I checked out a car today – 2008 with 77,000 miles on the clock. This car was in a car sales lot. This car sales lot was owned by a personal friend of mine that I knew was 100% straight.

The car had oil leaking from three different places. It sounded like a tractor and the oil was as thick as tar. The four suspension units were semi-seized and most of the paint had worn off. There were electronic faults that would not clear including a faulty odometer. I estimated the true mileage to be in excess of 250,000 miles based on the wear and tear I could see. What is surprising about this is that all the history checked out to support the 77,000 miles. The real giveaway was that the history showed the last service at 75,000 miles and it’s impossible to turn oil to tar in 2,000 miles.

This car was bought at auction by the sales lot based on its history. The price paid for it was based on its history. The car was a UK import and the VRT paid on it was based on its history. Now the asking price is based on its history.

In short, it is a clapped out wreck with a good history with the asking price of a genuine car and somebody will buy it.

Even the most experienced car dealer has a tendency to believe a service history or history check if it’s done well, but it is always the buyer that takes the hit buying a clapped out wreck for the price of a good one. The dealer’s attitude is I did not clock it and I can prove it.