scoobyscraggle

I pay £9100 for MY98 STi 4, 50 thou on the clock.

Not a bad price. Until drive it 10 miles home & the big end goes pop.

Of course now I've bought I find out these things do have a big end problem. If I'd known that before would I have bought? Probably yes, I loved it that much & it seemed in great condition.

A beaming grin has never been wiped off anyone's face quicker I'm sure.

Still what's done is done. To move forward now. I want it fixed as quickly & cheaply as poss.

Looking for you guys to come up some ideas.

Go on tell me a fix for a couple of hundred quid & I'll postpone my trip to Beachy Head!!

Brun

Private or trade buy?

steve_nairn_sti

Get on the phone to the seller and have them fix it!

No matter if private sale or trade, the car must meet the terms and conditions of the sale of goods act.

I had a motor that the big end went in (less than a week of ownership) and took it back. I got a refund but I'm sure you can persuade them to fix it for you.

Boro

iTrader: (1)

If it was recent, i would definately contact trading standards as see what your rights are. Still not sure if you bought privately or trade

Brun

Sold as seen? Private = not a leg to stand on????

JoeyDeacon

Few hundred quid, think you are looking at a few grand I am afraid....

NACRO

I think a new engine or a rebuild is going to cost you £1000's not hundreds. Someone here will give you a more accurate guide I'm sure.
I'm also not sure that the above advice applies to a private sale- especially if your receipt includes the words "sold as seen" or similar. I believe there is more or less no comeback on private sales and you would have to make a claim in court to stand any chance of getting some money back. Your best bet would be to ask nicely but don;t be surprised if they refuse.
Good luck whatever the case turns out to be.

The Gilly

I waited 7 months for MY95 WRX from Japan. Went to see it when it arrived and the bodywork was terrible. Had that fixed. Drove the car a few miles to the shops and the battery died. Got a new battery. Following day the big end went. Now still waiting for car to be fixed some two weeks later.

Do I get a prize too?

The Gilly

double post!



[Edited by The Gilly - 7/29/2003 11:31:27 AM]

Dan B

Big end replacement is ~ £1500 and that will be after shopping around.

misty

You pays yur money and takes yur chance! Should ave gone to a scooby dealer more money but a lot more come back.
BUYER BEWARE An old saying but still rings true.

Boro

iTrader: (1)

Ive never bought a car from a car dealer yet and i am a one LOL. Even my last two scoobs i bought private. I would never buy from an auction either but have seen many P1's going through, normally repo's or ex-company cars.

But youre right it is a gamble, sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesnt, guess ive been lucky so far

V-techland

Someone on here recomended an engine centre, where they will supply a block for £800 + fit it for £200! I thought that this was all very reasonable

Hope whoever knows this company replies to your thread.

I have a feelling that it might have been import car parts?

I think you can find them on www.importcarparts.co.uk

good luck

steve_nairn_sti

You should still have a case even for a private sale as far as I know.

I'm sure the act states that the sold item should be fit for the purpose it was intended. It may be harder to claim but I'm sure you have a case. Talk to your local citizens advice bureau.

Best of luck mate.

ChrisB

CAB Advice:

"You have very few legal rights if you have bought the vehicle from a private seller rather than a dealer. The condition under consumer law that the vehicle must be of satisfactory quality does not apply. The only conditions which do apply to private sales are that the vehicle is correctly described, is roadworthy and that the seller has good title (this means that they are the legal owner of the vehicle)."

scoobyscraggle

Spoke to David of API. Thinks its going to be £2400+ to do it right. It's a lot but he seems to know what he's talking about.

Sorry it was a private sale. And yeah sold as seen. But I have a barganing tool - I accidentially took both copies of the reciept. AT the moment I've lost his. He needs it and I need at least a grand to the repair cost. So we'll see.

By the way the seller had some engine work done five weeks before he sold, apparently for overheating. (new head, steel gaskets, block decked). Could be they told him to sell, it looks pretty fishy. Could be their work contributed to the problem.

I can only lean on the seller & see what gives. Wish me well.

GaryCat

There's an engine for sale here on ebay. Be quick though - only 13 hours to go. No idea if it will fit a MY98 but your should be able to get some bits off it.

G.

[Edited by GaryCat - 7/29/2003 12:19:13 PM]

scoobyscraggle

Garycat cheers but I'm waiting to see what turns up from the seller. If I can get something back money's not too much of an issue.

Gilly sorry to hear that. Needless to say I know what your'e going through

Luke

What experience do you have with scoobs????? did you have the car checked by a proffesional??

steve_nairn_sti

Does the vehicle then get classed as roadworthy? At the price you're looking at for a repair, surely it's worth a go?

scoobyscraggle

Luke gotta hold my hand up to that one - no I didn't.

A very good mechanic took a look & everything seemed fine, but he's no expert on Scoob's.

Having said that don't these things just go without prior warning?

MattN

Roadworthy = tax and MOT. As long as it's not illeagal in some way i.e. no bumpers bits hanging off etc.

It does not mean the engine goes pop down the road it wasn't roadworthy.

Tiggs

this is so simple.

private sale, it wasnt nicked or illegal and it drove away.

I sold my TVR last week and if it blew up at the end of the road he would not get a refund any more than if it blew up 10 years later.

He knew this and got it inspected.....as should anyone wanting to lower the risk.

T

Kempo

Sold as seen and buyer beware do not automatically restrict your legal rights even in a private sale, although, seeking compensation is the problem.

It depends on the representations that the buyer made at the time of sale. It is definitely worth checking with the citizens advice and also contacting the previous owner...

scoobyscraggle

Tiggs thanks for your heartfelt simpathy.

You may be legally correct, but morally most people would consider these circumstances harsh on the buyer. That may not entitle him to a refund at all because where money is concerned some people will never do the right thing.

I would challenge anyone to go through this, accept it with a smile then walk away without pursuing the seller for a contribution.

Scooby-Doo

My brother once sold a Spitfire he had owned for 6 months. Brother and chap go for a spin, return home, deal done, rear axle snaps as chap was pulling out of the drive
We were good enough to let him in and use the phone for a recovery truck

I would say your only chance is that he was aware of an impending issue when he sold it to you and he lied when and if you asked him questions regarding the engine. A private seller is not required to disclose any imformation about the car unless asked.

Think about what questions you asked and contact the garage that carried out the repairs then maybe onto a solicitor.

Good luck

banshi

Easy to be wise after the event but if he told you about the "overheating problem" it should have set alarm bells ringing.

Legally, as he is a private individual I don't think you've a hope. If he's a reasonable guy a polite approach might get a contribution towards the repair.

But, if he is a "private seller" why does he require a receipt?

scoobyscraggle

Banshi, he's self-employed so needs it for something or other.

To be honest I just hope we can sit down amicably & thrash it through.

Though I know he can simply tell me to get lost.

If anyone else reads this & is thinking of buying one of these cars, just be bloody careful. Learn by my mistakes.

The Gilly

if you want a hand getting it sorted my mechanic (currently doing my scooby) would be more than happy to help.

All the best

G