Possible clocked car....

cautiouscarguy

Im buying a car and the guy seems genuine enough. Hes letting the car go cheap because hes up to his eyeballs in money problems.

But Im just not 100% sure. The car is definitely spotless inside and out. I had a mechanic give it a quick look over and he said it seems legit.

His **only** concern is the low mileage and UK import. He said its not crazy low.... but just maybe a bit lower then he would have expected.

But as the seller said right from the start, it wasnt his main car. It was the second car.... which now that money is tight is the first thing to go. So it could all be innocent enough.

He seems like a very decent guy and he really doesnt come across as a "con artist".... but then again, con artists make it their job to appear nice and friendly.

Anyway. Im just wondering would a motorcheck.ie be worth getting. I punched in the reg and its telling there is 28 records and its an english import (and then I was presented with a nice little box telling me 1 in 4 UK imports have been clocked :eek: :eek: )

I dunno lads.

What do ye think. Will the motorcheck be worth it? Has anyone here ever used it?

What would you do in my situation lads?

And given that the mechanic (a reputable mechanic by the way) said it seems to be in good shape would it be a huge issue if it was clocked back a few thousand?

Alanstrainor

I'm going to guess this car is going to cost you thousands...spending the little amount on a Motor Check report would seem like a pretty good idea to me!

I would be wary of any seller telling me "I'm letting the car go cheap because..."

What car is it? And how much cheaper is it compared to similar spec?

colm_mcm

Is there no service history to back up the mileage

mickdw

colm_mcm wrote: »

Is there no service history to back up the mileage

ANd if there is not a service history, given the story so far, Id say 95% chance of it being clocked.

Toyotafanboi

would you not just spend €35 quid on a motorcheck and find out?

edit : i've saved myself from a clocked car twice before with motorcheck. both diesels with below average figures. wouldn't mind that 28 records lark though, most of it is standard procedure and good news stories.

cautiouscarguy

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I'm going to guess this car is going to cost you thousands...spending the little amount on a Motor Check report would seem like a pretty good idea to me!

I would be wary of any seller telling me "I'm letting the car go cheap because..."

What car is it? And how much cheaper is it compared to similar spec?

No your getting me wrong. I dont mind spending on motorcheck. In fact Id be delighted to. I was just wondering is that a decent site? Is it as good as it says it is? Has anyone else here used it.

I know my OP is a bit of a rant... sorry.

Oh and ColmMcM I havent seen the service history. But he assures me the service history is in order and will give me it whenever I call down to him

(and of course I wouldnt take the car without the service history... I wouldnt care what excuse he has- that would be way too sketchy for me)


Anyway lads. I suppose what Im asking. (in a very roundabout and ranty kinda way) Is motorcheck going to give me the answers I need.

cautiouscarguy

Alanstrainor wrote: »

What car is it? And how much cheaper is it compared to similar spec?

I sent you a PM..

shooter88

mickdw wrote: »

ANd if there is not a service history, given the story so far, Id say 95% chance of it being clocked.

20e can get main dealer stamps and 20 for the book off the net so service history won't be a dead cert on correct mileage

mickdw

On a uk car, yes, the mileage records should show what kind of miles it was covering over there. If he has had it here awhile, well thats a different story.

colm_mcm

Service history should be verified

listermint

Get motorcheck done. Could even have HPI or finance out on it.

Well worth it for a bit more piece of mind.

mickdw

shooter88 wrote: »

20e can get main dealer stamps and 20 for the book off the net so service history won't be a dead cert on correct mileage

And that is why I keep a full service history -Stamps with invoices stapled in beside them, tyre receipts, Online parts purchased with date of fitting and mileage recorded on them. Very difficult to fiddle all that plus it can be checked with dealer too.
Anyway, my original point was that if there was no history, I would be pretty sure of being clocked being out of uk and being given excuses re cheap sale price.
With service book present, you still have to keep your eyes open no doubt

shooter88

mickdw wrote: »

And that is why I keep a full service history -Stamps with invoices stapled in beside them, tyre receipts, Online parts purchased with date of fitting and mileage recorded on them. Very difficult to fiddle all that plus it can be checked with dealer too.
Anyway, my original point was that if there was no history, I would be pretty sure of being clocked being out of uk and being given excuses re cheap sale price.
With service book present, you still have to keep your eyes open no doubt

I do the same,keep everything in a folder

Bpmull

I used cartell last week before I bought my car as the milage was a bit low for a diesel. It confirmed the milage was correct. However non of these websites should be taken as 100 percent correct. Have a good look at the car look for wear and tear. How fast does the seat belt retract, is the seat steering wheel worn etc. There all only small things. Do the cartell check its well worth it. It saved us from buying a crashed jeep a few years ago. It will also tell you if there is finance. We always use cartell.ie out of habit there is others such as motorcheck etc. I think they all roughly do the same thing. But the above two are the more popular companies.

cautiouscarguy

So I went and got the motorcheck.

Well lets just say thats turned up some very interesting info.

The car was written off (category c) in the UK in 2010 then it appears to have sat-up until January this year when this guy bought it and is now selling it again. I reckon if it was sitting up for all that time it would easily explain the low milege. And motorcheck reckons it hasnt been clocked so yeh... makes sense.

Im not sure now what to make of this category C write off. I have seen the car personally and its in pristine condition no dinges, no scratches/scrapes etc.. But Im wondering about deeper down. What exactly does this category C write off mean. If I crash someday is it going to collapse in around me.

And of course, it blows the guys story right out of the water. His secondary car..?? For a few days over a month..?? Yeh. Pull the other one.

colm_mcm

At least you can walk away from it now.

racso1975

It comes down to how much you trust the mechanic so. However, and not having a go, he did not know it was a repair job

Henry Ford III

cautiouscarguy wrote: »

So I went and got the motorcheck.

Well lets just say thats turned up some very interesting info.

The car was written off (category c) in the UK in 2010 then it appears to have sat-up until January this year when this guy bought it and is now selling it again. I reckon if it was sitting up for all that time it would easily explain the low milege. And motorcheck reckons it hasnt been clocked so yeh... makes sense.

Im not sure now what to make of this category C write off. I have seen the car personally and its in pristine condition no dinges, no scratches/scrapes etc.. But Im wondering about deeper down. What exactly does this category C write off mean. If I crash someday is it going to collapse in around me.

And of course, it blows the guys story right out of the water. His secondary car..?? For a few days over a month..?? Yeh. Pull the other one.

Run away. Quickly.

Delete sellers details.

mickdw

Cat C is the heaviest category of damage that is allowable to go back on the road so depending on the age and value of the car. the damage could have been very heavy indeed.
What car is it and age?
But yes, I would run away..... fast.
Im open to correct here too but there is a test that write offs in the uk have to go through in order to be allowed on the road. Without this test, the reg cert was retained by uk authourities. This checks that they have not been ringed etc and are in roadworthy condition. Now for years, these cars could be exported to Ireland without this test and registered here with another document - an export cert. Now I believe that this has been stopped now but many many ringed and dodgy repaired uk write off on the road here without any check done on repair standard or that they are stolen and ringed.
Its a minefield so run away.

Toyotafanboi

have you a link to the advert if its advertised online?

randy hickey

Proves yet again that there is more information available on UK motors than on our own domestic stock.

cautiouscarguy

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

have you a link to the advert if its advertised online?

Im not sure the mods want me posting links to adds (maybe possible slander/sale spoiling)... but at the same time, Id hate to think someone might not be so lucky and end buying this pile of scrap (seriously this seller really comes across like a very nice, genuine, honest man).

So Im just going to say... if anyone has their eye on a Hyundai in Louth you should definitely send me a pm... it might save you a lot of heartache.

bazz26

The fact that the seller didn't disclose the car's accident history and gave a different story would end any interest I would have in the car. What else is he not telling you.

Toyotafanboi

cautiouscarguy wrote: »

Im not sure the mods want me posting links to adds (maybe possible slander/sale spoiling)... but at the same time, Id hate to think someone might not be so lucky and end buying this pile of scrap (seriously this seller really comes across like a very nice, genuine, honest man).

So Im just going to say... if anyone has their eye on a Hyundai in Louth you should definitely send me a pm... it might save you a lot of heartache.

i dont think mods would have an issue. if you have a motorcheck report then surely its not slander, its the truth. and you'l stand a chance of not letting someone fall into the same trap as you almost did.

no pressure however

PauloMN

Well worth the few bob using those sites to check a car you are interested in. Saved me buying a UK import showing 95k miles on last UK service (showing under 60k on the clock) and with outstanding finance.

I really only think I'd buy a UK import if I was doing the importing myself tbh. Just too many chancing fcukers out there to risk buying from a dealer here.

Rowley Birkin QC

I nearly bought a Cat C write off before Xmas. Spent €35 and saved thousands.

The car sold a few days later (I checked on motortax.ie) and is back up for sale again now: http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4385153

New seller is even using the same ad as the time I went to see it, albeit with teeny tiny photos.

biko

Maybe he couldn't use it as a "disco car"?