What car Auction rights have we got ?

bookerboy

Thinking of buying a car at an Auction house to try and save a few quid.
Wondering if i have any rights if the car has major problems,was clocked ,crashed or misdescribed on the Catalogue.
I spoke to a couple of Auction houses and these are the responses.
None of them want to see a car coming back once sold.

Dublin City Auctions(every Thursday 7pm) have a healthcheck on most car windscreens and will cancel the sale if any problem shows up,but you only have until midday the day after the Auction to bring the car back.

Merlin (every wed 7pm and sat 11am) will have their own Mechanic check out any major problem and he decides if the car should be returned.

Wilsons(every tuesday 7pm) As far as i understand from them,under no circumstances will a car be returned

Anyone here have any experiences ? Am i mad to go down this route ?

Alanstrainor

Asking for trouble imo.

bookerboy

Surely every car bought at Auction can't be trouble ?
I have heard some great success stories.

mickdw

Firstly
forget about returning cars to auction. You pay your money and you take your chances.
If you want to do this, do you're homework re prices. You would want to be getting the car significantly cheaper than a straight sale from a garage.
If you are a newbie to auctions, take a mechanic with you and go over the car as best toy can. Have your highest bid in mind and don't go over it. Be sure to factor in all fees etc.

bazz26

If you want a guarantee or safety net then buy from a reputable dealer. Treat buying from auction as you would buying privately. Once it leaves their lot it's your problem.

Atlantic Dawn

You would want to be getting it for atleast a third less than a comparitive model sold from a dealer to cover any unexpected repair bills that might popup. Lots of auctions in Ireland have cars going at ridiculous prices, particularly those where bankrupt dealer stock was sold.

Tail Docker

bazz26 wrote: »

If you want a guarantee or safety net then buy from a reputable dealer. Treat buying from auction as you would buying privately. Once it leaves their lot it's your problem.

Usually once the hammer drops, it's your problem. If you really check the terms and conditions - the ones that a court would go by, you need brass balls to buy at auction. Hammer falls, it's yours right then - so, if it then gets driven into the side of a bentley, your car hit a bentley. I know that's extremism in my example, but as it happens, that's the way it is. I've bought a fair few vehicles at auction, but it's a lottery and certainly not for the unwary. A lot of vehicles are put "on the block" as there's no way they could be sold retail - it's 40% dumping ground, 30% milers/tired/bit crap and 20% gems - ish. And the gems make the money..

bazz26

Yep and the trade snap up the gems either at the right price or let the newbies bid high on them until they sell for not too far off what they would sell for on a forecourt.

Tail Docker

The other 10% are utter scrap btw, and there's nothing hidden about it, just pure scrap being got rid of -ie crashed, broken belts, hg gone etc - but these are usually self evident.

Patrickheg

Irish car auctions which are open to the public are a strange animal. Typically the average amateur punters gets carried away and bid the price up to virtually the open market value with non of those benefits

Drummerboy08

There's no such thing as a cheap car in an auction in Ireland at the minute, anything worth buying is being bought up by the trade before it hits the auction hall. One or two may slip past, and will make close to retail money there anyway, so there's no benefit to a private punter.

Unless you've experience at an auction already, Its not really a place to try to save a few quid, in fact it'll more than likely cost you a few quid.

wonski

I was at Merlins once, not buying fortunately:D

Not a place for a newbie trying to save few quids, really. Lot of terrible cars, including Accords with Merc alloys (or other way around) and Jags on steelies:eek:

And then the crowd gathered around a car of the day - Skoda Octavia diesel. You could buy a one from the dealer for less than what they paid.

It was a nice way to spend a day, but not to buy a car.

If i was a mechanic meself, and knew about cars more than I do this could be a runner. For an average Joe it is a trap. It is only my opinion, but who would buy a car without even driving it?

Warranty cover was provided by a third party company, and I am not so sure how comprehensive it was. Wasn't convinced at all tbh.
Just go there without the cash to see it yourself. Take a fiver with you (it was 2€ maybe?) so you can get in:D

jellyboy

if your looking at "rights" you have none
Zilch …

past experience has taught me that ..

only suggestion i have is to buy on credit card and at least that way you can claw back monies if car turns out to be crap