Geezer

You have to feel sorry for this guy, but it just shows how careful you have to be when selling privately. Beware!

"I'm awaiting a new Impreza from Holland.My car is in the Auto Trader
My phone rings about an hour ago - car still for sale?
Yes - I give him my work address - he turns up half an hour ago.
We go for a drive (I'm driving). He asks to drive - I make sure to take the
keys out - we swap sides and I hand him the keys - he drives back to my
workplace.
He gets out, does all the usual looking around - positive noises. At all
times I'm aware that it's a very stealable car, and to not leave the car
running without being in a position where he can nip off with it. He asks
to keep the engine running so he can see if the temperature needle rises -
at all times I'm (discretely) between him and the drivers seat.
I guess over time (20 mins) I let my guard drop he sits in the car - I
crouch right next to him thinking that if the worst did happen, I could grab
the keys...he sees the turbo timer and is fascinated by it...chat
chat...still right up close, but guard dropping further....then....he's off.
Unbe-bloody-believeable
So - I never thought it would happen to me, I thought I was more aware than
most.....and it still happened to me.At least I wasn't hurt....
It's particularly a worry when you HAVE to sell it privately (ie can't trade
it in because you're buying from Holland)
So - if anyone sees a silver WRX with a towbar and for sale signs on the
rear tinted windows around Manchester (or anywhere by tomorrow) please call
the Police."

Fullonloon

He definitley had a bad feeling about it - should have gone with his instinct and not let him sit in it running. When I come to sell my car there is no way I'm going to let them drive, i'll take them for a drive. If they want to test drive it they can go to a garage and arrange one in their cars. This also stops test pilots - I think that serious buyers will consider you not letting anyone take it out a good point as you love the car so much.
There are some real merchants out there- wacth out

ozzy

Nightmare !

He should have asked one of his colleagues to come with him and sit in the back seat.

When I sold my old car privately, I made sure my brother was with me at all time. There was always one of us in the car with the buyer.

Safety in numbers me thinks

MorayMackenzie

Sorry to hear the bad news Geezer.

It may be worth telling us the registration number in case that helps someone spot it, assuming the toerags havn't changed them yet.

Moray

Geezer

It wasn't me Moray, it was a posting from another site I subscribe to.

Orville

Thats done it, I'm never selling my Scooby.