Buying Cars From Private Sellers

[gaspar]

pretty much set on buying a particular car from a private seller but um... i have no idea what i'm doing!

what's the etiquette these days? do i rock up with a fat wad of cash?

[CARSICK]

Do you have a mechanic friend?

Do you have a panelbeater friend?

If so, make a list for each of you to check the car over.

If you have an older dude 'er dad to haggle for you after all the above ^^^ comes up trumps, see what the best price is - and haggle some more.

You might only need $100 to pay a deposit and get a receipt.

Then get details of the VIN/Chassis Number + Engine Number off the Rego & check that the Rego is in the name of the person who says he owns the car.

Then physically check on the car itself if those 2X numbers correspond.

You have to supply your Driver's Lic # to him.

Take the VIN/Chassis # + Engine # + Rego # and cross-check with REVS (Register of Encumbered VehicleS) in your state.

[j3zz4]

and get it inspected by someone that you trust at a WORKSHOP!! dont just get someone like RAC to come out to the vehicle.

i cant stress this enough. i almost bought a car which had a fair bit of body and chassis done to it, which i wouldnt have known about without getting it checked at a workshop.

[02stagea]

Also it's a great idea to get a contract drawn up and signed by the seller saying that there are no outstanding defects or finance owing on the vehicle. I know a couple of people who have been stung a month or two after purchase with carry over defect notices. And it's your problem not the previous owner. The RTA or VicRoads etc don't care who owns the car. You can sell it 3 times over and they will track it down.

[NZM.031]

fark me you guys are rough..

i wouldnt bother selling a car to any of you based on the fat waste of my time and the insult to my car.

dont haggle.. its a pain in the arse.., make an offer... but dont haggle. if the car is good, then its good.. if its worth what the owner is asking, then pay it, dont haggle, it makes you look cheap. dont umm and uhh... you either want the car, or you dont.. you either have the cach, or you dont. unless there is one car asking x amount when all the other models are cheaper than x amount.

think about it this way... if you make a ridiculous offer and say thats all youve got, and you get denied, then you might miss out on the car, which you obviously have an interest it, or you will look like an idiot when you ring up the next day and offer more, after youve said thats all you had. for the seller... worst case is hes still got the car.. maybe he missed out on the cash.. but hes still got the car... you dont.. you missed out.

dont rock up at a car and look at it, and then go find out if you can get the money.. Know you can get the money before you even start looking.

and take the correct money... ive had an idiot who was coming to buy a bike off me... id advertised it for 3800, but told this guy he could have it for 3500... he said he wanted it, drove 4 hours down from coffs to come and check it out, but oh my... he only brought $3000 with him... and expected i would just take that.. i told him to come back when he had the extra $500..

i have owned 16 cars over my 10 years of having my licence... all of those have been excellent examples, and most of them have been a once only look.. i narrow my search down via the internet.. and then basically pick one based on colour, mods and location.. rock up with the cash and expect to drive the car home that day.

having said that, i am a mechanic, with a bit of body knowledge.. ive only not been satisfied with 2 cars ive ever looked at.. but my mentality is that there is nothing that cant be fixed.. little things can be tidied up, its not worth the risk of losing an overall good tidy car because it has a paint chip or something... getting the car is worth more to me than a few repairs that id probably change later anyway. every car i buy comes with a 5 year build plan, which includes a turbo, engine and gearbox rebuild.. though i get bored and want to change a year later.

if it has damage that you werent aware of... by all means, haggle the price of the repairs.. but dont discount the repairs, as this could lead to a better overall car..

i once looked at a my02 rex, had a bit of hail damage on the bonnet, none on the roof, i wouldve just fitted a c/f bonnet but old mate would not drop his price of $24000 which was way overpriced compared to others. ended up getting a mint example for $21000.

buyers look you guys are stating is insulting to alot of car owners.. its sad that alot of sellers are reasonably dishonest, but you can generally pick this up from the person selling it and their demeanor.

ive knocked away a heap of buyers over the years with offers when they know full well that what im selling is a pristine example.. i will not haggle, i will flat out refuse you.

[lachlanw]

+1 to above post . id trust someone who likes their car over a dealer everyday . what does a car yard do ? it tries to make money selling cars .