MINI2

Pamelab21 · Mar 5th, 2007, 09:29 AM

Hoping I can stop someone making a mistake!
Hoping I am also allowed to name and shame

Churches Performance Cars in Washington, West Sussex
Pepper white Mini Cooper
reserved this car, paid deposit and travelled over 400 miles from Scotland to collect. Once we seen the car it was apparent there was issues.
Although it is high spec and nice looking car up close you can see that the passenger door does not line up, gap at window and tubber seal, there is overspray apparent on the sills on the passenger door, paintwork on door slightly rippled. The pillars at the front windscreen are badly cracked (he claimed we could get this fixed under warranty I don't think the BMW garage would be that thick!). The car had only covered 4000 miles in just inder two years, evidence of moss on windows and inside the car, poss sat somewhere awaiting repairs?
Tried to call the prev owner on the V but their no was x directory. Dealer claims he bought the car as a trade in from a local Subaru garage.
I can now see from his website that the car is now reserved again. I hope someone reads this.

I have now bought a Black Cooper S from a reputable local dealer and should collect this tomorrow.

matt1985 · Mar 5th, 2007, 09:33 AM

Hope you managed to get your deposit back. Based on the fact that the car was mis-represented. Or at least the deposit wasnt too hefty.

But if you didnt get it back surely trading standards will have something to say!

louisthethird · Mar 5th, 2007, 09:45 AM

I work only 2 miles from this place. I'm going to have a look tomorrow at lunchtime!

Always buy 'cherished' - life is too darn short!!!

Pamelab21 · Mar 5th, 2007, 10:05 AM

we thought we were in for an arguement about getting our £200.00 deposit back but I did pay it on Mastercard to ensure I had some fall back, he paid me back the deposit by cheque hence why I had to let it clear before I could say too much. He really couldn't argue too much as we pointed out all these faults that he did not disclose over the phone so he could not say much really, just that he did not notice them. Yeah right

Please if going to see that car do not mention anything about me as I am a bit scared that he has my credit card details

jonnywhite · Mar 5th, 2007, 10:06 AM

Did you make a note of the REG?

londonmark · Mar 5th, 2007, 10:29 AM

Why on earth would you pay a deposit on a used car that you hadn't seen, that seems crazy.

You know, there's a 100 & 1 things that could be wrong, if not more!!! I think you're lucky that the dealer was decent enough to return your deposit.

Scrogg · Mar 5th, 2007, 10:32 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by londonmark (original)

Why on earth would you pay a deposit on a used car that you hadn't seen, that seems crazy.

Simple really, to stop them selling it to anybody else. It happens all the time, and is common practice to have it refunded once it has been viewed if you're not happy with it.

118 · Mar 5th, 2007, 10:34 AM

glad you got your deposit back - that's just up the road from me

Pamelab21 · Mar 5th, 2007, 10:38 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

Simple really, to stop them selling it to anybody else. It happens all the time, and is common practice to have it refunded once it has been viewed if you're not happy with it.

Exactly. It was paid so that he held the car subject to us seeing it and being happy with it. It was made clear that we would get a refund should we be unhappy with it for any reason. He did assure us that we would not be unhappy with the car! Yeah right!

Pamelab21 · Mar 5th, 2007, 10:40 AM

they alos have a website, although as I am new to the forum it will not allow me to post the link,
try churches performance cars . co . uk
without the spaces!

londonmark · Mar 5th, 2007, 10:44 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

Simple really, to stop them selling it to anybody else. It happens all the time, and is common practice to have it refunded once it has been viewed if you're not happy with it.

Paying a deposit to reserve a used car that you have seen, tried and tested is common practise, yes I agree, but unseen, no I don't agree

Scrogg · Mar 5th, 2007, 10:47 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by londonmark (original)

Paying a deposit to reserve a used car that you have seen, tried and tested is common practise, yes I agree, but unseen, no I don't agree

What do I know, I've only been selling the things for 10 years, but obviously I've been doing it all wrong.

Perhaps if every time somebody called me and said they were interested in viewing a car I should have just taken it off sale for them and hoped they actually arrived?

Hartge210 · Mar 5th, 2007, 10:47 AM

Glasgow to Sussex is a long way to travel to see a car, having back up was a good idea imo

Pamelab21 · Mar 5th, 2007, 11:08 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by londonmark (original)

Paying a deposit to reserve a used car that you have seen, tried and tested is common practise, yes I agree, but unseen, no I don't agree

I had seen plenty of photos of the car, none that showed the faults we spotted in the flesh though.
If the car is popular (as this car would be with all its extras) then yes I did want to pay a deposit to hold it. It was a full week before we could make the jouney from Glasgow. At the end of the day I have the deposit back now. I only posted this to hopefully stop anyone else doing the same as we did.

*Vikki* · Mar 5th, 2007, 11:35 AM

thank god you didnt buy it, i see loads of second hand minis wrongly advertised in papers from normal non bmw garages mini ones with chilli packs etc lol there is a 53 plate MINT condition red/black MINI Cooper in my local Vicarys battle garage only done 5000 miles and under 10k with chilli pack etc

louisthethird · Mar 5th, 2007, 11:46 AM

His name wasn't Ben Tospell was it? He's a right crook!

Pamelab21 · Mar 5th, 2007, 12:09 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by louisthethird (original)

His name wasn't Ben Tospell was it? He's a right crook!

nope, it was Glenn, he appeared to own the place.
He had the cheek to email us a few days afterwards saying that he would 'agree to disagree that we had made the right decision ' in not buying the car, he really though we should have bought it regardless of its faults.
He is really looking for someone who has no clue what to look for

its scary really the dealers who are out there and the cars they are willing to sell.

Scrogg · Mar 5th, 2007, 12:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Pamelab21 (original)

they alos have a website, although as I am new to the forum it will not allow me to post the link

It should do, but here it is anyway if anyone's interested.

russyellocoops · Mar 5th, 2007, 12:23 PM

well the dilema of buying a used car!

As someone else said Cherished website search!

shouldn't be a problem when you've got that budget, but there's always a case!

was helping a friend out after xmas to find themselves a car to run about in on a limited budget of £2500.

Well to put it politley we did we look at some crap!

And everyone - yes it's immaculate on the phone!

Rust buckets, smokers the lot!

Just tell the f,,,,,,, truth!

ben_jamin_Uk · Mar 5th, 2007, 01:01 PM

Hey Pamelab,

I think you did the sensible thing putting down a deposit, imagine if it had turned out to be perfect and it was now your pride and joy? If you hadnt put down the 200 squids, it would have been snapped up while you drove down to sussex!

It's such a shame that dealers take the mickey so much. I hope no one falls for it this time, it sounds like the car could actually be dangerous. And easy to be fooled by these guys; swanky website, reasonably expensive cars etc. If you didnt know what to look for you could quite happily pay your hard earned cash and walk away with a crash waiting to happen (second for the car by the sounds of it

)

P.S. Have you noticed that the mileage is now 12,000 and not 4,000 like you said? Or did you mean that is what it had done just over the last 2 years and not in total?

Mar 5th, 2007, 09:29 AM	#1
Pamelab21 MINI2 Newbie My Classifieds Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Glasgow Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 11 Offline	Anyone buying a Mini - please avoid this one Hoping I can stop someone making a mistake! Hoping I am also allowed to name and shame Churches Performance Cars in Washington, West Sussex Pepper white Mini Cooper reserved this car, paid deposit and travelled over 400 miles from Scotland to collect. Once we seen the car it was apparent there was issues. Although it is high spec and nice looking car up close you can see that the passenger door does not line up, gap at window and tubber seal, there is overspray apparent on the sills on the passenger door, paintwork on door slightly rippled. The pillars at the front windscreen are badly cracked (he claimed we could get this fixed under warranty I don't think the BMW garage would be that thick!). The car had only covered 4000 miles in just inder two years, evidence of moss on windows and inside the car, poss sat somewhere awaiting repairs? Tried to call the prev owner on the V but their no was x directory. Dealer claims he bought the car as a trade in from a local Subaru garage. I can now see from his website that the car is now reserved again. I hope someone reads this. I have now bought a Black Cooper S from a reputable local dealer and should collect this tomorrow.

Mar 5th, 2007, 10:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
118 Twixys Rubber Ducky Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Sussex Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 20,598 Offline	glad you got your deposit back - that's just up the road from me * The Italian Job 2008...... Team 50 - click below to visit our website! * clicky here to visit the UJ Owners Club thread

Mar 5th, 2007, 10:47 AM	#13 (permalink)
Hartge210 Zippy - GB210 Join Date: Jul 2005 Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 778 Offline	Glasgow to Sussex is a long way to travel to see a car, having back up was a good idea imo Last edited by Hartge210 : Mar 5th, 2007 at 10:48 AM. Reason: missed a word out !

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Mar 5th, 2007, 09:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
matt1985 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 50 Offline	Hope you managed to get your deposit back. Based on the fact that the car was mis-represented. Or at least the deposit wasnt too hefty. But if you didnt get it back surely trading standards will have something to say!

Mar 5th, 2007, 09:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
louisthethird MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2006 Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 176 Offline	I work only 2 miles from this place. I'm going to have a look tomorrow at lunchtime! Always buy 'cherished' - life is too darn short!!!

Mar 5th, 2007, 10:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
Pamelab21 MINI2 Newbie My Classifieds Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Glasgow Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 11 Offline	we thought we were in for an arguement about getting our £200.00 deposit back but I did pay it on Mastercard to ensure I had some fall back, he paid me back the deposit by cheque hence why I had to let it clear before I could say too much. He really couldn't argue too much as we pointed out all these faults that he did not disclose over the phone so he could not say much really, just that he did not notice them. Yeah right Please if going to see that car do not mention anything about me as I am a bit scared that he has my credit card details

Mar 5th, 2007, 10:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
jonnywhite Surrender the Booty! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Manchester Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 115 Offline	Did you make a note of the REG?

Mar 5th, 2007, 10:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
londonmark MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2007 Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 26 Offline	Why on earth would you pay a deposit on a used car that you hadn't seen, that seems crazy. You know, there's a 100 & 1 things that could be wrong, if not more!!! I think you're lucky that the dealer was decent enough to return your deposit.

Mar 5th, 2007, 10:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
Scrogg Extra 3 Inches Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gloucester Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 16,109 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by londonmark (original) Why on earth would you pay a deposit on a used car that you hadn't seen, that seems crazy. Simple really, to stop them selling it to anybody else. It happens all the time, and is common practice to have it refunded once it has been viewed if you're not happy with it.

Mar 5th, 2007, 10:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
Pamelab21 MINI2 Newbie My Classifieds Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Glasgow Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 11 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original) Simple really, to stop them selling it to anybody else. It happens all the time, and is common practice to have it refunded once it has been viewed if you're not happy with it. Exactly. It was paid so that he held the car subject to us seeing it and being happy with it. It was made clear that we would get a refund should we be unhappy with it for any reason. He did assure us that we would not be unhappy with the car! Yeah right!

Mar 5th, 2007, 10:40 AM	#10 (permalink)
Pamelab21 MINI2 Newbie My Classifieds Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Glasgow Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 11 Offline	they alos have a website, although as I am new to the forum it will not allow me to post the link, try churches performance cars . co . uk without the spaces!

Mar 5th, 2007, 10:44 AM	#11 (permalink)
londonmark MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2007 Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 26 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original) Simple really, to stop them selling it to anybody else. It happens all the time, and is common practice to have it refunded once it has been viewed if you're not happy with it. Paying a deposit to reserve a used car that you have seen, tried and tested is common practise, yes I agree, but unseen, no I don't agree

Mar 5th, 2007, 10:47 AM	#12 (permalink)
Scrogg Extra 3 Inches Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gloucester Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 16,109 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by londonmark (original) Paying a deposit to reserve a used car that you have seen, tried and tested is common practise, yes I agree, but unseen, no I don't agree What do I know, I've only been selling the things for 10 years, but obviously I've been doing it all wrong. Perhaps if every time somebody called me and said they were interested in viewing a car I should have just taken it off sale for them and hoped they actually arrived?

Mar 5th, 2007, 11:08 AM	#14 (permalink)
Pamelab21 MINI2 Newbie My Classifieds Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Glasgow Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 11 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by londonmark (original) Paying a deposit to reserve a used car that you have seen, tried and tested is common practise, yes I agree, but unseen, no I don't agree I had seen plenty of photos of the car, none that showed the faults we spotted in the flesh though. If the car is popular (as this car would be with all its extras) then yes I did want to pay a deposit to hold it. It was a full week before we could make the jouney from Glasgow. At the end of the day I have the deposit back now. I only posted this to hopefully stop anyone else doing the same as we did.

Mar 5th, 2007, 11:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
Vikki Winner MM best MINI ONE! My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: St Leonards-on-Sea Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 2,307 Offline	thank god you didnt buy it, i see loads of second hand minis wrongly advertised in papers from normal non bmw garages mini ones with chilli packs etc lol there is a 53 plate MINT condition red/black MINI Cooper in my local Vicarys battle garage only done 5000 miles and under 10k with chilli pack etc

Mar 5th, 2007, 11:46 AM	#16 (permalink)
louisthethird MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2006 Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 176 Offline	His name wasn't Ben Tospell was it? He's a right crook!

Mar 5th, 2007, 12:09 PM	#17 (permalink)
Pamelab21 MINI2 Newbie My Classifieds Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Glasgow Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 11 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by louisthethird (original) His name wasn't Ben Tospell was it? He's a right crook! nope, it was Glenn, he appeared to own the place. He had the cheek to email us a few days afterwards saying that he would 'agree to disagree that we had made the right decision ' in not buying the car, he really though we should have bought it regardless of its faults. He is really looking for someone who has no clue what to look for its scary really the dealers who are out there and the cars they are willing to sell.

Mar 5th, 2007, 12:14 PM	#18 (permalink)
Scrogg Extra 3 Inches Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gloucester Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 16,109 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Pamelab21 (original) they alos have a website, although as I am new to the forum it will not allow me to post the link It should do, but here it is anyway if anyone's interested.

Mar 5th, 2007, 12:23 PM	#19 (permalink)
russyellocoops having fun or hungover... Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Preston Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 1,283 Offline	well the dilema of buying a used car! As someone else said Cherished website search! shouldn't be a problem when you've got that budget, but there's always a case! was helping a friend out after xmas to find themselves a car to run about in on a limited budget of £2500. Well to put it politley we did we look at some crap! And everyone - yes it's immaculate on the phone! Rust buckets, smokers the lot! Just tell the f,,,,,,, truth!

Mar 5th, 2007, 01:01 PM	#20 (permalink)
ben_jamin_Uk MINI2 Newbie My Classifieds Join Date: Feb 2007 Local Time: 02:31 AM Posts: 7 Offline	Hey Pamelab, I think you did the sensible thing putting down a deposit, imagine if it had turned out to be perfect and it was now your pride and joy? If you hadnt put down the 200 squids, it would have been snapped up while you drove down to sussex! It's such a shame that dealers take the mickey so much. I hope no one falls for it this time, it sounds like the car could actually be dangerous. And easy to be fooled by these guys; swanky website, reasonably expensive cars etc. If you didnt know what to look for you could quite happily pay your hard earned cash and walk away with a crash waiting to happen (second for the car by the sounds of it ) P.S. Have you noticed that the mileage is now 12,000 and not 4,000 like you said? Or did you mean that is what it had done just over the last 2 years and not in total?

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