Advice Needed on Gumtree Car Scammer

LKers on 24/06/2018 - 20:25
Last edited 24/06/2018 - 20:26

Hi everyone,

Around two years ago my younger brother and my father went and looked at a Car advertised on Gumtree.

The car was advertised as $4,500, and he listed the 'problems' the car had.

Long story short, my father purchased the car for my younger brother, later down the track it has much more serious problems.

At this period I was in Europe on holiday, and felt so bad that I myself couldn't inspect etc.

Noticed that this bloke is selling another car that he has owned for '5 years'. Since last year I have had suspicion that this bloke is selling dodgey cars for years, and today I found an identical vehicle that my father bought for my younger brother.

Should I act like a buyer and confront him?

I know it was two years ago, but that's not the principle.

My father saved and saved for my brother to get that car (literally a year for a small amount of $4,500) and to find out 2 weeks later it had serious problems.

I know my father should of got it inspected etc. It's not the point; My point is that my father doesn't have much money and he saved generously for the car, and too find out that he must be doing this often.

Any advice?

Automotive

Comments

    • HighAndDry on 26/06/2018 - 19:17

      To be expected. He (or rather his dad and his brother) basically broke the very first rule of buying used cars: Get it mechanically checked, and is now trying to shift the fault. Not only that, he knows it and tries to blithely ignore it:

      I know my father should of got it inspected etc. It's not the point

      • ChatCPT on 26/06/2018 - 19:22

        Just seems like an innocent trusting person. I think we should go a little easier. It was only a few generations ago people were significantly honest your word was your bond.

        • HighAndDry on 26/06/2018 - 19:27
          +1

          It's not even that. I still can't say for sure that the seller was a scammer or had bad intentions.

          I sold a car a while ago for $5k. It was old, but it ran fine and I haven't had to do any maintenance on it except the usual services and replace consumables like brake pads and oil filters. But I'm also not a mechanic - I told the purchaser all the issues I knew it had, like the glovebox opened funny and didn't lock, the boot had scratches from when I loaded a metal cabinet into it, stuff like that. The purchaser didn't take it to a mechanic to look at, and for all I know, a month after the sale the engine could've exploded.

          Point is - I'm not a mechanic. I wouldn't know if it had more serious problems or not. And according to OP's logic I could potentially be a "gumtree scammer" if something was wrong with the car that I didn't know about.

        • ChatCPT on 26/06/2018 - 19:35
          +1

          @HighAndDry: I guess when you put it that way. Hopefully OP takes away the lesson

        • Mitch889 on 26/06/2018 - 22:29

          Nothing in the OPs post suggests the seller did anything wrong. It's hard to have a decent picture of what happened since they never mentioned the year or model the car was, but trying to blame the seller for a sub $5k car having issues a fair amount of time after it was bought/sold (especially when the OP did mention the seller said there were issues!) is utterly ridiculous.

          Not all cheap cars are bombs or lemons. My sister and I have owned three Mitsubishi Magna's between us for under $5k each, and they were all great cars for the money, requiring minimal maintenance over an extended period. My sister's last one (a 2004 Magna we bought in 2011 for $4400 with near-new tyres and 160,000kms on the clock) literally cost nothing other than basic servicing over the course of 6 years and another 80,000kms.

          There are plenty of cheap cars out there that are cheap for a reason: big bills. I wouldn't be surprised if the OP's family bought something of that variety.

        • Mitch889 on 26/06/2018 - 22:31

          @HighAndDry: Dude you totally sound like a gumtree scammer, selling a cheap used car without guaranteeing it's as good as an expensive new one. Should be ashamed.

          /s

  • guysmiley on 27/06/2018 - 11:00

    I would be interested to know:

    What was the make, model and year of the car?
    What were the problems that were listed?
    What was the odometer reading of the car?
    Was the car given a thorough test drive?
    Did the seller repair the car or have the car repaired?
    Did you check REVs, or other relevant places, for the history of the vehicle.
    Did you check the comparison cost of the car, against other cars, or sales of a similar type?

    There are simple checklists that you can find online that could have been used, but apparently were not.

    If he has been "selling dodgy cars for years" there is a, better than average, chance that you are incorrect in your estimation of them being "dodgy".

    It would appear that when the car was purchased there were a number of failings. I don't think, from the information provided that the seller is at fault.

    • myusername on 27/06/2018 - 11:29

      and was the car 'sold as' ?

  • guysmiley on 27/06/2018 - 11:02

    "At this period I was in Europe on holiday, and felt so bad that I myself couldn't inspect etc"

    Would that have mattered anyway, what could you have done for issues that were presented "later down the track"?

  • myusername on 27/06/2018 - 11:28

    gumtree = scumtree

  • Neupius on 27/06/2018 - 14:47

    If you have a clear head and be 100% calm, perhaps you can approach the seller and ask if he can fix for a reasonable price or if he knows someone who can help fix for a reasonable price. the seller might help as he sold the car. but please don't be rude as this will aggravate the situation. go there with good intentions and heart, will only cost you some of your time. He might be a mechanic etc. at the end he will be judged by saint Peter as we all.

  • [Deactivated] on 27/06/2018 - 14:55

    Year 2011, I bought a Honda CRV from a registered reputed dealer in SUTHERLAND, NSW. Conditional warranty stated that I regularly service my car with the dealer. Good business relationship for 1 yr. Year 2012, The car would suddenly stop in a highway & all indicator lights blacked out. I took it to the dealer, they said issue with the key. Replaced new battery, keys etc. Dec 2012, I wanted the dealer to look into this lights blacking out & as car was stopping suddenly & not starting again. They said staff away on holidays. A good mechanic in Hornsby was able to fix the problem under the glove-box. Year 2012, the aircon blew up with smoke inside car & heater not working. For 6 months, I was chasing car insurance warranty. Car service in Jan 2013, Agreed for a used air-conditioner as the dealer would not pay for a new air-conditioner. I checked that under Motor Vehicles Act, used cars liability for dealers is only 3 months. The point to be taken, used cars incurs expense.

  • inittobinit on 27/06/2018 - 16:23
    A FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED
  • Cream on 30/06/2018 - 14:02

    I have sold at least 6 used vehicles privately in my lifetime.
    In the listing and receipt I state the vehicle is for sale " AS IS" no warranty.
    It is buyers responsibility to to have the vehicle thoroughly inspected for any major or minor problems and issues.

    If you brother is old enough to drive he is old enough to get a job and pay for the repairs.
    It's your brothers car he needs to deal with it.

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