General I bought one!

[chicaneuk]

Congratulations on choosing a 500. IMO the 1.2 is a great all-round car.

You will naturally be very enthusiastic when you go to collect it and it's important not to let that get in the way of giving it a very thorough checkover before parting with your cash. Be particularly vigilant in looking for panel damage and any signs of panel repair - if you find the latter, I'd suggest you just walk away.

Hopefully all will be well and then you can concentrate on enjoying your new purchase.

Yep - don't worry - I plan to pick round it very closely! I know that it should basically be IMMACULATE given the age and mileage and I won't settle for anything less.

 

[jrkitching]

I know that it should basically be IMMACULATE given the age and mileage and I won't settle for anything less.

It needs to be both IMMACULATE and ORIGINAL.

I'm curious as to why someone would be selling a car after such a brief period of ownership - I really can't imagine any rational person buying a car (especially on finance) with the intention of getting rid of it after 1000 miles.

There are genuine reasons, of course - bereavement, for example. But there are lots of others, too - like having a major engine failure in the first few weeks, or even losing all the oil on your drive home after collecting it.

But if you get the right answers & everything checks out - you've got yourself a bargain.

 

[chicaneuk]

Yeah - it is interesting. They had a whole bunch of these cars, on sequential (or very similar) number plates, all with REALLY low mileage and all with very similar spec... not sure where they've come from?

I did wonder if they were finance company repossessions or something!

 

[jrkitching]

Yeah - it is interesting. They had a whole bunch of these cars, on sequential (or very similar) number plates, all with REALLY low mileage and all with very similar spec... not sure where they've come from?

I did wonder if they were finance company repossessions or something!

Curious. The V5C will show the registered keeper - you could try putting that into Google & seeing what comes up.

Hire car outfits & the larger driving schools often set up shadow companies so that it's not immediately obvious you're buying an ex-rental or ex-school car.

You could always just ask the supplying dealer - they don't have to tell you, but if they do, then they must be truthful, otherwise you would be perfectly entitled to later reject the car & make a misrep claim.

 

[chicaneuk]

They didn't appear to have any of the wear and tear I'd expect to see on a rental or driving school car though.. they were all immaculate / unmarked inside & out, and the one I test drove seemed very smooth and quiet - nice and smooth through the gears. No sign it'd been thrashed or driven badly!

Will see what the logbook says when I pick it up!

 

[arorat]

A simple yes would suffice

Hey, LovesHB is giving long answers and is gunning for more "thanks"

 

[loveshandbags]

Hey, LovesHB is giving long answers and is gunning for more "thanks"

I think when you have 'one foot out the door' you look at 'things' a little differently.

 

[grimwau]

A simple yes would suffice

Not at all... I appreciate any and all information! I like to be clued up on these sorts of things!

I'm curious as to why someone would be selling a car after such a brief period of ownership

There are genuine reasons, of course - bereavement, for example. But there are lots of others, too - like having a major engine failure in the first few weeks, or even losing all the oil on your drive home after collecting it.

What are the chances of that happening?

 

[Lloyd71]

They didn't appear to have any of the wear and tear I'd expect to see on a rental or driving school car though.. they were all immaculate / unmarked inside & out, and the one I test drove seemed very smooth and quiet - nice and smooth through the gears. No sign it'd been thrashed or driven badly!

Mine was thrashed fairly regularly over 2 1/2 years but it still drove as smooth as silk and was spotless inside and out when I gave it up. The guy collecting it couldn't believe it was an 08 plate for a while! You just need to be careful, no signs of wear and tear might signify that an old car has been well looked after but on a car that new it might have simply not had time to collect 'damage' to the engine and cosmetics.

Make sure you check it over very thoroughly on day of collection, even if it's raining! But most of all, enjoy it. If all goes well then you'll have a brilliant little runabout for that price.

 

[306maxi]

Mine was thrashed fairly regularly over 2 1/2 years but it still drove as smooth as silk and was spotless inside and out when I gave it up. The guy collecting it couldn't believe it was an 08 plate for a while! You just need to be careful, no signs of wear and tear might signify that an old car has been well looked after but on a car that new it might have simply not had time to collect 'damage' to the engine and cosmetics.

Very true Apart from being a little dirty on the inside at the moment, my car looks more or less new inside.

 

[chicaneuk]

Was supposed to get it yesterday but it's been delayed due to problems getting the paperwork sorted or some such nonsense. Waiting on a call now to see when they think they can get it sorted

 

[TwinAir Newbie]

I can understand the frustration.

If the weather your way was anything like it was here today it was a blessing in disguise. Localised flooding here.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for an early pick-up.

 

[muffin8118]

I bought mine on Saturday - a 1.2 Sport in electroclash grey with 9500 mile on the clock. Really pleased with it and hopefully will be collecting it on Wednesday/Thursday!

I finally collected "Bella" on Friday and she is a dream to drive! Everything seems to work well so far.

 

[chicaneuk]

I'm **still** waiting to hear from the dealership

Pretty dismal effort TBH. I'm going to give them another few weeks (as I'm away in Germany next week) and if there's no progress I'll be demanding my deposit back and going elsewhere.

 

[306maxi]

I'm **still** waiting to hear from the dealership

Pretty dismal effort TBH. I'm going to give them another few weeks (as I'm away in Germany next week) and if there's no progress I'll be demanding my deposit back and going elsewhere.

Thing is, you'll get the car when you get the car. I know it's not great customer service, but going elsehwere will only get you a car even slower.

 

[RobinPJ]

Thing is, you'll get the car when you get the car. I know it's not great customer service, but going elsehwere will only get you a car even slower.

This was not a new order Maxi - it was a "nearly new" so it should be available now.

Chicaneuk - what are the details of the reason for not being able to hand it over?

 

[306maxi]

I stand corrected

 

[chicaneuk]

Indeed. The car is used and in the posession of the dealers.

The reason I'm being given is that they're having a problem securing a transporter to bring the car to the dealership from their compound.

The compact version of the story of purchase is - I test drove a 500. On returning from the test drive was told, whilst I was out, customer had phoned up and put deposit down on that very car and it was now sold. However dealer checked stock and said they had an identical car with another few hundred miles on the clock in compound and subject to me giving it the once over prior to purchase, did I want it? I said yes of course (as it was a very good deal) and as it was identical and had less than a thousand miles on the clock, there couldn't be anything wrong with it.

My planned collection date of Wednesday came and went - was told up till that point it was a paperwork problem. But as of Thursday (last time I spoke to them) was now a logistics problem.

It's a bit of a joke to be honest. And I'm remaining very polite and courteous on the phone whenever I speak to the (very apologetic) dealer.. but I don't understand how they can be having these problems frankly and would just like my car now.

 

[306maxi]

Tbh I think if you're getting a good deal the delay of a few business days isn't that much to get worked up over tbh. I know it's not easy but in a few days you'll have your car and you'll have totally forgotten about all of this

 

[RobinPJ]

Indeed. The car is used and in the posession of the dealers.

The reason I'm being given is that they're having a problem securing a transporter to bring the car to the dealership from their compound.

The compact version of the story of purchase is - I test drove a 500. On returning from the test drive was told, whilst I was out, customer had phoned up and put deposit down on that very car and it was now sold. However dealer checked stock and said they had an identical car with another few hundred miles on the clock in compound and subject to me giving it the once over prior to purchase, did I want it? I said yes of course (as it was a very good deal) and as it was identical and had less than a thousand miles on the clock, there couldn't be anything wrong with it.

My planned collection date of Wednesday came and went - was told up till that point it was a paperwork problem. But as of Thursday (last time I spoke to them) was now a logistics problem.

It's a bit of a joke to be honest. And I'm remaining very polite and courteous on the phone whenever I speak to the (very apologetic) dealer.. but I don't understand how they can be having these problems frankly and would just like my car now.

You have been lied to. There is no car.* The dealer is now rushing round trying to find you one to sell you. Rather like those sitcoms where the kid's pet dies and the parents run round trying to find a new one that looks the same.

Test it like this: ask them the reg number. They should be able to give you it no problem - then you could plug it into confused.com and check what the car is.

* I think.