Girlfriend bought car which is not roadworthy from private seller.

Captain Havoc

My girlfriend bought a car for a grand on Saturday from a private individual. Obviously she thought that there would be a couple of things wrong with it, the guy who sold it had said that it was perfect and showed the NCT it passed last July and it had acumilated 3,000 miles since that NCT.

She brought it in on Tuesday for a service and the mechanic recommended it needed a new coil pack and exhaust clamp and he did some small stuff there also like bulbs and spark plugs, it cost €185. She brought it back today to have the coil pack done and the mechanic gave it a check here is his report:

"Check car over and carry out diagnostic dur to car having mis-fire in engine, fault showing in no: 2&3 cyclinders. Check for no heating in car, blow back in coolant bottle - suspect possible fault with head-gasket and maybe possible crack in cylinder head."

She called the seller again today who is claiming it was perfect when she bought it. It was driven 150km since it was bought. She would like to know what rights she has in this instance as it will cost quite a lot of money to repair the above. I know SFA about cars, so I'm not very helpful but I imagine that she has some rights.

Francie Barrett

As long as the seller didn't misrepresent anything about the condition of the car, then you have no comeback. Caveat emptor.

Eric Cartman

unless you can prove the seller knew then theres not much that can be done. If she bought the car with a few faults (as you said lights and a coilpack and such) then its very very possible the seller knew nothing more than she did when it was bought.

166man

Feck all rights with a Private Seller as far as I am aware. Unless a written warranty was given then unfortunately its caveat emptor.

you have to be realistic when buying a car from a private individual for €1k.

Sorry to hear OP.

Kristopherus

She has'nt a leg to stand on. As previously mentioned Caveat Emptor.

randy hickey

What did the mechanic that she brought with her think of the car?

AltAccount

^^^this


plus - do any of the issues you've mentioned qualify the car as unroadworthy? Sounds more like unreliable than unroadworthy.
Is there a difference in law regarding the two?

bazz26

Why do some people only get cars checked by mechanics after buying one instead of when buying one? In this price range unless you know your beans then you have a high chance of buying a lemon as in this case.

I really cannot see anyway back OP for your GF unless she can prove that the seller knew of the problems when selling the car. It is just crazy buying a car from a private individual without having a mechanic examin it first. Imo your GF is fortunate that she is just down €1k and didn't buy a more expensive lemon. A valuable lesson to be learnt here.

AltAccount

Captain Havoc wrote: »

"Check car over and carry out diagnostic dur to car having mis-fire in engine, fault showing in no: 2&3 cyclinders. Check for no heating in car, blow back in coolant bottle - suspect possible fault with head-gasket and maybe possible crack in cylinder head."

Also, you need to bottom this bit out - does the HG need doing? Is there actually a crack or is it suspected? What are the other faults?

If only to be able to assess the final bill before proceeding with remedial work.

Esoteric_

Caveat emptor. She has absolutely no rights, I'm afraid.

mullingar

The car is roadworthy and has a valid NCT. The engine has a mechanical fault.

Zero comeback.

Also, Misleading title.

Mechanic seems an ape too.

166man

What car is it OP just out of interest?

road_high

Easy be wise after the event OP so I don't intend to be. All may not be lost. What type car is it? You never know, if she can get these faults repaired relatively cheaply then she just might be able to salvage something and the car may be grand otherwise.

Stheno

166man wrote: »

What car is it OP just out of interest?

Fiat punto at a guess?

alo1587

Buyer beware I'm afraid.It must be a Rover...

166man

Stheno wrote: »

Fiat punto at a guess?

Funnily enough I was thinking Alfa Romeo myself.....

ThreeLineWhip

Micra is my guess.

teR_

Goes on all the time, she has no comeback. Know someone that bought a car that turned out to be a cut & shut. The garda could do nothing. He Had to strip the car to make some money back.

And come on lads it's defiantly a Clio

brendansmith

Caveat emptor

taytothief

My first thought when I read the title was "What did she do that for?"

taytothief

And I'm guessing Rover 200 series.

kona

Captain Havoc wrote: »

My girlfriend bought a car for a grand on Saturday from a private individual. Obviously she thought that there would be a couple of things wrong with it, the guy who sold it had said that it was perfect and showed the NCT it passed last July and it had acumilated 3,000 miles since that NCT.

She brought it in on Tuesday for a service and the mechanic recommended it needed a new coil pack and exhaust clamp and he did some small stuff there also like bulbs and spark plugs, it cost €185. She brought it back today to have the coil pack done and the mechanic gave it a check here is his report:

"Check car over and carry out diagnostic dur to car having mis-fire in engine, fault showing in no: 2&3 cyclinders. Check for no heating in car, blow back in coolant bottle - suspect possible fault with head-gasket and maybe possible crack in cylinder head."

She called the seller again today who is claiming it was perfect when she bought it. It was driven 150km since it was bought. She would like to know what rights she has in this instance as it will cost quite a lot of money to repair the above. I know SFA about cars, so I'm not very helpful but I imagine that she has some rights.

Unless she drove the car before buying with a misfire, perhaps she just got unlucky and the h.g blew in the 150km?!

Top Dog

Since coilpacks were mentioned I'm gonna guess late 90's early noughties Corolla

vectra

Coilpack issue.. Guessing something from the VW camp :P

Stoolbend

Astra G or Peugeot 206?

galwaytt

vectra wrote: »

Coilpack issue.. Guessing something from the VW camp :P

.....for fear of being left out in the coilpack love-in, let's not forget the Megane/Scenic range............

saabsaab

Hi, Blowback into the coolant sounds like headgasket alright. You could try a headgasket sealant just pour into the coolant to seal the crack/hole when engine is hot and drive for 20 miles. About 30 - 40 euro from motor factors, worth a shot at that price and works sometimes if its not gone on too long. Think it was called steeltec or gasket seal?

cocobear

166man wrote: »

Feck all rights with a Private Seller as far as I am aware. Unless a written warranty was given then unfortunately its caveat emptor.

you have to be realistic when buying a car from a private individual for €1k.

Sorry to hear OP.

When ever I have sold any of my cars privately in the past I always give the buyer a receipt,
With the following statement on it
"bought as seen and tested"
I am afraid your GF has no comeback

goochy

No comeback- the reason you have no comeback with private sale is that the seller is not expected to be a mechanic and know every fault on car a dealer meanwhile is expected to check over car b4 sale and get Any item needing replacing done if u sold someone a washing machine on donedeal would u feel responsible if it packed up after u sold it ? No

Ah_Yeah

No comeback OP - I bought a car a year ago which seemed fine but has caused me nothing but trouble since I purchased. The seller would have no obligation of responsibility towards me, and I am aware of this.

I'll be buying from a garage/getting a full mechanic check on my next purchase.

Live and learn.