Red C20XE on Pistonheads.....please read!!!

[MikeyC]

I went to view this car today....I spoke to the guy last night and asked him if the car was in good condition/straight because I was travelling 300 miles to view it.
He said it was 'mint'......excellent condition.

So I explained again that im coming a long way and he should tell me if theres anything wrong with the car because i would find it.
It is perfect he said.

So me and my mate Joenova_gte set of this morning at 5am. We arrived at around 11.30 to view the car and at a first glance it looked exactly as it did in the pics.
Then I started to find bits.....the inside of the doors were rusting...then I found rust behind the rear arches starting to go...
I then jacked the car up and realised he had wax oiled the bottom this morning before I had arrive (well it was very fresh anyway) then to my horror realised the shell was bent....it had been jacked up on the floor pan and the shell was completely bent.....

I then proceeded to shout at him....I was disgusted.

Id travelled 300 miles and asked if there was anything....then when I pulled him up on it when I realised he replied..''oh yeah that was like that when I bought it''
How i didnt punch him i do not know.

Then I said ''I told you I would find anything wrong with the car we know these cars inside out....he replied ''Oh thats good then'''with a really smug look on his face.

I picked my jack up threw it in the car and drove home (5 hours)

What a disgrace.....do not bother looking at this car. I done £100 quid in diesel and a day of my time to be completely wasted.....what a ****

[richz_nova]

should've droped the nut mate

[MikeyC]

How I didnt I dont know mate....he was really smug with it as well...

[reevie1987]

thats people for you mate cant really trust the majority of people these days imo

[Graeme]

The one in Lancs mate? You should of asked if anyone local could give it a once over first, we're quiet a helpful bunch especially if it involves saving you a oner in Diesel

[turbojolt]

That's a shame mate, but tbh as soon as he said mint you should have knowen to expect a ****

[Nova-nation]

I would have left the car in an un sellable state! Some people!

[Angus Closier]

I would have left the car in an un sellable state! Some people!

yeh that would make you a tool? :tard: :tard:

Its a shame and thanks for the heads up, as said above next time ask a few people on here if they have any info or if they could take a look.

There are not many nova's about that someone on here hasn't owned or had dealings with.

:thumb:

[TeddyThom]

Loosing a oner in diesel, I think I would've gone rather Tiger Woods on the bloody car with the jack handle.

[MikeyC]

All I want is a nice xe I can swap my LET into...ive had so much bad luck finding a Nova. Gone through about ten now and not one good one :-(.....Might end up leaving the let in the corsa

[TeddyThom]

Post up a wanted thread in here, you might get lucky with someone wanting shot of theirs...

[Adam]

99% of cars advertised as "mint" never are, especially when it comes to vauxhalls..

[turbojolt]

Sounds like you need to buy a car and fix it up to your standards mate got to be cheaper then all that driving about

[MikeyC]

I know that Mint is a very strong claim and I said that to him a few times but he was having none of it. He insisted it was mint.

[turbojolt]

Get your membership on here mate and you can access regional forums that should help you out in the long run, I know if someone asked me to have a look at a car local to me I would and loads on here will aswell

[bazil]

My GSI is mint, it has lots of holes like polo mints lol

Pretty poor though, but not uncommon, a good few years ago I drove from Glasgow to Stockport to buy a nova shell, 60 mph with a trailer in a landrover 110, eventually got there, the shell was actually worse than my sr that I was going to reshell!

I was that hacked of that when I got home I just scrapped my SR the next day!

[Pistol Pete]

Post the link lol

[MikeyC]

http://pistonheads.com/sales/3830964.htm

The car is now sold apparantly....joke

[turbojolt]

Let's hope he dosnt put it back up for sale and receive loads of random text messages regarding the level of polishing done to the bell end lol

[mowgli]

the ad was enough to put me off.... cosco head???? caverlier brakes.... etc... also the best nova he'd ever seen..... right

[Benn]

99% of cars advertised as "mint" never are, especially when it comes to vauxhalls..

Two versions of mint...

Real mint, stunning, no rust/dents/damage/burns/chip.

Internet mint... Normally shi*e and knackered.



k&a air filter

Ah one of them, K&N sister air filter makers maybe? lol

[John]

Two versions of mint...

Real mint, stunning, no rust/dents/damage/burns/chip.

Internet mint... Normally shi*e and knackered.

Nail, hammer, head. :)

[88ESR]

I bought a Seicento Schumacher a few years ago..

Bought it off eBay: The photos and description showed the car to be exceptional..

I got the train down to Manchester (about £70)..

When I got to the seller's place:

Both doors mismatched colours
Scratches on roof, tailgate and around the driver's door lock
Rust around the driver's side wiper spindle
Various other cosmetic issues
Very heavy clutch pedal (common fault, but still...)

I wasn't pleased but didn't fancy training it back north, so we did a deal and I took the car home..

I just moved that car on recently and it although I enjoyed it, it just never felt 'right'..

Just another example of if it's described as superb, excellent or mint, then it most likely isn't...

I don't know how they have the nerve...:(

[MikeyC]

Two versions of mint...

Real mint, stunning, no rust/dents/damage/burns/chip.

Internet mint... Normally shi*e and knackered.





Ah one of them, K&N sister air filter makers maybe? lol

lol

[MikeyC]

I bought a Seicento Schumacher a few years ago..

Bought it off eBay: The photos and description showed the car to be exceptional..

I got the train down to Manchester (about £70)..

When I got to the seller's place:

Both doors mismatched colours
Scratches on roof, tailgate and around the driver's door lock
Rust around the driver's side wiper spindle
Various other cosmetic issues
Very heavy clutch pedal (common fault, but still...)

I wasn't pleased but didn't fancy training it back north, so we did a deal and I took the car home..

I just moved that car on recently and it although I enjoyed it, it just never felt 'right'..

Just another example of if it's described as superb, excellent or mint, then it most likely isn't...

I don't know how they have the nerve...:(

It was just the way on the phone he was so sure....I asked him about 5 times not to mess me around as im coming 300 miles....and every time he was so sure....and then when i pulled him on the bent floor pan he just said ''oh yeah that was like that when I got it......****

[Connor]

I feel your pain dude. I had the exactly the same thing, but it was for a mate, and with a old corrola gti. Pics looked good, rang him up, said was mint, never been welded, show room condition. Arrived after a 4 and a half hour drive there (up the boring m1) to find out it had a ding on near enough every panel, cracks in the lights, overspray all over the rear wheel and bumper so and was a horrendously repaired arch panel, other one was rotton. Sills were held together with underbody sealent holes everywhere underneath, badly rusty welded patches everywhere. He was was suprised that i was angry, swear i could of killed him on the spot. He was smug about the situation aswell, ****. Hope you find a decent shell soon enough, i know what its like dealing with messers!

[88ESR]

It was just the way on the phone he was so sure....I asked him about 5 times not to mess me around as im coming 300 miles....and every time he was so sure....and then when i pulled him on the bent floor pan he just said ''oh yeah that was like that when I got it......****

It's just plain wrong..

I rang and texted a load of times about the Sei and although the seller mentioned 'a mark or two', the car was described as one of the best around, hoho..

You live and learn..

I was in the motor trade for 15 years so it just shows you that we all drop our guard sooner or later...

[MikeyC]

I feel your pain dude. I had the exactly the same thing, but it was for a mate, and with a old corrola gti. Pics looked good, rang him up, said was mint, never been welded, show room condition. Arrived after a 4 and a half hour drive there (up the boring m1) to find out it had a ding on near enough every panel, cracks in the lights, overspray all over the rear wheel and bumper so and was a horrendously repaired arch panel, other one was rotton. Sills were held together with underbody sealent holes everywhere underneath, badly rusty welded patches everywhere. He was was suprised that i was angry, swear i could of killed him on the spot. He was smug about the situation aswell, ****. Hope you find a decent shell soon enough, i know what its like dealing with messers!
Thats exactly how he was....smug and like he didnt even understand what he had done....THICK ****I have a lovely Corsa B LET 260bhp but I really want a nova for it :-(

[mowgli]

he was probably expecting some young prat who would get all moist at the sight of the redtop, and throw the money at him......

t'missus once sold a complete shed of an escort mk3, as spares/repairs, and we sort of knew that no matter what, it was getting sold, as the kid & his mate turned up in a taxi & paid him then looked at the car...... lol lol

we actually sold what was a 20 quid car for what we advertised it for less the cost of the taxi, so that was £144!! i'd jacked the bent steering arm straight & dragged it up & down the road till it ran that very morning.. it was going dark as they left & we shut all the curtains & bolted the doors, and hid upstairs in the dark for the evening, but they never came back

[MikeyC]

he was probably expecting some young prat who would get all moist at the sight of the redtop, and throw the money at him......

t'missus once sold a complete shed of an escort mk3, as spares/repairs, and we sort of knew that no matter what, it was getting sold, as the kid & his mate turned up in a taxi & paid him then looked at the car...... lol lol

we actually sold what was a 20 quid car for what we advertised it for less the cost of the taxi, so that was £144!! i'd jacked the bent steering arm straight & dragged it up & down the road till it ran that very morning.. it was going dark as they left & we shut all the curtains & bolted the doors, and hid upstairs in the dark for the evening, but they never came back

I didnt even start the engine lol

[88ESR]

he was probably expecting some young prat who would get all moist at the sight of the redtop, and throw the money at him......

t'missus once sold a complete shed of an escort mk3, as spares/repairs, and we sort of knew that no matter what, it was getting sold, as the kid & his mate turned up in a taxi & paid him then looked at the car...... lol lol

we actually sold what was a 20 quid car for what we advertised it for less the cost of the taxi, so that was £144!! i'd jacked the bent steering arm straight & dragged it up & down the road till it ran that very morning.. it was going dark as they left & we shut all the curtains & bolted the doors, and hid upstairs in the dark for the evening, but they never came back

If you pay £100 for a car, you know it isn't going to be up to much..

It's when the price is climbing into the £000s that it becomes criminal...

[Mieran]

I would have not even bothered to go see that just by looking at the pics.

[Benn]

I would have not even bothered to go see that just by looking at the pics.

Why?

[Mieran]

Overpriced for its condition and spec.

[Benn]

Ah ok.

[Pistol Pete]

Doesn't look that bad in the pics. Bit pricey and the description is shocking!

[Bubba]

am i the only one who reconizes A16OVA?

[~~joycey~~]

I wouldn't of left without the fuel money.

Ive made people reimburse me for my time/fuel in the past because they have been lieing ****ers?

[Angus Closier]

Loosing a oner in diesel, I think I would've gone rather Tiger Woods on the bloody car with the jack handle.

Seriously? I can't belive some of these responses, can't understand why nova owners have a bad name.?

At the end of the day its bad luck, but seriously why would you belive some joker that his nova is "well mint"
When was the last time you have seen a nova or any classic car that is "mint" up for sale for less than a few thousand? This happens regardless of the car. However how can you even think about damaging another persons care because you where to nieve to belive it really was mint....

[raf24]

am i the only one who reconizes A16OVA?

I thought the reg looked familiar too?

[Jack]

Dan had B16OVA

[Andy]

I hate dealing with people,i dread buying cars off people.
I once went to view a cav sri xe to break years ago."top runner,excellent engine,cars shagged but great runner" £300
Got there,no keys,no v5,blackboxed,no start.
He towed his mate 3 laps of the estate tring to get it running.It was seized solid.
Called him all the cunnts under the sun and give him £60 for it (scrap value at the time).
Broke it the same night and weighed it in the very next day

[Mazz]

Might be worth a message to Shaun to see if his shell definitely

http://www.pngclub.com/forum/member.php?14004-Shaun_O-Donnell

[Edd]

What a muppet

That's never ever worth £2800 tho

[TeddyThom]

Seriously? I can't belive some of these responses, can't understand why nova owners have a bad name.?

At the end of the day its bad luck, but seriously why would you belive some joker that his nova is "well mint"
When was the last time you have seen a nova or any classic car that is "mint" up for sale for less than a few thousand? This happens regardless of the car. However how can you even think about damaging another persons care because you where to nieve to belive it really was mint....

Nothing to do with the fact I own a nova. I would've done it be it a Merc, BMW, Ford or whatever. Losing a tenner in fuel is not really a lot, an acceptable loss so to speak, but £100!!! Come on man, surely you can understand the logic, I'm surprised that the OP didn't floor the bloke... £100 is a big loss, no matter what way you look at it, and IMHO well worth giving someone a smack in the face for if they have fcuked you about, and looked smug whilest doing it...

It's not bad luck to lose £100 in fuel, it's criminal. Enough said.

[grooge]

nothing worse than travelling a distance to view a car thats not as described!

drove down from glasgow to gretna a couple of weeks ago to look at a transit van with a mate. owner had told my mate over the phone the van was brilliant original condition n you wouldnt find better etc got there and as soon as i saw i could tell the whole bottom half had been resprayed! closer inspection and all the rsut that had been sprayed over was laready starting to come back through, the central locking didnt work and all the ply lining inside was rotten!

why even pretend its in good condition when its blatantly not!?

[grooge]

t'missus once sold a complete shed of an escort mk3, as spares/repairs, and we sort of knew that no matter what, it was getting sold, as the kid & his mate turned up in a taxi & paid him then looked at the car...... lol lol



a wee bit different because none of the cars i've done it for have been spares or repairs but i've gone from glasgow to see cars in birmingham, london etc on the train/bus and showed up in a taxi from the station simply becuase it was cheaper than driving down to have a look.

for example i went down to preston last month to look at a nova and went on the train for 15 quid return, no way i could have driven down to look at it for that price and from memory the train took just over an hour travelling at friday rush hour, so took half the time aswell. luckily it was pretty much as described but i'd not have had a problem jumping back on the train home again.

but i see where your coming from, most people think i'm nuts for doing that, especially if i go down myslef and end up coming back with no car!

[MikeyC]

Seriously? I can't belive some of these responses, can't understand why nova owners have a bad name.?

At the end of the day its bad luck, but seriously why would you belive some joker that his nova is "well mint"
When was the last time you have seen a nova or any classic car that is "mint" up for sale for less than a few thousand? This happens regardless of the car. However how can you even think about damaging another persons care because you where to nieve to belive it really was mint....

You think Im naive when I go to look at a C20xe nova thats priced well over the odds and the guy is telling me over and over again its a very clean car....The £2800 price tag would lead you to believe its clean....Im sorry but I think Im far from Naive mate.

[Angus Closier]

Nothing to do with the fact I own a nova. I would've done it be it a Merc, BMW, Ford or whatever. Losing a tenner in fuel is not really a lot, an acceptable loss so to speak, but £100!!! Come on man, surely you can understand the logic, I'm surprised that the OP didn't floor the bloke... £100 is a big loss, no matter what way you look at it, and IMHO well worth giving someone a smack in the face for if they have fcuked you about, and looked smug whilest doing it...

It's not bad luck to lose £100 in fuel, it's criminal. Enough said.

Sorry? Are you nuts? £100 quid? ok it sucks I have pointed this out. Please please explain the "logic" In being stupid enough to believe some mug that his car is "mint" and then turn up and smash it up? And yes its bad luck too lose £100 in fuel, There was nothing "criminal" in what he did? Smashing his car up would be.

You would be doing very well to advertise your car and it be exactly as described. It might only be a tiny scratch that you cant see without a magnifying glass but its not the point.

As for hitting the bloke, do as you please but I can assure you That is also "Criminal" and lets be honest makes you as much of a tool as them for not explaining every little detail. The guy was happy for whoever to go visit the car and have a look. All my cars are sold as seen, I don't care where you come from as far as I am concerned that is YOUR problem. I will be honest and helpful but I be damned if I could find every last problem with a car.

I'm not sticking up for this bloke who clearly didn't tell the truth but I also hate the fact that as soon as something goes wrong out come the " I would have punched his face in/ Smashed up his car" band wagon.

The op did the right thing. Walked away. Seems some of you left your maturity at home.

[Angus Closier]

You think Im naive when I go to look at a C20xe nova thats priced well over the odds and the guy is telling me over and over again its a very clean car....The £2800 price tag would lead you to believe its clean....Im sorry but I think Im far from Naive mate.

You have missed the point mate, I wasn't having a go at you in any which way. I have been there done that with buying cars myself. I just don't bother leaving the house until I know more about the car.

And to be honest A £2800 price tag on a Nova really leads me to believe its another joker, If it was on here for sale at that price I might look twice.

Once again. I said it sucks but the responses from people on here (A few) has been seriously immature.

Next time ask and the PNG'rs might have something useful to say before you get to the car rather than the sub standard "smash his car up" response after.

Please don't take offence this was not aimed at you directly.

[Pistol Pete]

lol @ a £2800 price tag on a Nova meaning its another joker!! I have seen Novas for sale for waaay more than that and have sold at that price. And were "mint" too.

TBH, its luck of the draw. Sometimes you get a good one, sometimes you get a bad one. On this occasion you got the latter. Put it down to experience and move on. Not much comfort i know, but we all learn. Hell, i have been in similar situations before.

[Angus Closier]

lol @ a £2800 price tag on a Nova meaning its another joker!! I have seen Novas for sale for waaay more than that and have sold at that price. And were "mint" too.

TBH, its luck of the draw. Sometimes you get a good one, sometimes you get a bad one. On this occasion you got the latter. Put it down to experience and move on. Not much comfort i know, but we all learn. Hell, i have been in similar situations before.

And how many 3k Ebay and pistonheads novas are worth 3k?

[Pistol Pete]

So your suggesting that a Nova with a high price tag can't be advertised on the above sites?

[Angus Closier]

So your suggesting that a Nova with a high price tag can't be advertised on the above sites?

Don't have the time to get into a battle about Price's mate. And no thats not what I am getting at!

Just really have to take most of these ads with a pinch of salt, Prices have seemed to shoot up recently which don't normally reflect the cars condition.

This is not to say some minters are about for 2-3k but we have to get real with ebay and piston heads....

[EwanG]

Glad mine is a true minter no rust anywhere. I never even went to look at it in person. I agreed a price over the phone and said yeh just deliver it lol. Payed alot but I am well chuffed :d. Worth every penny (no mig welder required) :thumb:

[MikeyC]

You have missed the point mate, I wasn't having a go at you in any which way. I have been there done that with buying cars myself. I just don't bother leaving the house until I know more about the car.

And to be honest A £2800 price tag on a Nova really leads me to believe its another joker, If it was on here for sale at that price I might look twice.

Once again. I said it sucks but the responses from people on here (A few) has been seriously immature.

Next time ask and the PNG'rs might have something useful to say before you get to the car rather than the sub standard "smash his car up" response after.

Please don't take offence this was not aimed at you directly.

Oh I thought that was aimed at me....and thanks for your input.....I had a right go at him but that is as far as I would ever go....I wouldnt smash someones car up over £100 and a wasted day...especially a nova lol just wish he would have told me.....and if he didnt realise it was ****** then it wouldnt be so bad either....
And it was slightly over priced but thats what led me to believe it was half decent....and the way he was describing it on the phone....he knew what he was doing....

I dont get why people have to get in an argument on here over anything they can...its quite funny really lol

And me and my mate have been around Novas a fair while so its not down to experience we were just mislead.

[kent14sr]

At the end of the day, everyones opinion and expectations are and always will be different.

I expect "mint" to mean exactly that, so would have extremely high expectations when going to see a car described as that. However, I would also be very wary given that the last Novas rolled off the production line in 1993 so very few will meet that expectation.

I think what is always unforgivable is things that are deliberately hidden - such as obvious rot covered by underseal, accident damage plugged with fibreglass etc. If I were the OP of this thread I would too be extremely disappointed given the assurances of the seller as to the condition of the car.

Ebay is the method often used for buying cars, and I have bought cars without viewing them - although in this case I always go through with the sale as if I chose not to view before bidding then thats my risk not the sellers - usually I turn up, pay the cash and sort the paperwork then go. I get extremely annoyed if I sell a car via ebay and the winning bidder shows up expecting testdrives, inspections etc when they should have satisfied themselves with the condition before they bid.

[Pistol Pete]

Don't have the time to get into a battle about Price's mate. And no thats not what I am getting at!

Just really have to take most of these ads with a pinch of salt, Prices have seemed to shoot up recently which don't normally reflect the cars condition.

This is not to say some minters are about for 2-3k but we have to get real with ebay and piston heads....

Not trying to get into a battle. I think prices in general need to be taken into consideration. Regardless of where they are advertised.

[Angus Closier]

Oh I thought that was aimed at me....and thanks for your input.....I had a right go at him but that is as far as I would ever go....I wouldnt smash someones car up over £100 and a wasted day...especially a nova lol just wish he would have told me.....and if he didnt realise it was ****** then it wouldnt be so bad either....
And it was slightly over priced but thats what led me to believe it was half decent....and the way he was describing it on the phone....he knew what he was doing....

I dont get why people have to get in an argument on here over anything they can...its quite funny really lol

And me and my mate have been around Novas a fair while so its not down to experience we were just mislead.

As I have said before, when It comes to me selling a car (and Im sure you and lots of others) I will be as honest and helpful as can be (at the end of the day I want that persons money!!) but recently the value of classic cars or novas has become ridiculous people think as its now 20 odd years old its worth a fortune regardless of its condition.

Unfortunately peoples opinion of "mint" have become some what warped over the last few years, more so when it comes to ebay or pistonheads adds.

People think they can get away with selling sh*t cars for big money. But as you found out and did, most just walk away or argue on price.

As far as I am concerned these things happen, I went to view a range rover classic and was told it was minty minty manual etc etc everything i wanted but it was at a price. I like yourself traveled too far to go and see it (with a trailer thinking i was going to bring it home) only to find out it was Auto (after being told on the PHONE it was manual) and it had massive starting problems (when I got there it was warmed up ready sort of thing)

I lost out big time but I just walked away. I believe he still has it so as far as I am concerned he lost out!

Internet warriors really bug me.....

Anyway, please ask next time! I'm sure in one way or another one of us can help...!!

[Angus Closier]

Not trying to get into a battle. I think prices in general need to be taken into consideration. Regardless of where they are advertised.

Agreed to an extent. Unfortunately Classics and the users (not all) of ebay and pistons heads have a jaded vision of what these cars are really worth.

I could not give away a track car shell. OK it had a few issues like no log book etc but It was all legal and could have been applied for, There was only a tiny and I mean tiny bit of rust on the front valance, not even worth cutting out and welding. No one wanted it. Its now sat in a small square in my scrap metal pile.

People expect something for nothing. However in this case no one would give me nothing to pick it up.

lol

[g111mds]

not so good on your wasted trip to view, and i'm sure most of us have been there, or at a similar situation, at some stage or other. As always, and i appreciate that this doesn't ease the frustration, its always a case of 'buyer beware'. Especially if travelling a decent distance to view, ask for detailed pictures of all the key areas to be emailed to you, regardless of how the seller is describing the car. Most sellers who are comfortable in what they are selling will be more than happy to oblige. if not, don't bother and move on to the next.

[MikeyC]

not so good on your wasted trip to view, and i'm sure most of us have been there, or at a similar situation, at some stage or other. As always, and i appreciate that this doesn't ease the frustration, its always a case of 'buyer beware'. Especially if travelling a decent distance to view, ask for detailed pictures of all the key areas to be emailed to you, regardless of how the seller is describing the car. Most sellers who are comfortable in what they are selling will be more than happy to oblige. if not, don't bother and move on to the next.
The only reason I put this up was to notify other members :)

[g111mds]

The only reason I put this up was to notify other members :)

fully appreciate that Mikey. It was really just a general point, especially given some of the other posts in reply. :)

Cheers, Jamie