Buying a car on line.

[conny]

I'm not intending to do this but I'm curious to see if anyone has.
You know from these places that you look on line, see a car you fancy, place your order and they deliver it to you.
The 2 names that spring to mind are Cinch and Cazoo. Where people 'seemingly' buy these cars without actually seeing them, much less test driving them!
Do they really take them back after 7 days if you don't want it? Does it cost you anything to have it for those 7 days? Are there mileage limits/charges?
It just seems so weird to buy a car this way and I question if they really exist because I've never seen a transporter with these names on the side.

 

[^woody^]

I suspect its more for Generation Z buyers who are really into the "buy everything online" thinking. I have heard a few such young un's think its a good idea, but whether there are many returns or the business model lasts long term who knows.

If my kids online shopping habbits are anything to go by, they will order three in different colours or types and send them all or two back.

 

[ironsidebod]

It doesn't matter if you see a car or not these days as dealers dent remove, smart repair and so on when they prep a car. There's virtually no haggling. Expectation is a car on the forecourt has had everything done already, so why would you need to see it? (not agreeing with it, just how the market works).

The take it back after 7/14 days is part of the distance selling regulations, they're just very clever in the way they spin it to make it sound like they're offering you something big.

 

[sxturbo]

I never would, throughout my adult life this far I've tried to buy many a used car and when I arrive it is rarely as described.

Even when you ask them to be brutally honest as you have a 200 Mile trip to view it.

I don't believe the 7 -14 day return policy, there will be some form of get out clause, or they will mysteriously find a hundred dents like one of them car holiday rental do's which they then say you need to cover the cost on or lose deposit etc etc

 

[ironsidebod]

I never would, throughout my adult life this far I've tried to buy many a used car and when I arrive it is rarely as described.

Even when you ask them to be brutally honest as you have a 200 Mile trip to view it.

Indeed which is why I'd never do it. I've travelled 3 hours for a car with no bodywork damage and a mint leather interior before (a dealer who I stressed the need to be honest). When I got there the drivers bolster was ripped and the bodywork looked like it had been used at the local BB firing range. I've never seen a car before or since with such odd panel dints.

 

[Lower]

I’ve bought quite a few one year old, sub 10k mile cars from main dealers around the country and they’ve all been fine.

They’re usually ex demo, manufacturer fleet or hire cars as company cars and they have been fine.

I wouldn’t buy anything older though.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Last car I bought was the first one I looked at, I was absolutely putty in the hands of the extraordinary beautiful Lebanese young lady saleswoman who sold it to me, I think I just may have bought anything at all that day. That said it's not been a lemon so no regrets.

 

[ironsidebod]

I’ve bought quite a few one year old, sub 10k mile cars from main dealers around the country and they’ve all been fine.

They’re usually ex demo, manufacturer fleet or hire cars as company cars and they have been fine.

I wouldn’t buy anything older though.

When you have manufacturer warranty mechanicals don't really need to be a worry (to be simple about it). Most cars in a main dealer have had bodywork done and some of it is done to a shocking standard but if you're ok with that then yeah it's no problem.

 

[conny]

On the few occasions I have bought a car I've always but second hand from a dealer and I take a magnet in a muslin cloth with me to check for body repairs. Always check the gap each side of the bonnet is equal and various other things, (in the old days check the mileage figures are all in a straight line), that a mechanic told me to look for.
So far not picked a bad one and usually keep them for a number of years.
Would never go to one of these on line places.

 

[Lower]

When you have manufacturer warranty mechanicals don't really need to be a worry (to be simple about it). Most cars in a main dealer have had bodywork done and some of it is done to a shocking standard but if you're ok with that then yeah it's no problem.

Seeing as my company makes paint spray booths, I generally know where the defleet work has been done

 

[kingandy2nd]

I bought my last car remotely. 2017 Mitsubishi L200 which was in Wellingborough at a Network Q Garage, they took it as a trade in. Saw it on auto trader, called them up and they advised they'd deliver it to my door for £99 with right to refuse/return on delivery. I'd been looking for a couple of months and this one came up at £12.5 versus about £15k for all the others I'd looked at.

I had videos and about 30 photos sent to me before delivery. They MOT'd and serviced it before delivery.

Arrived and all was fine, but after first couple of drives I realised the steering wheel wasn't straight when driving straight. Called up the Network Q garage, they asked me to take it to a local garage to get the 4 wheel tracking done. That cost £75, which the Network Q garage paid for directly over the phone while my wheels were getting straighten.

So it wasn't exactly a hassle free experience, but equally the minor issue was sorted with no expense to myself. Would I buy like this again, absolutely if looking at something modern with a manufacturers warranty on it still and the saving made it worthwhile.

If you're buying an older car, the chances are someone is selling it because they had issues with it are higher, so you might want to go and look at it beforehand as you've got no right to return if buying privately.

Carwow, cinch, etc only sell nearly new cars so you're unlikely to have these problems and to be honest, many people wouldn't know what to look for when buying a car anyway!

I'm now going through my mid-life crisis and thinking of buying a classic sports car, but with this I will definitely be an in person-purchase...just waiting for the right TVR to show up

 

[bernardgreen]

Looking for a used car ? Take your pick

 

[kingandy2nd]

Looking for a used car ? Take your pick

View attachment 227697

View attachment 227696

Same at rockingham speedway...such a waste of a racetrack!!

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-england-northamptonshire-56104281

 

[ReganAndCarter]

Does anyone buy at auctions?

 

[transam]

I have bought 2 cars with out viewing them

only via pictures

many years ago I advertised a motor cycle via a classic bike magazine small photo of it

and it went international came as a surprise tbh

calls from the Uk but had calls from Germany Austria Italy Ireland

first call was from a bloke in Sweden who bought it
Sent a lorry to my house and that was it

obviously he transferred money first