Private buying advice

[cjchapman1]

Private buying advice
I am looking at purchasing a car privately. Other than doing the usual hpi / cer vertical checks is there anything I should look out for? Ideally I would like to get the car inspected, is the likes of RAC the best one or should I try a local garage?

Any general advice also appreciated.

( Car I am looking at is based in Southampton area)

[Billymcmred]

I’d certainly be checking service history ( you can with Vin no. on Jaguar web site or ask for car check on here just need registration no. Some later services are quite big so are expensive.
Do a bit of research again on here and see if any “common” issues / problems have be dealt with, at least you will understand what might need doing (bargaining point) or what has been done in my mind good service history = good owner
The asking price should also be less than dealer price, auto trader is good for price guide, the dealer price has profit and other factors built into it which you don’t get on private sale consumer rights act ( CRA ) does not cover private sales
I would expect at least 10-15% cheaper private sale price compared to dealer sale price

[cjchapman1]

Thannks Billy! such an expensive item and like you say buying privately just doesnt give you the same protection

[Kev]

Go with your gut feeling, turn up early to view so no chance of the car being warmed up prior, check VIN matches on car and V5, get the owner to start the car whilst you listen for any noises and check for smoke out of the exhaust, ensure all the gadgets work as they should, check air-con blows hot and cold and seats heat/cool, check discs for scoring/pitting, check the brand of tyre and dates on them, look for signs of water ingress in the boot well (no pun intended), ensure tyre pump and sealant are present along with locking wheel nut key

Find some bumpy roads (not too difficult these days) and listen for any squeaks/rattles, check the car doesn’t pull to the side and also under braking, go through all the gears, check all the lights work. The owner may not let you drive but don’t let that put you off as it gives you a good opportunity to listen for any strange noises

@SCM is in that part of the world so may be able to assist?

[gf15]

Check that the oil in the rear differential has been changed according to schedule, as a known weak point. Try and bring someone who has a F type or get a specialist to inspect the car. Use a checklist like :

https://tvrtuscan.info/public/resources ... cklist.pdf

The check list applies to most cars. Things like tyres are important, as two rears will set you back over £500. Check both door windows for scratches. Check exhaust valves work. Pressing the loud exhaust button should make a noticeable difference. Do not assume they can be freed up, if they are stuck.
Important to get a good one, as they are wonderful.

[cj10jeeper]

To be brutally honest unless you are 100% sure of the car and it's history (from a friend, family, etc.) or can get it inspected by a specialist (not RAC types) you shouldn't be buying a specialist high value car privately. The risk is way too high.
As pointed out you have very little protection.

Most folks selling also overestimate the sale value and won't entertain the realistic value.

Just my view having purchased dozens of cars for the family and a lifetime of knowledge of what to look for and I'd still not buy more than a £10k car privately.

[Kev]

Just my view having purchased dozens of cars for the family and a lifetime of knowledge of what to look for and I'd still not buy more than a £10k car privately

I concur

[MajorTom]

I have to say I agree with cj10jeeper. Without really knowing the car's history or getting it inspected by a specialist I'd only buy a modern/newish used jag from a serious, preferably JLR, dealer with a warranty, even if that increases the price. Even then you can get a car which has been previously mistreated and gets all kinds of issues down the line but you at least have the warranty period to discover and solve things free of charge.

The F-Type is my third newish high end Jag and I've had use of the warranty for all of them, from smaller things like body panel adjustment work and o2 sensors, to more expensive things like a new diff to really expensive things like a completely new engine.

If you really want to go private, read up on the common issues and what it would cost to get them fixed if they haven't already been sorted. Things like the coolant system parts, injectors, o2 sensors and exhaust valves depending on model year. A full service history and having been garaged would be big pluses.

[cjchapman1]

thanks for the advice all.

if i get it checked at Jaguar direct or a specialist i think i should be okay however both have reasonably long wait times and the logistics required to do so is a bit of a painpoint as it requires alot from both me and the seller. the car is in the 3y warranty until august so theoretically i have jag to sort out any warranty claims.

the more i look into it, the more i wonder is it worth the hassle. i guess it has to be at the right price and the right car.

[MajorTom]

the more i look into it, the more i wonder is it worth the hassle. i guess it has to be at the right price and the right car.

That's a good question and a sound approach. Depends on how much hassle you're prepared to handle. In all honesty there's actually not that much that can go wrong with these cars, and truly catastrophic issues are very rare and arguably avoidable with some common sense. So if you're willing to gamble you can just prepare for the worst practically and financially. With cars in this league I personally prefer to pay a bit more for a solid car and peace of mind.