Ruby and I

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Hesketh

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Hi I just bought a new to me A2 I like it a lot but I am having some buyers regrets. Mainly that I feel the seller either by accident or deliberatley pulled the wool over my eyes. I think it'll work out OK in the end but I didn't want to have to do anything for a short while. Anyway here is the story.
Do I think the seller misrepresented the car ? .... Yes I do. He contacted me through the A2 facebook page but it was his presence here that made me think it would be an OK risk.
I'll list my grievances and explain my case / misunderstandings and so on.

I want to be content with the car and happy with the sellers services. I think it is probably inexperience on his behalf rather than dishonesty. The car cost me £700 I would say it is an OKish price. I did think it was a good price but then I got to know it better. It was advertised for quite a bit more at first. (some people are telling me it's the price of a banger and that £700 isn't much money these days. I think they are mistaken in that point of view.)

1/ the car was advertised as being with a stereo – there was no stereo and I had a 5 hour drive in silence (I would have brought my own if the seller had thought to mention it). it's a minor thing but it annoyed me and set off my grumble.
2/ Headlights are/were very badly adjusted (dangerously so IMO) and the headlight range control doesn't work – the seller took them out & polished them after the MOT. I think he doesn't have adequate road experience to know where to point the beams? Again not at all a deal breaker but I had a long drive back in the dark with rubbish lights. The grumble begins to be amplified.
3/ The tyres each had a different pressure in them varying from 19 to 36psi. I had brought my tyre inflator so not a problem; but again I had been assured - just drive it away. A minor detail I know, but not confidence inspiring and it got me looking deeper.
4/ There are a few broken / lose buttons, the windscreen wiper has scratched the windscreen and when in use doesn't stop where it should, I mean it goes too far it goes past the windscreen and into the air making it noisy and disturbing especially on a night like last night with some pretty severe rain. Easy fix me thinks but another detail to add to the lengthening list of not quite rights..
5/There is a lot of travel in the handbrake. It works but difficult to believe it didn't get a mention for the MOT. – Unless... it stretched after.

...more seriously...

5/ coolant temperature gauge doesn't work. (didn't realise till I'd driven a short way to the garage and it was still cold and I wasn't 1000% sure till later on... )

6/ The check engine light came on on the way home. Could be anything. upon asking the seller he said he had no idea why... fishing around in his posts shows that it was an issue he debated here when I pointed that out to him he said "Yes I then sorted it out by clearing it And my mechanic said take it for a run and make sure it gets hot I took it for a run for 1 hr and did not come back !!!!!?". That's not exactly open and transparent and by now my have I been conned radar is on full tilt.

7/ I asked, albeit vaguely, about the cambelt – "and it's about half way in it's cambelt changing cycle?". The car has 166thou'. the seller replied "It will need changing at some point I guess ". At home with the receipts and service history I see that the last change was at 85503miles in 2011. Truth is it's late for being changed. Misleading? not literally, but overly vague. Especially for an A2 specialist.

I didn't expect a mint car. And non of the listed faults are deal breakers except the cambelt, I wouldn't have bought it if I'd known that I had to go and have that seen to ASAP. The engine light might be, it could also be completely unrelated to anything. I'll see if it's the same code. ... I've just been trying to get an OBD ll scan of the car and it wont work, it seems that the SCART scanner wont read the engine if there is no stereo in the car???(which there isn't) hmm

Either way the seller said. "You can have her for £700 as she needs a top mount as can make a little noise when on full lock Should be a £75 fix It doesn’t affect the car In anyway I’m not getting it done as I’m selling lol Other than that she is perfect and nothing wrong at all."

Whatever the outcome of this outpouring of grief. I wish the seller no ill. I do think he has to watch out how he does business. One goes through a club because hopefully the expertise and enthusiasm of the members help limit the surprises not eliminate the faults and snags. It's an old car. I am an old car enthusiast I've had 2cv's, Moggie Minors, Renault 5, Volvo 940, VW t25 Doka and a few modern things too. I ride a BMW K100rs 16v. I use forums to keep them going and I'm looking forwards to my ownership of the A2 and to being an active member on here
I think it will work out fine in the end but it's not what I thought it would be. From a Gumtree or Facebook seller I'd have to say "whatever... the guy is a kid, what did I expect? As a club sale – I expected better.

Reading about the car on here the seller bought it for £250 had it shipped to him worked on it and made no money selling it.
I believe that the car was bought with MIL light on and other than tell a SCART reader to cancel the warning nothing else was done.
Again not a problem but don't try to tell me I am in the wrong because I trusted someone. be honest about it. Own it. The seller did a great job on the paint and headlight lenses

Soon there will be photos of Ruby's refurb and future proofing and I'll need help and advice.

It's about the journey.
 
Sounds like mine; also (lacquer peeling) red, cambelt overdue, CV joints knackered, also scratch in the window thanks to a draging wiperarm, mismatch of summer/wintertyres, MOT expiring in 2 weeks time and more little snags.
Then again, the woman who sold it didn't had a clue about cars and at least was looking genuine and honest about it.
Was more expensive then yours too....... But all fixable.

Hope the seller is willing to compensate, but if (s)he's an A2 "specialist" it would be nice to be honest about the car upfront.
Hope you're getting a satisfactory solution, get it fixed and enjoy the car!
 
Welcome to the club! Sorry you've had an unsatisfactory buying experience, hope things go better from now on.
 
Hi I just bought a new to me A2 I like it a lot but I am having some buyers regrets. Mainly that I feel the seller either by accident or deliberatley pulled the wool over my eyes. I think it'll work out OK in the end but I didn't want to have to do anything for a short while. Anyway here is the story.
Do I think the seller misrepresented the car ? .... Yes I do. He contacted me through the A2 facebook page but it was his presence here that made me think it would be an OK risk.
I'll list my grievances and explain my case / misunderstandings and so on.

I want to be content with the car and happy with the sellers services. I think it is probably inexperience on his behalf rather than dishonesty. The car cost me £700 I would say it is an OKish price. I did think it was a good price but then I got to know it better. It was advertised for quite a bit more at first. (some people are telling me it's the price of a banger and that £700 isn't much money these days. I think they are mistaken in that point of view.)

1/ the car was advertised as being with a stereo – there was no stereo and I had a 5 hour drive in silence (I would have brought my own if the seller had thought to mention it). it's a minor thing but it annoyed me and set off my grumble.
2/ Headlights are/were very badly adjusted (dangerously so IMO) and the headlight range control doesn't work – the seller took them out & polished them after the MOT. I think he doesn't have adequate road experience to know where to point the beams? Again not at all a deal breaker but I had a long drive back in the dark with rubbish lights. The grumble begins to be amplified.
3/ The tyres each had a different pressure in them varying from 19 to 36psi. I had brought my tyre inflator so not a problem; but again I had been assured - just drive it away. A minor detail I know, but not confidence inspiring and it got me looking deeper.
4/ There are a few broken / lose buttons, the windscreen wiper has scratched the windscreen and when in use doesn't stop where it should, I mean it goes too far it goes past the windscreen and into the air making it noisy and disturbing especially on a night like last night with some pretty severe rain. Easy fix me thinks but another detail to add to the lengthening list of not quite rights..
5/There is a lot of travel in the handbrake. It works but difficult to believe it didn't get a mention for the MOT. – Unless... it stretched after.

...more seriously...

5/ coolant temperature gauge doesn't work. (didn't realise till I'd driven a short way to the garage and it was still cold and I wasn't 1000% sure till later on... )

6/ The check engine light came on on the way home. Could be anything. upon asking the seller he said he had no idea why... fishing around in his posts shows that it was an issue he debated here when I pointed that out to him he said "Yes I then sorted it out by clearing it And my mechanic said take it for a run and make sure it gets hot I took it for a run for 1 hr and did not come back !!!!!?". That's not exactly open and transparent and by now my have I been conned radar is on full tilt.

7/ I asked, albeit vaguely, about the cambelt – "and it's about half way in it's cambelt changing cycle?". The car has 166thou'. the seller replied "It will need changing at some point I guess ". At home with the receipts and service history I see that the last change was at 85503miles in 2011. Truth is it's late for being changed. Misleading? not literally, but overly vague. Especially for an A2 specialist.

I didn't expect a mint car. And non of the listed faults are deal breakers except the cambelt, I wouldn't have bought it if I'd known that I had to go and have that seen to ASAP. The engine light might be, it could also be completely unrelated to anything. I'll see if it's the same code. ... I've just been trying to get an OBD ll scan of the car and it wont work, it seems that the SCART scanner wont read the engine if there is no stereo in the car???(which there isn't) hmm

Either way the seller said. "You can have her for £700 as she needs a top mount as can make a little noise when on full lock Should be a £75 fix It doesn’t affect the car In anyway I’m not getting it done as I’m selling lol Other than that she is perfect and nothing wrong at all."

Whatever the outcome of this outpouring of grief. I wish the seller no ill. I do think he has to watch out how he does business. One goes through a club because hopefully the expertise and enthusiasm of the members help limit the surprises not eliminate the faults and snags. It's an old car. I am an old car enthusiast I've had 2cv's, Moggie Minors, Renault 5, Volvo 940, VW t25 Doka and a few modern things too. I ride a BMW K100rs 16v. I use forums to keep them going and I'm looking forwards to my ownership of the A2 and to being an active member on here
I think it will work out fine in the end but it's not what I thought it would be. From a Gumtree or Facebook seller I'd have to say "whatever... the guy is a kid, what did I expect? As a club sale – I expected better.

Reading about the car on here the seller bought it for £250 had it shipped to him worked on it and made no money selling it.
I believe that the car was bought with MIL light on and other than tell a SCART reader to cancel the warning nothing else was done.
Again not a problem but don't try to tell me I am in the wrong because I trusted someone. be honest about it. Own it. The seller did a great job on the paint and headlight lenses

Soon there will be photos of Ruby's refurb and future proofing and I'll need help and advice.

It's about the journey.

Is it the 1.4i? If so the EGR pipe work/ value can block up, the oil catcher also needs cleaning normally or replaced especially high mileage, the front Lambda is a common one also. They are quote billet like proof engines and quite simply to fix. Once you get a stereo, post the diag results and I’m sure you will get a lot of advice


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Is it the 1.4i? If so the EGR pipe work/ value can block up, the oil catcher also needs cleaning normally or replaced especially high mileage, the front Lambda is a common one also. They are quote billet like proof engines and quite simply to fix. Once you get a stereo, post the diag results and I’m sure you will get a lot of advice


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I will.
 
Well from where you are now with the car the only way is up. And from you bio you have got shed loads of experience to enable you to sort out the issues. it's always a risk buying a car new or old. good luck going forward.
 
Hesketh, What's ironic is that Louis bought the car from Cornwall,...…. you could have possibly saved yourself a trip and money if you'd have seen the Gumtree ad a few weeks ago......but such is life, I feel it will be a good car with a little more work......at least its not an FSi……….LOL LOL LOL
 
Hi I just bought a new to me A2 I like it a lot but I am having some buyers regrets. Mainly that I feel the seller either by accident or deliberatley pulled the wool over my eyes. I think it'll work out OK in the end but I didn't want to have to do anything for a short while. Anyway here is the story.
Do I think the seller misrepresented the car ? .... Yes I do. He contacted me through the A2 facebook page but it was his presence here that made me think it would be an OK risk.
I'll list my grievances and explain my case / misunderstandings and so on.

I want to be content with the car and happy with the sellers services. I think it is probably inexperience on his behalf rather than dishonesty. The car cost me £700 I would say it is an OKish price. I did think it was a good price but then I got to know it better. It was advertised for quite a bit more at first. (some people are telling me it's the price of a banger and that £700 isn't much money these days. I think they are mistaken in that point of view.)

1/ the car was advertised as being with a stereo – there was no stereo and I had a 5 hour drive in silence (I would have brought my own if the seller had thought to mention it). it's a minor thing but it annoyed me and set off my grumble.
2/ Headlights are/were very badly adjusted (dangerously so IMO) and the headlight range control doesn't work – the seller took them out & polished them after the MOT. I think he doesn't have adequate road experience to know where to point the beams? Again not at all a deal breaker but I had a long drive back in the dark with rubbish lights. The grumble begins to be amplified.
3/ The tyres each had a different pressure in them varying from 19 to 36psi. I had brought my tyre inflator so not a problem; but again I had been assured - just drive it away. A minor detail I know, but not confidence inspiring and it got me looking deeper.
4/ There are a few broken / lose buttons, the windscreen wiper has scratched the windscreen and when in use doesn't stop where it should, I mean it goes too far it goes past the windscreen and into the air making it noisy and disturbing especially on a night like last night with some pretty severe rain. Easy fix me thinks but another detail to add to the lengthening list of not quite rights..
5/There is a lot of travel in the handbrake. It works but difficult to believe it didn't get a mention for the MOT. – Unless... it stretched after.

...more seriously...

5/ coolant temperature gauge doesn't work. (didn't realise till I'd driven a short way to the garage and it was still cold and I wasn't 1000% sure till later on... )

6/ The check engine light came on on the way home. Could be anything. upon asking the seller he said he had no idea why... fishing around in his posts shows that it was an issue he debated here when I pointed that out to him he said "Yes I then sorted it out by clearing it And my mechanic said take it for a run and make sure it gets hot I took it for a run for 1 hr and did not come back !!!!!?". That's not exactly open and transparent and by now my have I been conned radar is on full tilt.

7/ I asked, albeit vaguely, about the cambelt – "and it's about half way in it's cambelt changing cycle?". The car has 166thou'. the seller replied "It will need changing at some point I guess ". At home with the receipts and service history I see that the last change was at 85503miles in 2011. Truth is it's late for being changed. Misleading? not literally, but overly vague. Especially for an A2 specialist.

I didn't expect a mint car. And non of the listed faults are deal breakers except the cambelt, I wouldn't have bought it if I'd known that I had to go and have that seen to ASAP. The engine light might be, it could also be completely unrelated to anything. I'll see if it's the same code. ... I've just been trying to get an OBD ll scan of the car and it wont work, it seems that the SCART scanner wont read the engine if there is no stereo in the car???(which there isn't) hmm

Either way the seller said. "You can have her for £700 as she needs a top mount as can make a little noise when on full lock Should be a £75 fix It doesn’t affect the car In anyway I’m not getting it done as I’m selling lol Other than that she is perfect and nothing wrong at all."

Whatever the outcome of this outpouring of grief. I wish the seller no ill. I do think he has to watch out how he does business. One goes through a club because hopefully the expertise and enthusiasm of the members help limit the surprises not eliminate the faults and snags. It's an old car. I am an old car enthusiast I've had 2cv's, Moggie Minors, Renault 5, Volvo 940, VW t25 Doka and a few modern things too. I ride a BMW K100rs 16v. I use forums to keep them going and I'm looking forwards to my ownership of the A2 and to being an active member on here
I think it will work out fine in the end but it's not what I thought it would be. From a Gumtree or Facebook seller I'd have to say "whatever... the guy is a kid, what did I expect? As a club sale – I expected better.

Reading about the car on here the seller bought it for £250 had it shipped to him worked on it and made no money selling it.
I believe that the car was bought with MIL light on and other than tell a SCART reader to cancel the warning nothing else was done.
Again not a problem but don't try to tell me I am in the wrong because I trusted someone. be honest about it. Own it. The seller did a great job on the paint and headlight lenses

Soon there will be photos of Ruby's refurb and future proofing and I'll need help and advice.

It's about the journey.
Im going to be controversial here and I dont personally know Louis ..are you serious you have paid £700 ..the stereo had not been delivered to Louis in time for you to have it big deal ..he promised to send on .,and yes you have some small issues .. but there are scrap cars making not a lot more than you paid ..get real ..you had an opportunity to check over the car did you ?? ..you should have bought from a garage my friend then you would have had a 3 months warranty ...and paid £1500 ..
 
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