I did a 280 mile round trip to see a car from on here today.
The seller assured me before I set off it was mechanically sound.

It took me 5 seconds of listening to the engine to diagnose big end bearing failure (very early signs - car still drove). He said he didnt know but i think we both know you knew .

Im not naming names but thanks a bunch for wasting my day and costing me 175 quid.

 

It is a nightmare when looking for cars, and travelling so far.
Feel for you. Hope you find the right one soon.

 

was it a seller on here. better if people were honest. hard to find good examples these days

 

yep a seller on here. it was knocking its bag off, it still drove but its a ticking time bomb.

 

don't be shy

 

Is it when the car starts knocking that is a sign of big end bearing failure?

Tbh I think you should name and shame, or at least post a link to the ad since the next potential buyer may not be as clued up as you and may end up getting more than they may have bargained for.

Was it a classic?

 

Is it when the car starts knocking that is a sign of big end bearing failure?

not sure what you mean?

it was knocking when hot....the big ends are shot! drive it long enough and smoke and oil with start coming out etc etc

 

Gutted for you mate!!! Only happened to me once when I viewed a Audi TT years ago, drove to Manchester from Birmingham, only to get there to view a mint Audi TT only to find all 4 alloys where kerbed badly, window screen was cracked and the V5 was registered to someone in Wales not bad for a car that was worth 16k at the time.

I gladly walked away, but I was p1ssed off, So I can only imagine how some people feel when traveling over 200-300miles and spending loads of money on petrol!!!!

 

I reckon you name and shame!!! Otherwise people might think its my classic thats for sale in the for sale section!!!!



Shamful plug,-but Ive got a Version 6 WRX STi for sale for 4.5k if your intrested, im in Walsall, West Mildands Pm me if any intrest to you!!!!

 

Maybe the seller was not aware and thought it was just the common piston slap. He or she may of heard it in the morning thought it was the normal and expected it to go once warm so drove to thier destination switched off and did the same on the return. How many owners actualy at random points pop the bonnet and sit and listen to see if there are any noises I would guess very few so the seller may of not wasted your time or money on purpose and in fact You may of done them a big favour. Not everyone is out to rip people off or waste their time they may of been niave and not been mechanicly minded.

Also a seller / current owner of any car always believes theirs is a mint, low millage, one lady owner that is worth twice the book value just the hassel of buying a used car, I have travlled to see plenty of cars in my time and in all honesty not one has really been 100% acurate and truthful with the history, bodywork etc

just crack on looking for the next one as there are plenty of dogs out there and very few proper clean cars so it can take a while to find one.

What you after ?

 

Double post

 

Why does this site keep double posting, its about time IB sort this site out

 

That ain't a bad shout scobyboy as I have a classic in the private cars for sale too and don't want people thinking it mine, and again sorry for the shameful plug but I don't want people being put off either lol

 

It's a shame that we are in a world that is coming to this. You could expect it from scum, but if they are on here you'd like to think that as enthusiasts we would look out for each other

I know the feeling from experience when it comes to buying parts, people seem to have the same low standards

I just hope you find a good one and the experience doesn't put you off, they are out there

 

Jon we are assuming the seller knew the car was buggered but what if they really had no idea as stated in my post. You can be an enthusiast like you say but know nothing about them mechanicly but love the brand and styling and just jump in and drive the thing and let the dealers and specalists look after them.

But do agree to the op don't let one bad experiance put you off, keep looking and you will find one in the end, another shameful plug but come see mine and tell me you are dusapointed with a 485bhp classic lol

 

But the OP insinuated that the seller knew, and even if he couldn't diagnose the specific problem, but rather than describe it as mechanically perfect he could have stated it is making a noise, but I don't know what it is and the OP had a choice to make then, whether to chance it that it was something minor and go anyway, or cancel the viewing.

 

Hi everyone i am the seller in question.
First off i am not the most mechanically minded subaru enthusiast in the world and i had read about piston slap in the early classics and things like loose heat shields/broken mounts etc.
So when Andy told me it could be big ends i thought surely not as i have looked after this car well with regular services which i had a folder of receipts for.
The car drives fine without fault ie no hesitation clutch was replaced last december and gearbox is faultless.
I am very sorry that you did come all that way with an expensive train fare but i genuinely had no idea that the big ends could be shot and am not in the habit of misleading people.
I will be visiting a subaru specialist in my area some time next week to confirm this as i hope it could still be something less major.
As far as having no morals i think that statement is a little harsh...
Keep you posted
P.S If it is big end failure with no other problems would someone on this forum be interested in it who has built engines before at a knock down price?

Regards
Steve

 

i viewed a car advertised by some fart knocker on here

the photos appeared to be 3 years old, total waste of time

worst 2 door ive viewed and ive seen plenty

 

I went to look at a car for my old man the other day & it was described as "Brand new condition" hell no it wasnt! Then all the lie's come out, this & that. Facial expression's say it all!

 

Bought an 05 plate WRX 3 weeks ago and being one of those people who knows nothing about the mechanical side of cars forked out £175 on a comprehensive AA inspection which was fine apart from recommending the front discs & pads were changed which they were by a garage I had been going to for years.

Took the car to ProSport for it's 50k service yesterday who now tell me it's leaking oil from the rocker cover or cam seals, has corroded rear disc on the inner face and the rear anti roll bar mountings are worn out. None of which was pointed out by the AA when they inspected it!!!

Just goes to show even those with mechanical knowledge get it wrong - I feel a complaint to the AA coming on now...

 

o dear what a nightmare

 

Steve
So is your car facelift or pre-facelift? I'm probably not the only one here wondering if you read those threads carefully enough to notice that piston-slap on is only considered harmless on start-up on the former, which by my reckoning would be mid-generation classics, not early.

 

My car is pe facelift Jan 1996 i think 7-8 months before the facelift changeover.
I did tell the poster that the engine piston slapped from cold which i thought was indicative of the flat 4 boxter classics.
Like i said i will get professional advice into what the problem could be as it is not certain as yet.
When this is done i will repost the car in the for sale section with the problem highlighted (If it is big end or not).
I am trying to be as honest as i can and have nothing to hide on here.

Steve

 

steve, this is why i did not name you on here becuase i can not prove that you knew about the problem. this is why i have been very civil about the situation. i turned around and went. others might have been a little bit more upset....

you might not have known but to me, knocking all that cash off the price was an admission of guilt and you kinda talked your way into making me think you knew.

if it turns out not to be big ends i will hold my hands up and apologise but im pretty confident they are shot. i know the death rattle. that car is a ticking time bomb.