Bought a cheap car from a dealer, what are my rights?

SteveH ( snipped-for-privacy@italiancar.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Gotta be a Ka. R's too late for a 'scrote.

Or something not-quite-oriental. Probably a Direwoo.

When selling to the general public, you're either a trader or it's a private sale. If it's a trader, then it doesn't matter what kind of trader, then the car must be roadworthy, correctly described and be fit for purpose. It is not unreasonable to assume that a 'dealer' is a 'trader'.

Johannes ( snipped-for-privacy@stop-spam-sizefitter.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Go on...

Bear in mind, in your reply, that it was described in the OP's post as being advertised as a "trade-in", and that both Steve and the OP are members of the "general public", whatever that may be.

Nah, it's not. I passed a Scrote on a V plate coming home tonight.

Hmmm, they don't really rot in a big way, do they? - unless it's an Espero or Nexia. Which is possible on an R plate.

But 'part-exchange bargain on trade terms' is different form selling to the general public.

It's a Rover - the rust is around the top of the screen, extensively around and between the hinges for the hatchback and on the rear passenger offside sill.

I don't think it would be fair to name the dealer at this stage, before I've even spoken to them on the phone. I really just wanted to know my options.

I know I was really stupid to buy it without checking it out first, but I nievely thought I'd be fairly safe since it was from a dealer. How wrong am I? :(

SteveH ( snipped-for-privacy@italiancar.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

I hope the dealer gave it to the original owner.

And for which £500 would be top dorrah.

Tony ( snipped-for-privacy@cooldark.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

100?

That sounds as though it's been in a smack, to me.

Do they really rust that badly at that age?

Post the details here - preferably a link to the original advert, if possible. Let people here decide what to do based on that. There's some in here who know their stuff and may well be able to suggest a proper course of action to you, if you ignore the naive fools like Johannes.

800.

SteveH ( snipped-for-privacy@italiancar.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Are there any left?

Wrong.

My invoice clearly says 'no warranty implied or given - sold strictly on trade terms'.

That would appear to be pretty clearly relieving them of any future responsibility.

400; with ABS, remote c/locking, e/w, e/m, e/sr etc. The fact that one electric window escapes for it's runners wasn't mentioned, or that an electric mirror was totally trashed either. Come to think about it, all the rubber around the sunroof is perished (and doesn't appear to sit in line with the roof when it's closed either).

I really should take some photos to corroborate my description of this shed of a car. :/

Johannes ( snipped-for-privacy@stop-spam-sizefitter.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Right. So where's this bollocks about being an "official auto 'Trader' with commercial premises" come from?

The cheapest Rover 100 on a national search on Autotrader is £125. There are 10 under £500, including a £450 76k W-reg.

But that's _JUST_ the traders. There's another six in private sales.

Rover 100s, yes... the rest.

Hmm, not to that extent at that age as a rule.

-- JackH

Tony ( snipped-for-privacy@cooldark.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Again, seven of them (all 45-shape) advertised on AutoTrader under £500 by traders. Cheapest is a £295 P-reg 416Si with 75k. Newest is an 88k '99/S

416Si for £495.

Woo. Lots of things to go wrong. Do any of 'em work?

Yeh, you'll laugh at yourself in years to come.

OK, I kept the original photos and the advert text (minus contact details):

(Who wouldn't think that was a bargain?)

Tony

I bought a 1997 Rover 620 in good nick for £450 from a dealership because the MOT was due and he couldn't be arsed to MOT it. Only needed a back box.

Rear sill is a common rot point.