Trade in - Disclosing known problem with Car

Trailfinder · 26-02-2010 10:45am #1

I have been having alot of car trouble with my golf over the past year and have eventually decided to change the car as it just seems to eat money!

I have the car 4 years and have always looked after it. The NCT is up in May and we decided to change it now while it was still NCT'd.
The air turbo is going and the car is losing power. My mechanic said to trade it in as is and say nothing... The garage are professionals and the car is sold as is...
Was in a garage and did a deal for a trade in against a new car, the sales man drove my car and never mentioned a problem with it. He asked me would there be any problems with it passing the NCT and I said no...

What happens when I pick up my new car and he gets my old one - can he call me the next day to tell me that I never mentioned that there was something wrong with it?

In case it matters I'm spending 25k plus my trade in..

EPM · 26-02-2010 10:52am

Trailfinder wrote: »

I have been having alot of car trouble with my golf over the past year and have eventually decided to change the car as it just seems to eat money!

I have the car 4 years and have always looked after it. The NCT is up in May and we decided to change it now while it was still NCT'd.
The air turbo is going and the car is losing power. My mechanic said to trade it in as is and say nothing... The garage are professionals and the car is sold as is...
Was in a garage and did a deal for a trade in against a new car, the sales man drove my car and never mentioned a problem with it. He asked me would there be any problems with it passing the NCT and I said no...

What happens when I pick up my new car and he gets my old one - can he call me the next day to tell me that I never mentioned that there was something wrong with it?

In case it matters I'm spending 25k plus my trade in..

Apart from being dishonest would this problem lead to an NCT failure? Is it the Turbo going? Diesel? Would have been noticable enough if it was...

If it had problems that you didnt disclose I wouldn't be suprised if I you got a call

Trailfinder · 26-02-2010 10:55am

Yes its a diesel.

BronsonTB · 26-02-2010 11:02am

Dishonest

Would you like to be the one buying your traded in car??
Least if you gave him a heads up they could rectify for the new owner...

R.O.R · 26-02-2010 11:02am

If the salesman didn't pick it up in the test drive, then there wasn't a problem. Who's to say that the problem didn't occur after trade in?

The dealer you trade it in to may well sell it to a trader, who'll then sell it on to another dealer - no of which will test drive the car as they generally look at the bodywork and interior condition.

I admire your honesty, but if there is an issue, the professionals should pick it up - it's not down to you to point it out.

Wheelnut · 26-02-2010 11:03am

No, you don't need to tell him, he probably knows already!

You think you have a major problem, he's in the trade and probably knows the "fix". So he gives you a poor trade-in price and you're delighted to take it. He'll have that fixed in a day or two and the car will be back on sale for far more than he gave you.

You probably have a problem with the over-boost control on the turbo. Sometimes it's as simple as a sticking lever on the outside of the unit. However, even if the unit is completely banjaxed he may have one lying around in the yard or he will know where to get one.

Trailfinder · 26-02-2010 11:11am

So my machanic is right to say my car is sold as is.... The garage inspected the car, so had the chance to point out any problems with it then, and didn't.

So they cannot come after me for more money after the deal is done?

Cars&cars · 26-02-2010 11:26am

I wouldnt sell a car to a customer with a fault and I wouldnt like a customer to tradein a car with a fault.

Probably the garage might of aksed you if the car was running well and if you had any problems with it...at that point you should of said "eh it does have a fault with x".

We make the world we live in.......

corktina · 26-02-2010 11:38am

get a "sold as seen and inspected" receipt

make a point of telling him you are not a mechanic and want to trade up to something more relable as you feel it is getting past its best. Mention it doesnt seem to go as well as it used to perhaps.

robtri · 26-02-2010 11:38am

be up front and honest and tell the problem... that way you wont have any issues....

would you like it if the garage gave you a car with a problem?? that they knew about and didnt tell you when buying the car.

voxpop · 26-02-2010 11:46am

Trailfinder wrote: »

The air turbo is going and the car is losing power.

Could just be the MAF - easy fix

Trailfinder wrote: »

Was in a garage and did a deal for a trade in against a new car, the sales man drove my car and never mentioned a problem with it. He asked me would there be any problems with it passing the NCT and I said no...

Any reason why it wouldnt pass the NCT ?

When selling a car the onus is on the buyer to check the car fully - if you are asked about specific problems and lie - well thats being dishonest. If there *might* be a problem, but its not evident and just an opinion then I dont think there is a need to go suggesting it to the garage.

If I was buying a car - I wouldnt expect the seller to divulge any problems that were not obvious. I would fully check the car and make up my own mind what needed doing.

Trailfinder · 26-02-2010 12:17pm

voxpop wrote: »

Any reason why it wouldnt pass the NCT ?

My husband thinks it may fail the emmissions test due to the air turbo.But that is only a guess...

voxpop · 26-02-2010 12:26pm

Trailfinder wrote: »

My husband thinks it may fail the emmissions test due to the air turbo.But that is only a guess...

It might pass either... Anyone buying a car that is out or nearly out of NCT is taking a risk that it might fail on something. The garage should know what they are at.

TwoShedsJackson · 26-02-2010 12:28pm

Trade it in and say nothing, buyer beware and all that.

26-02-2010 1:17pm

You're spending €25,000, whatever he is giving you for the Golf is probably p1ss poor anyway, plenty of fat built into the windscreen price of what you are buying, I wouldn't worry about telling him. Once it hasn't been crashed don't worry. If it's as bad as you say it is he should have noticed during the test drive, he probably couldn't care less, as mentioned he is unlikely to retail it.

OldmanMondeo · 26-02-2010 1:51pm

Either way it is a gamble, If you trell the salesperson a problem has developed over the last few days will he know a few hundred / grans of the trade in value or will he say don't worry about it? Or if you say nothing, should you need service etc on your new car will the dealer try and get his losses back?

TBH, I have a Megane years ago that wouldn't start if it was raining, all other times start no problem. I decided to get rid of and traded in, Didn't tell the dealer. Imange my horror when I passed the dealers that evening, a Saturday, and my old Megane is parked right where I left it. I have purchased 2 cars from the since and have been well looked after. The Megane was used by the Garage lads for collecting spares, there was a bit of tax on it, and within 18 months 4 people purchased the car...

Absurdum · 26-02-2010 10:04pm

tell them nothing, you aren't qualified to be giving that kind of advice

-Corkie- · 26-02-2010 10:15pm

I was trading a car in to a vw garage somewhere in portumna and the clutch and gearbox was nearly fcuked. I asked him would he drive it and he refused, he gave me the trade in price and never asked me about the car, he barley looked at it. I never heard another word about it

Trade in - Disclosing known problem with Car

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