Just got back from an indepth chat to the guys at VW Rescue (A VAG Specialist in the West Midlands).

My 2001 Octy vRS went in for a service, and while there they noticed a FEW things.

Basically, it has had a BIG accident, most of the suspension has been replaced, the floor has been straightened and the nearside three quarter panel has been replaced. Plus some other bits and bobs.

I had the car HPId when I bought it which showed nothing in the cars history.

The seller mentioned nothing and when I asked if it had been in any accidents he said "No".

I know I should have had the car checked over by a professional, but I fell into the trap of going on it's surface appearance and the reassurance of the HPI check.

The work on the car has obviously not been doen through insurance which is why it is HPI clear.

While the guys at the garage said the work isn't perfect, it is quite good and the car is perfectly safe, obviously I'm not a happy chappy.

The repair was definitely done while owned by the previous keeper, as he had it from July 2005, and lots of the new parts still have the manufacturers sticker on saying November 2005.

Where do I stand legally?

Do I have any comeback as it was a private sale. Caveat Emptor etc. But he did misrepresent the car.

Any advice gratefully received, and you are all welcome to s****** at my gulibilty !

Thanks for your advice in advance.

The seller mentioned nothing and when I asked if it had been in any accidents he said "No".

There you go, he has committed a crime (fraud? deception?). Speak to a solicitor.

Not sure, but if you had an HPI check are you not covered by them if the car later turns out to dodgy? Might be worth giving them a ring. You can try the CAB about bringing a civil case against the vendor but without a written gurantee from them that the car wasn't accident repaired then I don't fancy your chances.

It depends how big the vendor was as to wether you feel like going round and questioning him further about the history

I suppose you are luckier than some if the car as been repaired 'safely' could be worse, not ideal but at least you haven't lost the use of the car. Don't know what you paid for it, how much it will have depreciated due to this damage.

Hope you have some joy from HPI/CAB

The car wont have depriciated at all due to the damage as its not HPI recorded. He can deny all knowledge of the damage as he was told that it wasnt when he bought it, how was he to know it had been damaged before he bought it.

as long as the car is perfectly safe and looks fine whats the problem? most cars have accident repair work at some point in their life.

The car wont have depriciated at all due to the damage as its not HPI recorded. He can deny all knowledge of the damage as he was told that it wasnt when he bought it, how was he to know it had been damaged before he bought it.

No but he wouldn't have paid what he did had he known, so in his eyes the car as been devalued:P

Personally, I'd be gutted if it was me.

There are two choices, I would think.

1) sell it, and keep quiet about what you know about the cars history.

or

2) get it checked by a reputable bodyshop, who should be able to advise on the quality of the workmanship. As said already, there are planty of repaired cars out there that are perfectly OK.

I'd go for option 2, with number 1 as a fallback if the results were unlpeasant.

No but he wouldn't have paid what he did had he known, so in his eyes the car as been devalued:P

Why would it be worth less? It's got nice shiny new bits on it so he's actually got a bit of a bargain

Chris

Why would it be worth less? It's got nice shiny new bits on it so he's actually got a bit of a bargain

Chris

I'll nip down't scappers, buy a few insurance write offs and sell em to you at full book, after fixing em up natch:D , how many do you want? any specific model?

I realise all cars of this age have probably had a few scrapes.

But not many have marks on the floorpan where it's been lifted up on a forklift truck.

This is the eBay advert I bought it from

eBay.co.uk: 2001 Skoda Octavia RS (item 230005596654 end time 14-Jul-06 13:38:42 BST)

According to the BBC Consumer guide, when buying privately:

"The vehicle must still be 'as described' but that's where your legal protection ends. If the car has been described incorrectly, you may want to sue the vendor. Knowing where the private seller lives is therefore important and it helps if you can inspect the car at the owner's home.

Don't buy from a car park, motorway service area or general public area because it'll be harder, if not impossible, to contact the vendor if a problem arises. Some adverts in the local press are placed by dealers pretending to be private sellers in an attempt to avoid their legal obligations.

If you buy a car that breaks down the minute you get it home, you may not have any legal comeback - unless for instance, the owner described it as 'just passed MOT' when it clearly wouldn't have passed."

Why would it be worth less? It's got nice shiny new bits on it so he's actually got a bit of a bargain

Chris

LOL, most of the suspension is less than 1 year old. It still has the stickers on with date of manufacture of Novemebr 2005.

Having said all that for £3,500 so long as the car is safe and passed an MOT then you've still not got a bad deal.

Agreed 3.5K is a good price. My old 2001 Y reg (nearly same age) with 54K on it sold for 5.5K earlier this year.

its a pity nobody asked the vendor whether its had any accidents on the Ebay auction , you see that asked a lot now , you may have had some come back if he'd answered that it hadn't had any

The point is though, I got it for that price despite it's problems, not because of.

I need to get it checked on a computerised alignment thingy, to see if it's straight, as the guy at the garage had concerns that it might not be.

If a full 4-wheel geometry test checks out ok I wouldn't worry too much. I sympathise with you, I would be very disheartened if I received info like this. If its straight and the repair is of a reasonable standard then all is not lost. You still have a non recorded vRS for £3.5k. Worth getting advice but I have a feeling you will draw a blank as you only have your word that you asked about accident damage :( Hope things turn out for the best one way or another.

I will have to keep an eye out on the "Was it you?" forum.

"Spottd Red Octy vRS driving like a crab !"

If this bloke is a private individual, then you're scuppered, really, unless he agrees a refund/return of the car.

However, it may be that he's a trader of sorts. In which case, his advert doesn't adequately describe the history of the car IMO.

J.

I think you have some comeback from HPI myself

Also are there receipts for the suspension work as he could have had to have new suspension at approx 80k miles you can understand new suspension being required.

I think you have some comeback from HPI myself

Also are there receipts for the suspension work as he could have had to have new suspension at approx 80k miles you can understand new suspension being required.

Depends on whether it was an insurance job. However, I can't see someone paying out of their own pocket to have all those repairs done just to keep a car HPi clear.

It sounds like it's had a big prang :thumbdwn:

Speak to trading standards.

The point is though, I got it for that price despite it's problems, not because of.

I need to get it checked on a computerised alignment thingy, to see if it's straight, as the guy at the garage had concerns that it might not be.

Just as a comparison, try to get a couple of other cars of the same type and age checked as well, you may well find that your car is aligned better than a "as it left the factory" car. Especially if it has been set up on an alignement jig after it was repaired. Five years worth of bumping up kerbs, hitting speed humps at a good lick, etc, can leave an impression on the geometry of a car.

if the car is straight and drives fine get over it and forget it or get rid just to clear your head.

i honestly can't see a problem with a car that has been crashed then repaired to a good standard, it might well be as others have said better than when it left the factory.

Thats **** news and I would be gutted to find somet out like that....

I must admit tho.....A few years back I slid into a kerb and a totalled the front and back o/s suspension on a car, But at the time I worked in a garage and repaired it myself (for the simple fact that I didnt wanna lose my no claims). It was repaired all hunky dory and the bodywork was mint as there was no panel damage in the crash and, after a few months, I flogged it on.

In my eyes tho, as I know I repaired it spot on, I didnt see any problem...but weather the new other was happy if and when they found out is a different matter.

The biggest part of it that worries me is the floor being straightened. I can't help but wonder even if the car is straight how the car would react in another crash. I think a look in the autotrader (or wherever you saw the car) to see if this person is a trader regularly selling cars as private and also a chat with HPI, I assume you did HPI the car not rely on one he provided?

If you HPI a car and they missed the damage they promise they will give yo usome amount of money. Step one read their terms