by "1.6 liter beater" (1point6literbeater)
Published 02/25/2017 at 15:27

Tags: Private sale issues
STARS: 0

Hey fellow oppos, Need some advice. My 2003 Saab 9-5 blew its turbo seals and about a quart of oil a mile was going out my tailpipe.

So I needed a new car asap for me and wife and baby. Im im MA so on my local craiglist I saw a 1999 nissan for sale. After talking with the seller it was disclosed it needed a new windshield. I have him admitting this in emails. We negotiated a price and i saw and bought the car in the dark last night. As soon as I pulled on highway the hood flew up as slammed into the windshild completely blinding and covering me with dust/shards.

I somehow got it off road safely and saw the hood latch was barely attached to anything. Got car home after tying down hood. I contacted seller and explained what happened. He apologized and said he would buy me a new hood after I showed him pictures.

Today I told him I was willing to come to fair agreement with him. We knew it already needed a windsheild, now i cant see out of it at all but whatever. I told him I would be ok with bending down the hood and to just cut in and bolt a new latch or i’ll return the car and take 200 less so he can still maybe make money. I also told him my biggest issue is i need a vehicle on Monday for an important custody court date 50 miles away, hoping he would loan car until he fixed latch. Last night at his house he had 5 other cars for sale. The car i bought had a clean title from a woman a state away. When i sent him more pictures today he apparentlt forgot what he said last night.

He asked me why car has scratches and if i was in accident. I said no and send him more pics to show no accident and reminded him of last nights convo. He then says thats funny i drove it fine from next state over. I replied “I am trying to be very fair. You obviously knew of the issue or maybe you got tricked but you can see this was nothing I have done and i am trying to work with you and not follow MA law that says if car wont pass inspection i get full refund and as we talked about by email you already told me winshield was cracked which wont pass”.

He has not answered me back. I have all texts and emails discussing sale but got no bill of sale but had 2 people with me when I bought it. He has multiple other cars on CL for sale. He gave me his buisness card. He does construction and this on the side.

The windshield was bad before but I dont feeo safe at all now. I can push thru glass with my finger. I am trying to be calm and resonable.

What do you guys suggest?

Replies (11)

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
02/25/2017 at 15:35, STARS: 3

DISCLAIMER: I am completely unaware off Mass. laws , but if this were in my state, you would be SOL and JWF. Cut your losses and get a different car. I would definitely not trust that thing to get me anywhere based on the seller, the photos, and this story.

"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
02/25/2017 at 15:43, STARS: 0

The lawyer part of my brain thinks that MA consumer law is pretty robust. See if there’s a consumer hotline. The information might also be on the state website.

"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
02/25/2017 at 15:46, STARS: 0

At least he knows what ruined the windshield ...

"My X-type is too a real Jaguar" (TomSlick)
02/25/2017 at 15:51, STARS: 3

Repair the car yourself, or cut your losses and buy from someone else, used cars have no warranty in most cases if the BOS says AS-IS you have no recourse, they guy was a curb stoner, the worst type of seller, report him to the state dealership licensing board, and move on.

"1.6 liter beater" (1point6literbeater)
02/25/2017 at 15:55, STARS: 0

Ya, MA state laws says even private party sales must past inspection or seller either has to fix the issue, refund the money, or refund if repairs are over 10% of price. Windshield would be about 200 which is 20% of price. Just very frustrating when last night he offers to buy new hood then forgets today. I didnt wanna go down this road but i will make sure I let everyone on CL and post what happened for any online reviews of his company. I jusy wanted to come to a fair agreement. Issues are we didnt do a bill of sale and he title swaps, but I have enough proof in emails and texts. And no ones wins that way. Im stuck fixing shit he knew about and he has trouble ever selling a car again or doint buisness.

"Rico" (ricorich)
02/25/2017 at 15:55, STARS: 3

Honestly I would just take this as an overall life lesson and move on.

Always, always test drive the vehicle before handing over the money or having the title handed over to you. You should never impulse-buy a car, at night, in the dark from a less than reputable source. If you need a car for a court date maybe renting one would be the better choice.

There doesn’t seem to be that much you can do and if you want to involve a lawyer it will cost you time and likely money, more than what it would take to get rid of the car and move on.

"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
02/25/2017 at 15:58, STARS: 0

I’d do some more research to find out what your remedies are.

"1.6 liter beater" (1point6literbeater)
02/25/2017 at 16:01, STARS: 0

And i didnt catch it at first but obviously this happened before, albeit not as bad, but cracks in windshield before my incident line up perfectly with winsheild squirters on hood. Plus the junkyard markings on obviously new hood.

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
02/25/2017 at 16:29, STARS: 0

100% this.

"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
02/25/2017 at 17:03, STARS: 0

Let us know what happens.

"1.6 liter beater" (1point6literbeater)
02/25/2017 at 17:13, STARS: 0

Yes i will.

Latest is him saying he drove it fine and had no idea. I sent him the screen shot from our conversation last night and reminded him about MA laws. Now he remembers saying he would buy me a new hood.

I again said “i can deal with the hood, I want it to close. I dont wanna go the Law route and telling everyone about this experience. I am not even mad that I could have died. Ill even take 300 less so you can make money but I doubt you wanna do that. Lets come to a reasonable agreement.”

He said he would think and get back to me. I have a feeling he was just trying to shut me up but we will see. Thank goodness I am at least smart enough not to ever take my infant with me until I know I can trust a car.