I'm troubled, my conscience that is. Ridiculous I know, but I feel bad and guilty.

NEVER sell a car to a friend or neighbour, that is my advice.

I sold my 10 year old Citroen Xantia to my next door neigbour 18 months ago. He knew I was on the point of getting shut and badgered me into selling it to him even though I had reservations due to exactly the reasons here:

It's currently giving him quite a bit of grief due to a failing hydraulics pump.

A new one is over £400, so he's managed to obtain a 2nd hand one, but for whatever reason, pulleys and belts being slightly different or something, it's proving to be a larger task than initially imagined.

Now he is actually quite ok and cool about it, as he loves tinkering with cars, but his wife is well unhappy apparently, insisting he goes back on the now expensive Vauxhall employees new car scheme that he came off due to the increasing cost and mither of being on it (he's a pensioner now) and she's been slightly frosty to me since all this kicked off.

Not rude, but just not as smiley and chatty as she usually is.

I can almost read her mind, and know that she is probaly quietly cursing me, and for this I'm feeling guilty.

She's refusing to drive it, and has taken their other car, and old Micra, to work this morning, leaving him stranded here at home instead of being at his part time job in N.Wales.

I really do feel **** about all this, and will NEVER sell a car to anyone I know, ever again.

Edited 10 January, 201115 yr by Mr Ree

Honestly, dont feel bad, you warned the guy and it was his choice! Xantia all end up having rather expensive hydraulics issues hence why my dad got rid of his at the first sign (brakes and power steering once went).

Oh the other hand I had a family friend selling a mini who said all it needed was welding to the suspension and it was fine. It turned out to be the biggest pile of poo I'd ever had the mis-fortune to own. My mechanic said that he had never seen a death trap as bad as that pass an mot before, something about the suspension was welded instead of bolted and the welded area was held together by a bolted plate. I sold it as spares to someone that knew the issues.

You was up front and honest its not your fault the car has now failed.

My dad was once sold a well-dodgy MG Midget by his (then) brother-in-law. MoT tester said he was surprised my dad made it to the test station alive when the time came...

Its 18months since you sold it not last week! Don't feel guilty....he would have known the risks when he bought it. My dad has sold his last couple of cars to his neighbours son and the neighbour always drops comments about things going wrong with it, needed new battery, new exhaust, new wishbones etc. My dad just lets it wash over him and says stuff like thats not bad for a 12 year old car!

Honestly, dont feel bad, you warned the guy and it was his choice! Xantia all end up having rather expensive hydraulics issues hence why my dad got rid of his at the first sign (brakes and power steering once went).

Oh the other hand I had a family friend selling a mini who said all it needed was welding to the suspension and it was fine. It turned out to be the biggest pile of poo I'd ever had the mis-fortune to own. My mechanic said that he had never seen a death trap as bad as that pass an mot before, something about the suspension was welded instead of bolted and the welded area was held together by a bolted plate. I sold it as spares to someone that knew the issues.

You was up front and honest its not your fault the car has now failed.

I didn't actually warn him of ANY impending and known issues, but we're talking 15k and 18 months ago now.

He's done quite a bit to it, just general run of the mill maintainance stuff, and keeps telling me just how pleased he is with it, even with all this crap currently going on, but being such decent neighbours, it really does make me feel bad.

As I said, never again.

I really would not worry, cars do break from time to time, its part of the joys of motoring.

It is in no way your fault, especially after 18 months.

I really would not worry, cars do break from time to time, its part of the joys of motoring.

It is in no way your fault, especially after 18 months.

I truly believe he's ok abouut it, but I don't like him getting grief off his missus over something I sold him.

As he rightly said though ( just trying to make myself feel better here), "just how much would I have spent over the last 18 months on the Vauxhall car scheme"?

Albeit that it includes maintainence, road tax and insurance, but NOT any minor blemish repairs that they are extremely strict about, and insist on being rectified before return?

Correct, about £4000.

I can understand your feelings, as it's a problem on your own doorstep. Just that it's not your problem! As said, a decent amount of time has passed by.

Try and put it out of your mind, and move on

I can understand your feelings, as it's a problem on your own doorstep. Just that it's not your problem! As said, a decent amount of time has passed by.

Try and put it out of your mind, and move on

Not that easy when I go out to get in my van and he's there again, car jacked up, wheel off, 2 legs sticking out from underneath,and the constant clank of tools being dropped on the floor.

Couple all that with the sound of his wife asking him has he nearly finished messing about with that THING over and ever again. :(

Refer to the latter part of my 1st point - not your problem

He could take it to a garage if he wanted....

BX didn't have any major issues and if the pump has gone it's probably due to a lack of regular fluid changes.

You used to be able to get pumps all over from breakers and there are specialist citroen breakers for these too. Worst case there is at least one company that rebuilds the pumps so it won't cost £400.

I agree with you that you should never buy or sell cars with friends. It can cause all sorts of problems and has for me in the past. But then again if your selling a car the minute the log book is signed over it's not your problem any more. The engine could blow up as it drives out your estate, again not your problem. He's had it for 18 months so he can't grumble when things go wrong with it.

Don't worry about it.

Edited 10 January, 201115 yr by MartynVRS

I sold my last car to a friend, but it did carry with it over 18 months of extended manufacturer warranty.

I dont think i would of sold it to him, if it didnt have the warranty along with it.. BUT it was only three and a half years old, and not a 10 year old Saxo. - i did have problems with it before it was sold, including a gearbox and a steering rack, but that was all explained and documented.

It's still going well, almost a year after i sold it to him, and he's already expressed an interest in my new vehicle, when i'm finished with it!

Would your neighbour still be angry if they had paid a premium for it from a forecourt?

Al.

...he's there again, car jacked up, wheel off, 2 legs sticking out from underneath,and the constant clank of tools being dropped on the floor....

Could be that he's perfectly happy on his garage floor, having a couple of hours for himself, away from the Missus... even if she's a decent woman a married man now and then needs a break :yes:

I bought a 10 year old Felly - did I blame the previous owner when the PAS pump broke two years later? Of course not. And if he's a former Vauxhall employee I'm sure he takes the same attitude. That his wife does not is a pity, but nothing you should feel guilty about.

Edited 10 January, 201115 yr by swedishskoda

Sounds like the old pump has had its money's worth. I'd have thought an exchange pump with a 3 to 12 (depending on seller) warranty would be about £200, andlikely good for another 10 years.

Oh and I'd rather have the Xantia and/or the Micra than a new V@*xh@!!

I sold my first car (Punto mk 2) to my uncle. Since he's had it, it's needed a new exhaust, sump and now the clutch is jamming or something. Do I feel bad? Not really, I sold it fine, and he's not exactly careful with his belongings - nearly everything he owns he breaks, and besides, even including fixing these things, his still better off than he would be if he got a new car, or the same from a dealer.

But I do agree though - unless it's my sister, I won't be selling anything to a family member again soon. Friends yes, but not family.

BX didn't have any major issues and if the pump has gone it's probably due to a lack of regular fluid changes.

You used to be able to get pumps all over from breakers and there are specialist citroen breakers for these too. Worst case there is at least one company that rebuilds the pumps so it won't cost £400.

Yes, I owned a succession of BXs and a Xantia and the hydraulics are pretty much bullet proof if they were maintained properly. Trouble is the vast majority weren't maintained properly....

Thanks for the reassuring words lads. Appreciated.

Must reiterate that my neighbour IS NOT kicking off in any way whatsoever, and has regulary told me just how happy he is with it.

Just his missus giving him grief, but he's told me he has no intention of bending and going back onto the GM scheme.

He's replaced all of the spheres, and discs all 'round and a few other bibs and bobs too.

Must admit it still looks really nice when it's clean.

Mrs Ree was given the opportunity of having it as her own vehicle, but initially turned it down 'cus she thought it was too big.

Soon as I sold it, she changed her mind.

Edited 10 January, 201115 yr by Mr Ree

Sounds like it's a domestic issue then really. In that case, retreat even further!

Sounds like it's a domestic issue then really. In that case, retreat even further!

Why do wimmin generally get such a strop on about blokes and their love of and car issues ey?

They seem to resent us from paying so much attention to them....the cars that is.

Yet WHO do they turn to when theirs goes wrong?

Mmmmmmm a case of double standards me thinks. :S

Edited 11 January, 201115 yr by Mr Ree

Why do wimmin generally get such a strop on about blokes and their love of and car issues ey?

They seem to resent us from paying so much attention to them....the cars that is.

Yet WHO do they turn to when theirs goes wrong?

Mmmmmmm a case of double standards me thinks. :S

Sound to me like the old pump works just fine, the new pump's pulley is just fine and that he knows he can find some peace and quiet under the car

I do agree though, I got accused of having an affair with the car because I spent too long cleaning it.

Obviously it wasn't seriously, but at the same time, you know when you're being told not to do it again.

You shouldn't feel guilty, he's had 18 months use out of the car and saved money by opting out of the Vauxhall car scheme. Cars go wrong and it is a 10 year old Citroen. Having worked for vauxhall, it's not as if he doesn't know a thing about cars.

If you want something to feel guilty about, offer to buy the car back (once he's fixed it) at a lot lower price than what you sold it to him for.