agreed that the car was in an acceptable condition compared to the asking price. You'll have very little to argue with unless you can prove the seller had prior knowledge of any faults that were not disclosed at the time of the sale, if you do have proof then he next step would be to take the seller to court.

Personally for a £600 car (and a Fiat at that??!!!!) I wouldn't even bother.


Did you tax the car before taking it to work? If not and the Police report this to the DVLA then you'll likely get hit with tax-back, meaning you'll have to pay for the period of time the car wasn't taxed. Maybe you could of made a better attempt at moving the vehicle to somewhere where it wouldn't have been towed, therefore you may not be looking at a recovery and storage cost from the Police?

 

[Rob fulham4eva]

when 1 of my brothers cars was removed by the police, we didnt have to pay anything. we just got a letter saying pay the costs or it will be crushed and then another to say it was crushed and that car had no mot or tax and the sorn had expired and was in my name.

 

[AdamB]

Texx, you are right mate. I did look over the vehicle and there was no problems with the vehicle on test drive, more annoyed about the fact I had the car about 12 hours before it died, and the fact I only travelled no more than 32 miles as well.

I taxed the vehicle before I left for work, so now I have to wait 6 weeks to get my money back for that also after filling out a V14/ . I left the car in the best place I could as it was on a 50mph dual carrigeway, I wasn't prepared to push the car half a mile on a busy and potentially dangerous road into an industrial estate.

I'm not fussed about the car, whatever happens to it happens, it's not worth me sorting it out as it will probably cost close enough as to what I paid for the vehicle. Even if I'm able to get £100 back from the seller i'll leave it at that.

 

[GT-TD04]

You inspected the car in person which gave you ample opportunity to identify any issues with the car. After inspection you agreed that the car was in an acceptable condition compared to the asking price. You'll have very little to argue with unless you can prove the seller had prior knowledge of any faults that were not disclosed at the time of the sale, if you do have proof then he next step would be to take the seller to court.

Personally for a £600 car (and a Fiat at that??!!!!) I wouldn't even bother.


Did you tax the car before taking it to work? If not and the Police report this to the DVLA then you'll likely get hit with tax-back, meaning you'll have to pay for the period of time the car wasn't taxed. Maybe you could of made a better attempt at moving the vehicle to somewhere where it wouldn't have been towed, therefore you may not be looking at a recovery and storage cost from the Police?

Pretty much the same law as Rep. of Ireland.
Even if the seller knew there was a fault you'd have to prove he knew about it,unless he's a mechanic its virtually impossible to prove.
That or if he was a car sales man using the pretence of "private sale" or if he objected to allowing you to bring a mechanic.

 

[AdamB]

Just thought I would update this, after a battle with the seller, he agreed to give me some cash back, nearly half of what I paid for the vehicle, so it didn't turn out to be too bad, although I am still out of pocket. Seeing as there is not a great deal I can do about it, I'm happy with the outcome.