Sold car in autotrader and it has gone wrong!

[Frankieola]

I've just sold my car and its broken down after 10 miles! Had no idea that it would go wrong, I've been using it for the past 6 months and its been excellent. The chap says I should take it back or pay for repair, Do I have to do anything? Its a 98 S reg and I sold it for £530, The repair could end up costing £250. Thanks

[andy-hughes]

In order to feel better - since this is obviously bothering you - offer him £50 as a goodwill gesture.

If he argues even slightly, withdraw it - he has 'bought as seen' and the responsibility is down to him.

[rowanwitch]

Unfortunately it is an offence to sell an unroadworthy vehicle....we bought a car privately that had a number of serious faults and although the man who sold it was not trading as a car dealer trading standards took him to court on our behalf...he still hasn't paid up as the courtds can't find him you may have to prove it was in roadworthy condition at the time of sale i.e the fault was not one that could reasonably be predicted

[R1Geezer]

who say's it's unroadworthy?

[rowanwitch]

just making the point...if the fault was one that made it undriveable for example then there might be a problem... When selling a car recently I was advised always sell older low value vehicles 'spares or repairs' which then prevents any arguments later

[dotty.]

But unroadworthy is not the same as a car breaking down due to wear and tear.
How do you know he didnl;t thrash it on the motorway? Cars a like comfy chairs, they get used to a certain manner of driving, if a boy racer were to take my car on a drive the poor thing would collapse I;m sure

[AlBags]

But you can .. and many people do sell unroadworthy vehicles.
And we all know that .. just because a car has tax and MOT .. it is not necessarily roadworthy.
Not illegal to sell like that at all.

[Jemisa]

Only lives 10 mls away?

Do you like hospital food?

Just asking.

jem

[Frankieola]

Thanks for all your advice, I think i'm going to offer him a contribution of £100 in an effot to "do the right thing" although I know for a fact that if it had gone on the test drive, He wouldnt have offered to pay for it!!!!
If he wants to moan, He can have nothing!

[andy-hughes]

Sounds like a plan - let us know how you get on.

[TonyV]

rowan - not that I don't believe you - but pls post the judgement. If you buy anything second hand - even a house it is up to the purchaser to make sure that the purchase you are making is worth the money

[AlBags]

Very generous in my book.
I would have dropped a belt off to him.

[welshlibranr]

He's already had a discount of £120, about half of the cost of the repair, and nobody could have known that it was about to break down, he bought it as he saw it!.........I think it's just his bad luck!...........and I would tell him so!..........

[TWR]

£530, You only get a 3 month warrantee with a £3000 purchase, to make you feel at ease, give the person £50 thats all.

[Stevesw]

Belts can go at any time. it was obviously fine when if bought it so it was roadworthy. You have no legal obligation here. And he's upped the price for the belt change anyway.