Used Car Buyer

[dylanfanatic]

My ex works as a cleaner in Crewe (asda) and lives in Congleton, a car is essential as she starts work at 5-00am. She purchased a car from a private seller on Sunday (25/04/16) because her old one had seized and was not worth repairing, the seller advertised the car as being a good runner, and reliable (the usual guff) it cost £600 - my ex now finds that the brake pads need replacing, and the clutch is not going to last more than a month - she is NOT a happy bunny - is there anything she can do ie demand her money back, ask that the brake pads and clutch be replaced, or is she totally out of pocket and the victim of a 'con?' any help greatly appreciated,
Bob

[douglas9401]

If nothing came to light when the car was test driven then I don't think there's much to be done.
Brake pads wear out, replace them.
As a matter of interest, how can you put a time on the clutch failing?

[EDDIE51]

Nothing she can do, it was a private sale.Brake pads are very cheap and easy to replace, clutch is more expensive.

[bhg481]

How do you know the brake pads need replacing? If the car is stopping badly then you could argue that it is not roadworthy so could demand a refund. If you just took it in for a check I'm not sure you have the same right. You really should have had it checked before you bought it.

[EDDIE51]

Read the 1st of the 'related questions' below from hugnie21 it says it all!

[TWR]

I take it you tried & bought the car as Seen? you do nott get much for £600 Dylan, try to contact the seller with your issue but I doubt you will get any joy, a clutch full assembly can cost up to £400 with fitting, brake pads about £15 + a tenner to fit, I have said this on many occasions, take a Mechanic with you when buying a used car, it saves a lot of aggro later.

[bhg481]

I was under the impression that a car had to be roadworthy unless stated otherwise Eddie, hence my only referring to the brakes. As TWR says, you can't expect much for £600.

[TWR]

Please do not take offence Dylan, the amount of times members ask the same question, it may sound a lot of money, £20 to ask someone to go with you that knows a bit & to check a 2nd hand car out, but is it worth not doing it?

[EDDIE51]

bhg481 a car can still be perfectly 'roadworthy' but need the brake pads renewing. Like wise the clutch, a clutch often works perfectly with no sign of a problem and it then fails with in a few miles, it has happened to me and it has just happened to my son's car bought less than a week previously.
I had a Volvo that cost me £300 and the clutch failed after a couple of months, a garage wanted £500 but a local self employed mechanic did it at my home for £150. The car lasted another 2 years and was still going strong when I sold it.
So dylanfanatic, if the car is sound other than the brake pads and clutch it may be worth finding a small garage or self employed mechanic to do it for you. Possibly £250 for both jobs? then you have a reliable car for £850 !

[bhg481]

I think you're missing my point Eddie. I was trying to say that if the car pulls or snatches when braking then there is a very obvious fault and the car would not be roadworthy. hence an argument for a refund. If the brakes feel alright and the need for linings was only discovered by a physical examination then you are on stickier ground demanding a refund because the car is roadworthy. I don't think we're disagreeing; I just explained it badly.

[EDDIE51]

OK, but brake pads are a very minor point , as said £25 to replace including labour or 20 mins to do it your self. It is the clutch that is the problem.

[hc4361]

She has no legal right to demand a refund or even a part refund. As a private seller the only legal obligation is to describe the car accurately.
The seller is not claiming to be a mechanic or any kind of expert and it would be impossible for you to prove that the car hadn't been a 'good runner' for him or unreliable.

It is entirely possible he didn't know the clutch was about to fail but then again he is under no legal obligation to tell you if he did. Unless you can prove the car was unroadworthy on the day of sale or that the seller lied about a fact concerning the car there is nothing you can do.

[TWR]

To add, Brake Discs are also a possibility on this car Dylan, if the disc's are "Scored" they will need replacing.