Why the hell do they do it??
- Thread starter XmisterIS
- Start date
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Archie_tect
De Skieven Architek... aka Penfold + Horace
- Location
- Northumberland
+!
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I had a conversation with a back-street car dealer once. He told me that he found cars at bargain prices via the obituaries page in the local paper.
When he saw that an old man had died, leaving an elderly grieving widow, he would look the woman up in the telephone directory and go and knock on her door. He would say that he was in the area looking for cars to buy. Many of those old women couldn't drive but had their husband's car sitting in the garage or in front of the house. Of course, they now had no use for it ...
He would offer sympathy over a cup of tea and biscuits and after that he'd be shown the car, often the pride and joy of the late owner and in immaculate condition.
Oh dear - the thrust converter looked worn, the angle sprocket needed replacing and as for the hydraulic pressure calibration module - sharp intake of breath - it would cost hundreds of pounds to sort that out. Sorry, the car was not roadworthy. Out of the goodness of his heart, he would tow it away free of charge and because he felt sorry for her recent loss, he'd give her £100 which he would try and get back from the scrapyard.
The car would typically be advertised in the paper that very evening for £600.
Scum!
When he saw that an old man had died, leaving an elderly grieving widow, he would look the woman up in the telephone directory and go and knock on her door. He would say that he was in the area looking for cars to buy. Many of those old women couldn't drive but had their husband's car sitting in the garage or in front of the house. Of course, they now had no use for it ...
He would offer sympathy over a cup of tea and biscuits and after that he'd be shown the car, often the pride and joy of the late owner and in immaculate condition.
Oh dear - the thrust converter looked worn, the angle sprocket needed replacing and as for the hydraulic pressure calibration module - sharp intake of breath - it would cost hundreds of pounds to sort that out. Sorry, the car was not roadworthy. Out of the goodness of his heart, he would tow it away free of charge and because he felt sorry for her recent loss, he'd give her £100 which he would try and get back from the scrapyard.
The car would typically be advertised in the paper that very evening for £600.
Scum!
mightyquin
Active Member
As I said, I don't think too many private sellers try this - no one really wants an angry 'customer' coming back to their home. But you will get thick skinned dodgy used car dealers selling privately to avoid tax.
I've no problem with trading a car in with faults to a dealer - it's up to them to evaluate the car and of course, up to them to put anything right before they sell it on. I'd never do that selling privately though, quite the opposite.
I've always bought my cars privately. I don't trust a lot of dealers. I have never been in the employment of the motortrade but have been around the fringes of it for long enough to know what goes on.
As I shop at the bargain basement end of the car market, I will view and judge the car on it's merits and will instantly be suspicious of anything which has been obviously tarted up for sale. I prefer to see an old car, warts and all. For someone like me who does all my own servicing, the best bargains are often to be MOT failures for relatively minor faults but for which the owner was quoted a ridiculous amount by some garage to rectify and will then sell the car for a low price.
I am constantly amazed by how many people are obsessed with mileage. Virtually any car in the modern era will take hundreds of thousands in it's stride if it's been looked after properly. I had an old MK1 diesel Golf which I bought with almost 300,000 miles on the clock, still on the original engine (I knew the owner) and I put a further 100,000 on it and sold it for what I bought it for, and it didn't require very much apart from routine servicing. Didn't even burn any oil, despite the mileage.
As I shop at the bargain basement end of the car market, I will view and judge the car on it's merits and will instantly be suspicious of anything which has been obviously tarted up for sale. I prefer to see an old car, warts and all. For someone like me who does all my own servicing, the best bargains are often to be MOT failures for relatively minor faults but for which the owner was quoted a ridiculous amount by some garage to rectify and will then sell the car for a low price.
I am constantly amazed by how many people are obsessed with mileage. Virtually any car in the modern era will take hundreds of thousands in it's stride if it's been looked after properly. I had an old MK1 diesel Golf which I bought with almost 300,000 miles on the clock, still on the original engine (I knew the owner) and I put a further 100,000 on it and sold it for what I bought it for, and it didn't require very much apart from routine servicing. Didn't even burn any oil, despite the mileage.
swee'pea99
Squire
I saw an article recently about a wildlife photographer who works out in Africa somewhere. He drives an old Range Rover, with 2 million miles on the clock...
Rhythm Thief
Legendary Member
- Location
- Ross on Wye
- Location
- The TerrorVortex
What are these 'cars' of which you speak???
*baffled*
*baffled*
Two words - Fuel consumption.
An old Merc would be even more durable and more economical, better to drive and has cheaper parts prices into the bargain.
smokeysmoo
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bolton, not very far from Nob End
Volvo's and bikes really don't mix
Mine do. I get one or two bikes in my Volvo, drive them to their ride start or airport and Robert is the brother of your father.
smokeysmoo
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bolton, not very far from Nob End
There's always an exception to every rule
Ask any motorcyclist what they think of Volvo drivers, and make sure your kids are not in earshot for their reply
Rhythm Thief
Legendary Member
- Location
- Ross on Wye
35 or so to the gallon, driven prudently. And that was the 2.3 litre model. Alright, it's not exactly Jonathan Porrit territory, but it's not bad.
I didn't think you could coax that out of one. I've never owned one admittedly but anyone I know who did/does talks about mid 20s mpg. An old Merc 190 or early model C180 should achieve low 40s if driven carefully. I managed 43 mpg when I had borrowed my uncle's 1994 C180 for a fortnight. A late 80s/ early 90s Audi 80 is probably even more economical and has the advantage of a galvanized body but are horrid to drive.
