Recently sold my Audi A6 without fault and need advice

1jcdub

I recently sold my faultless 2012 Audi A6 multitronic to a private buyer. He test drove the car about 3 weeks previous to purchase. The new owner had never driven an automatic car before so he was a little hesitant behind the wheel on his test drive, but it went well in general and left me a deposit a week or so later​.
The car was immaculately kept and maintained and had full service history. I never experience one issue with the car in the 2 years I had ownership. I asked him if he was arranging a mechanic to inspect the car before he was due to collect it and he said he was happy enough as the car was immaculate. Long story short. The new owner collected the car and a few days later text me to say that the car was revving in reverse with no drive and that he hoped I hadn't f**led him over. The gearbox operated as normal while driving forward but when put into reverse the car will rev like it was in neutral but there was no drive while in reverse. As a courtesy, I've arranged for a mechanic to look at the car and plug in diagnostics to see if there's any fault present.
So my question is, what if this is an expensive problem to fix. Should I contribute towards the cost repair, or contribute anything at all? I don't want to leave him high and dry but I'm very limited in funds are after purchasing my new car. The Audi was sold in good faith and without fault and it was without fault throughout​ my entire ownership with no sign of any underlying issues with the gearbox.

Any advice offered I'd truly appreciate.

endacl

Good of you to offer the check, but you've no obligations here as the sale was private. Reads like you acted honourably through the process.

Personally, I'd adopt a 'best of luck with your future endeavours' stance.

db

Sold as seen. He carried out all the checks he wanted to and was happy so you have no obligation towards him. Arranging for a mechanic to look at the car was a bad idea, you should not have had any other contact with him.

hidinginthebush

You're under no obligation to pay for the repairs. He bought the car as he saw it, he could have had a mechanic look over it fully before hand.

Soarer

Not to sound harsh, but he's on his own. He test drove the car, and had the opportunity to get a mechanic. You shouldn't even have arranged for the mechanic.

Seeing as he's not used to an automatic, what's to say he messed up the gear change at some stage and has goosed the 'box?

ba_barabus

Caveat Emptor

grogi

1jcdub wrote: »

Any advice offered I'd truly appreciate.

Don't offer anything. In doing so you are admitting you feel at fault and that could be used against you in future.

"I am really sorry it broke down, I really understand your frustration. I did not know nothing about it and sold the car in the best faith. From now on, you're on your own".

sbsquarepants

Depends - is this a friend of yours or connected to you in some way that you want to keep him sweet?

If not - caveat emptor.
It's up to him to make sure he's happy with things before buying, he said he was happy - you didn't tell him any lies, it's just bad luck. His bad luck. If he'd crashed it 2 days after buying, or it was stolen, would you feel obliged to help?

1jcdub

endacl wrote: »

Good of you to offer the check, but you've no obligations here as the sale was private. Reads like you acted honourably through the process.

Personally, I'd adopt a 'best of luck with your future endeavours' stance.

I'm worried that if I contribute anything towards the costs of repair I'll be showing liable in some way.
I do feel sorry for the new owner hence why I'd try make a small contribution as a form of goodwill, but I don't want him to think because I offer a financial contribution towards costs regardless how small that I was admitting there any was a problem before I sold it. There wasn't any issue with the car what so ever.

1jcdub

db wrote: »

Sold as seen. He carried out all the checks he wanted to and was happy so you have no obligation towards him. Arranging for a mechanic to look at the car was a bad idea, you should not have had any other contact with him.

He's lives locally so I didn't want any hassle or trouble.

frozenfrozen

Well look at it like this, if you were the type of person to fob off a fooked car when he called back to tell you about it he would have heard the beep associated with a burner phone having been turned off.

1jcdub

I'm currently away for a week on a family holiday and it's constantly on my mind. Both myself and wife are stressed about it. Hence the post and advice to try ease our minds

1jcdub

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Depends - is this a friend of yours or connected to you in some way that you want to keep him sweet?

If not - caveat emptor.
It's up to him to make sure he's happy with things before buying, he said he was happy - you didn't tell him any lies, it's just bad luck. His bad luck. If he'd crashed it 2 days after buying, or it was stolen, would you feel obliged to help?

He's not a friend. I thought I was very fair with the sale. I had another buyer interested in the car and I held it for him while he came back with the deposit a week later. Then I held the car for 3 weeks while he organised his funds.

68 lost souls

Hes not used to manual, he could well have done some damage himself and caveat emptor

JoeA3

This kind of thing has come up many times here before.

You don't do anything. In fact, even offering to get it checked / put on diagnostics is offering too much. You sold the car as seen and in good faith. He had his opportunity to have it inspected by his own mechanic and he choose not to. This is the risk people take when buying privately rather than from a dealer. A dealer would be obliged to provide some form of warranty cover - you, as a private seller, are not. It is entirely his problem now.

I say - forget about it and enjoy your holiday.

BorneTobyWilde

Forget the laws and the fact he is entitled to nothing. If you can help him out then it's the right thing to do. I know I would.

1jcdub

I just received this texts from the new owner

"Hi,

Sorry to bother you again on your holidays I'm obviously just very concerned about the car and I can't afford to wait until Saturday to discuss the cost of fixing it or how this can be paid. To be honest Ive literally given you all I have so financially I wouldn't be in any position to pay for this, regardless of the cost. The car as it stands is useless to me after having it a day"

Another text

" I'd appricate if you could let me know your thought's on this or whether you'd be in a position to cover the cost of it as I've paid a large amount of money for something thats no use to me ..I really hope you can understand my side of things and we can come to a amicable decision.. Thanks "

givyjoe

1jcdub wrote: »

He's not a friend. I thought I was very fair with the sale. I had another buyer interested in the car and I held it for him while he came back with the deposit a week later. Then I held the car for 3 weeks while he organised his funds.

Are you sure there is there definitely an issue with the car? As in perhaps this guy literally hasn't a bean on what he's doing. Is the car definitely being put into reverse..? Is the electronic parking brake still on (making an assumption it does actually have one here).

Even if there is a fault with the car, it's not your issue. You've done enough, if you can't afford to do any more, don't. If you're dealing with a shady character, you may want to re-asses your options though.

frozenfrozen

ask them have they turned off the electronic handbrake on the car...!

givyjoe

frozenfrozen wrote: »

ask them have they turned off the electronic handbrake on the car...!

I mentioned this in my earlier post, but I actually sold an a6 which had constant problems with the EPB. I eventually stopped using it as it would literally be stuck 'on'.

Deise Vu

1jcdub wrote: »

I'm worried that if I contribute anything towards the costs of repair I'll be showing liable in some way.
I do feel sorry for the new owner hence why I'd try make a small contribution as a form of goodwill, but I don't want him to think because I offer a financial contribution towards costs regardless how small that I was admitting there any was a problem before I sold it. There wasn't any issue with the car what so ever.

This bit. If you do anything for him you need to get something in writing that it is a gesture of goodwill and that the purchaser acknowledges that there were no guarantees with the car, otherwise you are opening up a can of worms.

Hopefully he is as decent as you are and accepts your offer in good faith. The problem is, with a 5 year old automatic Audi, there is a decent amount of money involved and he faces losing a packet if there is a serious problem.

You need to present this as an either / or package. Either he signs the acknowledgement or you tell him to GTFO, you don't know what he did with the car in the meantime. If he won't sign, he is as much as telling you he will enforce a guarantee that you didn't give him and your only protection is to tell him to produce the non-existing contract and not give him an implied guarantee by paying his bills for him.

ba_barabus

1jcdub wrote: »

I just received this texts from the new owner

"Hi,

Sorry to bother you again on your holidays I'm obviously just very concerned about the car and I can't afford to wait until Saturday to discuss the cost of fixing it or how this can be paid. To be honest Ive literally given you all I have so financially I wouldn't be in any position to pay for this, regardless of the cost. The car as it stands is useless to me after having it a day"

Another text

" I'd appricate if you could let me know your thought's on this or whether you'd be in a position to cover the cost of it as I've paid a large amount of money for something thats no use to me ..I really hope you can understand my side of things and we can come to a amicable decision.. Thanks "

OP, tell him to stop texting you on your holidays and that you sold the car in good faith and in good condition.

Turn your phone off and forget about it.

It REALLY isn't your issue or anything for YOU to worry about.

frozenfrozen

It should have occurred to me sooner that this could be the issue but I've seen my dad completely bamboozled by the car not reversing because the auto parking brake has turned on automatically and it doesn't always turn off automatically if you're on a decent enough gradient, you need to hold the brake and manually turn it off.

BorneTobyWilde

1jcdub wrote: »

I just received this texts from the new owner

"Hi,

Sorry to bother you again on your holidays I'm obviously just very concerned about the car and I can't afford to wait until Saturday to discuss the cost of fixing it or how this can be paid. To be honest Ive literally given you all I have so financially I wouldn't be in any position to pay for this, regardless of the cost. The car as it stands is useless to me after having it a day"

Another text

" I'd appricate if you could let me know your thought's on this or whether you'd be in a position to cover the cost of it as I've paid a large amount of money for something thats no use to me ..I really hope you can understand my side of things and we can come to a amicable decision.. Thanks "

What is mileage on this car?
How many times did you change oil in gearbox since you owned it ?

1jcdub

frozenfrozen wrote: »

It should have occurred to me sooner that this could be the issue but I've seen my dad completely bamboozled by the car not reversing because the auto parking brake has turned on automatically and it doesn't always turn off automatically if you're on a decent enough gradient, you need to hold the brake and manually turn it off.

I had the new owner double check that all is working correctly with the electronic handbrake.

frozenfrozen

it's still a possibility something is wrong with the driver of the car rather than the car itself. Maybe have him put it into neutral and roll the car to see if the parking brake is seized or still hasn't been turned off properly

1jcdub

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

What is mileage on this car?
How many times did you change oil in gearbox since you owned it ?

the gearbox was changed at 40k miles and I had it done then I bought it for peace of mind about 40k Kms ago. It's due again in 20k kms

Lantus

For all you know he's abused the car and caused damage but is using his anger to pressure you into repairing his car. Because let's be honest it's not yours anymore as you sold it.

You are not a shop or a business and you openly suggested a mechanic. He refused and bought any way.

Cars are mechanical and can break anytime. I'd be more inclined to believe that he has done something being un used to an auto.

Stop taking his calls and move on.

It's his car now and his responsibility to pay for it.

Riesen_Meal

Buyer beware in these situations, sorry but he was checking the car out weeks before he bought it, you don't owe him anything at all, sounds to me like he hasn't a clue how to drive an automatic and has messed something up along the line...

Henry Ford III

He shouldn't have bought your car OP. He overstretched (according to his own text message).

He also didn't get the car inspected (not that it'd have made any difference).

I'd just say "Sorry I cannot help you. Car was perfect when it was sold to you".

Deise Vu

1jcdub wrote: »

I just received this texts from the new owner

"Hi,

Sorry to bother you again on your holidays I'm obviously just very concerned about the car and I can't afford to wait until Saturday to discuss the cost of fixing it or how this can be paid. To be honest Ive literally given you all I have so financially I wouldn't be in any position to pay for this, regardless of the cost. The car as it stands is useless to me after having it a day"

Another text

" I'd appricate if you could let me know your thought's on this or whether you'd be in a position to cover the cost of it as I've paid a large amount of money for something thats no use to me ..I really hope you can understand my side of things and we can come to a amicable decision.. Thanks "

He knows you are on holidays and yet he is sending you these texts? To be honest it sounds like he is trying to get you to commit to doing something and getting it in writing. Be very, very careful what you reply and, ideally, as others have said, don't reply at all. You did everything you could, it sounds like the purchaser is trying to trap you. If you feel you must do something, tell him you will talk to him when you get home.

Do not put any financial commitments into a text message!!!!

_Kaiser_

Agree with the above - "Sorry, but when I sold it to you, you agreed it was immaculate but I did suggest you have a mechanic look over it as good practise which you declined. I'm afraid I can't and won't be paying for any issues you may now be having."

I'd also cancel/withdraw the offer to pay for diagnosis... while decent on your part, it could be construed as you knowing something was wrong previously.

If the buyer wanted a warranty, he should have bought from a dealer and would have paid more for it too.

Also.. keep all texts to/from him just in case they're needed later.

sjb25

His own problem unfortunately for him

Turn off your phone enjoy your holiday you are being incredibly decent and he is still hounding you on holidays.
If you want to be as nice as you are he can wait till you are back!!
if he can't wait till you are back of holidays then tell him plenty of mechanics around to ring car was fine when you sold it goodbye

Now turn off your phone and enjoy your holiday

JoeA3

The fact that he is knowingly hounding you on your holidays would make me even less inclined to help him. I've been there, where something going on at home is bothering you and you can't enjoy the holiday that you had been looking forward to - and your wife and kids are getting the bad vibes too.
You'll just have to be firm and send a one-liner firm-but-polite text back to him, making it clear that the problem is not yours and that you are on your holiday and will not engage in the matter any further. Then ignore (or better still turn off) the phone for the week.

Lantus

JoeA3 wrote:

The fact that he is knowingly hounding you on your holidays would make me even less inclined to help him. I've been there, where something going on at home is bothering you and you can't enjoy the holiday that you had been looking forward to - and your wife and kids are getting the bad vibes too. You'll just have to be firm and send a one-liner firm-but-polite text back to him, making it clear that the problem is not yours and that you are on your holiday and will not engage in the matter any further. Then ignore (or better still turn off) the phone for the week.

Better still call your operator and have the number blocked for ever. Good riddance.

extra-ordinary_

Lantus wrote: »

Better still call your operator and have the number blocked for ever. Good riddance.

you don't need an operator...just add the number to a blocked list or mark it as a spam number.

_Brian

Be really careful there's not a scam going on here.
Create a fault and then try and extort money for you for the repair.

You owe this guy nothing at all, be polite but firm and send him on his way.

endacl

+1

I was in a similar situation. Just block every number they contact you on. They won't know you've locked them. They'll go away after a while.

1jcdub

I've withdrawn the offer of my mechanic looking at the car on advice.

davo2001

1jcdub wrote: »

I've withdrawn the offer of my mechanic looking at the car on advice.

Good, now feck off, block the number and enjoy the rest of your holiday!

sbsquarepants

Now you and the wife go get a beer and something nice to eat.
File this in "not my problem" folder and get on with your holiday!

Caliden

It's normal to feel bad for the guy as you're not a psychopath but at the same time the car was sold with a full history and you even suggested for him to get a mechanic to look at it.

Even if he got a mechanic, it would be very unlikely he would've found an issue with the gearbox. Sounds like the guy did something himself but is trying to get you to pay for the repairs.

You're under no obligation to do this so best to just put it behind you.

If he gives you hassle (as you've said he lives locally) and claims you're trying to con him call into question his treatment of the car and all it takes is <5 minutes of dogging a car to **** it up.

1jcdub

Just like to thank everyone for their advice today. It's put my mind somewhat at ease.
I really hope the diagnoses of the gearbox for the new owner doesn't end up costing a him fortune.

If it was me that purchased privately i would have been p**ed off to be honest, but I'd have been well aware of my lack of a comeback with it being a private sale.
I'll never sell a car to a local ever again.

1jcdub

Just like to thank everyone for their advice today. It's put my mind somewhat at ease.
I really hope the diagnoses of the gearbox for the new owner doesn't end up costing a him fortune.

If it was me that purchased privately i would have been p**ed off to be honest, but I'd have been well aware of my lack of a comeback with it being a private sale.
I'll never sell a car to a local ever again.

frozenfrozen

hopefully it's something silly like handbrake / he needs glasses and is putting it into neutral instead of reverse etc etc.

newspower

I had an A6 estate a few years ago and same thing happened to it. I left it in to a reputable Audi dealer who told Gearbox going and bit job to fix. He also spun me a load of rubbish about whole engine having to be removed. Quoted me 6k. Brought it elsewhere to gearbox specialist and seemly it is a common enough fault and a pin in the box needs to be replaced. It cost me €1300 in the end so dont agree to anything as it could be a costly fix. It started the exact same way with reverse first.

bear1

Some chancer.
Blew all his cash on a car with zero room to cover potential costs.
Tell him to jog on.
Probably mashed the gears cause he isn't used to an automatic.
I am curious as to his reply re your withdrawal

Sleeper12

You are only liable if you deliberately hid the fault. (not for a second suggesting that that you did).
My wife bought a 10 year Citroën for 2500 two weeks ago from a garage. Turns out it needs 600 to 1000 worth the work done. Just heard back from the garage. They have agreed to do all the time under the 3 months warranty.
That's the difference between a garage and a private sale.

listermint

Sleeper12 wrote: »

You are only liable if you deliberately hid the fault. (not for a second suggesting that that you did).
My wife bought a 10 year Citroën for 2500 two weeks ago from a garage. Turns out it needs 600 to 1000 worth the work done. Just heard back from the garage. They have agreed to do all the time under the 3 months warranty.
That's the difference between a garage and a private sale.

No he's not.

At all.

Heart Break Kid

Caveat emptor or Buyer Beware.

Your not a mechanic nor are you a business (garage) I assume?

If not your are under no obligation to provide after service, repairs or refunds, your not a mechanic. As far as your concerned it was in perfect working order, but what do you know, because your not a mechanic. Due to this you can't be expected to know the car is fault free.

He bought it, he should've had it checked. he didn't, his fault. All expenses are his. Did this myself once but I was aware of the consequence if there was something wrong.

grogi

listermint wrote: »

No he's not.

At all.

If one sells something in bad faith, it is fraud. In such case, when the seller knows the item is faulty, the seller IS responsible, regardless if that is a car, phone or lawn mower.