Ive been amazed that in the last 4 years, hardly any of the cars ive sold have had a test drive, let alone by the buyer. Heres my list so far:
Vauxhall Astra van, 105k £800 - Never left the driveway
Jaguar XJ6, 154k £1200 - Never left the driveway
Reliant Rialto, 86k £535 - Never left the driveway
Nissan Micra auto, 75k £375 - Never left the driveway
MGF VVC, 26k £5250 - Let me drive him, never drove it himself
Mazda 323, 71k £275 - Let me drive him, never drove it himself
Ford Escort saloon, 73k £750 - Never left the driveway
Toyota Yaris Verso, 33k £4500 - Never left the driveway
Vauxhall Corsa Sport, 56k £2500 - Never left the driveway
Volvo 460, 34k £700 - Let me drive him, never drove it himself
Daewoo Nubira, 35k £3000 - Did have a test drive!
Talbot Avenger, 27k £895 - Let me drive him, never drove it himself
Vauxhall Cavalier MK2, 56k £375 - Let me drive him, never drove it himself
The reason I put the details is that there doesnt seem to be any pattern!
I have never bought a car without driving it but honestly, I dont expect people to drive cars they buy off me anymore. Maybe if i sold more cars than a few each year, this would be different, but even so, its both interesting and worrying that the buying public arent very thorough with their car buying.
Many of these didnt open the bonnets either!
|
I think that more people are wary of whether they are insured to drive vehicles in such instances. I for one always baulk at driving a private car for sale, on the grounds that I am only covered in 3rd party claims - thus in reality would be personally culpable for any damage.
There are those who wish to buy private sale cars for naughty reasons too. They may well wish to create as few ripples as possible before driving away as the new owner.
|
You've sold a Talbot Avenger in the last 4 years??
No need for test drive - it was probably heading for a museum as the last example of its kind!
|
|
Yes, a 1980 registered 1.6 GLS auto, orginally from Cornwall, now belongs to some young fellas from Coventry I believe, unless they have crashed it!
|
Avenger, formally the Chrysler Avenger which was formally the Hillman Avenger.
Why do you ask?
Just a side note, some people ask if it was really a 1.6 - yes it was as for a short while before they stopped selling them, it was available with the 1.6 instead of a 1.5. I have confirmed this with the Avenger owners club ( yes I couldnt believe there was one either ).
|
Test drove a car last night. Seller also drove round to local petrol station so that there was sufficient light to have a good look at bodywork, engine, tyres etc. I drove back via decent roads.
Must admit I have previously sold a car to someone in the dark and with them or me not moving the car before they offered the cash and departed with said motor. Amazing!!
|
.>> Test drove a car last night. Seller also drove round tolocal petrol station so that there was sufficient light to have a good look at bodywork, engine, tyres etc. I drove back via decent roads. Must admit I have previously sold a car to someone in the dark and with them or me not moving the car before they offered the cash and departed with said motor. Amazing!!
It is often easier to spot resprayed panels under artificial light than in natural daylight. SWMBO had a 306 with one wing that looked a completely different colour under a streetlight, but was near perfect in daylight.
Seller was honest about it (keyed and rust had set in) so I wasn't fussed. Everything else looked OK.
Cheers
DP
|
|
|
|
Avenger, formally the Chrysler Avenger which was formally the Hillman Avenger.
>
Very strong valve springs. Revved like anything but ate camshafts.
|
I wouldnt know, my ex wifes was a 4-spd auto and it was in top gear by 30 mph.
Damn thing was never in tune either!
|
|
|
|
|
