Got my Lotus Elan Yesterday!!

[dapinky]

As i have previously stated, the owner commits a criminal offence by selling a car in an unroadworthy condition. As such, the Police cannot just ignore it without at least making a few enquiries, and if the first person you speak to tells you it's a civil matter, ask to speak to their supervisor (politely) and point out that they have a duty to investigate a reported crime! (Quote me if you need to!)

They may have a specific office for dealing with this sort of thing (probably not just the local Plod), and usually attached to the Traffic (Road Policing) unit, or HQ.

Maybe a visit to you local nick will produce (at least) the right office to speak to, if not, then a call to Middlemoor HQ will get the answer you need. (Bear in mind that all phone calls to the HQ are recorded, so they won't just tell you that they can't do anything!!!!).

I still think that you will need a full vehicle condition report, either done by the Police or VOSA to pursue a criminal complaint.

A report by an Independant Lotus Specialist may help in any Civil Claim, but will not be suficient for a criminal matter (unless the mechanic also happens to be forensicaly qualified and authorised!).

Personally, I would go down the route of speaking with VOSA (details in your local phone book or internet for local office - their HQ is in Bristol (Berkely House) and details are on the internet.

[TrueBlue]

it was unroadworthy because there was no water in it, the prolem here being that we put water in it so i could get home but was it unroadworthy because the warning bulb was missing?

it seems the 'high collant temperature compared to other measurements' warning 14 must/might have been - clemo did u boil the kettle and use boiled water?? does it matter the type of water??

I took it to the local garage here and they said nothing wrong with it apart from dirty oil and water...they did a head gasket test etc and call came out clear...
the dirty oil and water suggests that it has not had a FULL service as stated on the receipt...

anyway i'm calling the police today because i think it has a dodgy service book...

according to the garage it would pass an MOT so Vosa will be no help..

[TrueBlue]

ive just called the police, explained everything, and they said it is a case for trading standards and that it is a civil matter
the police woman 'did' speak to her supervisor to check

[Monty]

I new the police would having nothing to do with it

Having no coolant doesn`t make it unroadworthy and this is why i said to have a lotus dealer make a report on the vechile (they may do it for free) and then ring the garage direct.

U need to do i HPI (RAC do on online version IIRC £25) and see if anything comes back, as traders need to do this to make sure there`s no finance on the vechile and to see if it`s ever been written off and have to declare this to the buyer. If it`s clear then there`s not much u can do but maybe you have a fight with the service history as it sounded like it was of a different car.

[TrueBlue]

yes monty
i did the ip check before i bought it and all clear...
i will take it to the lotus garage but i had to get it checked by a local garage first to make sure it is roadworthy to then go further along the motorway to the lotus garage...

the local garage said they couldnt find anything wrong with it apart from dirty oil and water
then theres the fact it has no warning bulb, then the wing panel has been accident damaged and badly repaired and then theres the service book which is wrong
i could probably sell it for 3-4k without the service book which is a releif if i dont get a refund

[whippit]

it sounds like this poor man is up s**t creek with out a paddle, he has been (ripped off), reading this post has made my blood boil,

some one needs to start shouting, its all good and well waiting for the police or trading standards to send a letter or pay a visit , nothing seems to moving fast enough,

this dealer knew what he was doing, selling a piece of junk,
some one needs to have a quiet word with this dealer,
ask for the money back NOW,

sorry for ranting on this post, but this gentalman needs a hand,

[TrueBlue]

it sounds like this poor man is up s**t creek with out a paddle, he has been (ripped off), reading this post has made my blood boil,

some one needs to start shouting, its all good and well waiting for the police or trading standards to send a letter or pay a visit , nothing seems to moving fast enough,

this dealer knew what he was doing, selling a piece of junk,
some one needs to have a quiet word with this dealer,
ask for the money back NOW,

sorry for ranting on this post, but this gentalman needs a hand,

thanks for the support whippit
everyone here has been very helpfull
this dealer wouldnt have sold it if he didnt think he could get away with it.
The letter i sent has been signed for by 'could be anyone'
anything i do will just be ignored by them...

when i rang the dealer they offered to pay for half the body repair which is half of £1500 thats £750 which i should get re-funded

i'm just going to sell the car cheap and cut my losses
i cant be doing with the stress of it...

[whippit]

its a shame i'm not closer to you as i would take great pleasure in taking your elan back to the dealer, and sticking it sharp end first somewhere, so he needs some body work repair,

dont let it drop 5k is a lot of money !!!!!!!!!!

[TrueBlue]

OK
i summoned up the courage to ring the dealer again and he said send the car back and he will re-imburse me

he said he had received my letter
he sounded a bit shakey?

now the question is ?

i am glad i have clemo as a witness about the car's condition

now i just need to find a courier/delivery lorry??

and i'll have to waste a day going up there with it 250 miles away

thanks to the guy clemo just said someone can meet me up there cheers for that!!!

[Enright]

HOO-bloody-RAY! At last - a result.

Why not tell the dealer to come down with his trailer and fetch it back, rather than YOU having to do all the running around?

Or do you fancy the prospect of a 500 mile round trip in a car that could go bang at any point?

I think you should rename yourself to "The Proclaimer".

"Well I would walk five-hundred miles, and I would walk five-hundred more..."!!!

[theelanman]

hoo-rah!!!!

there are a few guys who live near me who do deliveries...cars that is!!
I know they wont do yours as youre miles away but surely youve got similar types of blokes 'darn sarf'.......probably charge you about £150 for the day....could be £200.....but hey your getting your £5k back

tell the dealer to give you £4900 and he can sort the transport......

cheers
G

[Enright]

I wonder how much RAC/AA cover would be (maybe you have it already), and a one way train ticket?

I'd be tempted to attempt the drive.
Then if it DID go pop, you'd already have your insurance.
You could just get recovered to their address, get your money back and leave them to sort it out.
The car would by definition have already proved that it wasn't roadworthy, and therefore the dealer wouldn't have a leg to stand on.
Furthermore, it may just get the dog off the road rather than being foisted upon the next unsuspecting punter.

[TrueBlue]

yes what a damn pain

the dealer says he wants to insure that the vehicle is in the same condition as it was when he sold it

enright u are right ofcourse but i think this would just drag things on and it would have to end in court...

i havent driven the car apart from to the garage and to clemo's
it has a cover on it parked up

its probably easier if i deliver it as it was without driving it
so i have peace of mind and know it is as is..

Proclaimers...i really hate that song!!!
proclaimers drive citreons and jelly moulds LOL!!

[TrueBlue]

thanks to people here who have helped and supported me through this and special thanks to those who may have helped in ways i dont know about

[clemo]

a few hundred quid and a days outing is a small price to pay to get shot of it...
more details to follow but this is an open forum so best keep ourselves protected at the moment ...

i have a friend who (awaiting call) delivers cars uk wide and likes a good arguement. i think this is ideal for him to take up.

plus we have an unnamed( well i know) lec'er who is willing to help out BUT not take control. as this is richards sale...

i just hope that the seller honours his refund when the car turns up.. this is why richard needs to turn up in person , with log book and keys to be exchange for a bankers draft cheque or cash only...

once bitten and all that.

clemo

[paulwatkins]

.....the dealer says he wants to insure that the vehicle is in the same condition as it was when he sold it

Well dont forget to drop the water out, put dirty old engine oil back in, and remove the engine check light bulb! As well as the other things you found wrong and rectified!

Good luck with the return, I hope it goes smoothly for you.

Regards, Paul

[stevo]

dealer.... im sure it had wheels and an engine when i sold it.




true blue.....

[Monty]

Well done Trueblue, get it back ASAP before something else goes wrong

[TrueBlue]

fkn nightmare
the cheapest quote i can get to have a flatbed/recovery truck to take it back is £400!!!
cos its 250 miles awa

before anyone speaks I AM NOT DRIVING IT! back because it should be given back in the same condition and i dont feel safe without it having a warning bulb

so now i have to ring the dealer back-up and try get him to collect it

eergh!!
i am supposed to be retired for stress reasons!
already the stress has caused me globus hystericus and muscle spasms in my neck (cantr move my head without pain) oh well it will all be over soon hopefully

[Monty]

I wouldn`t worry about the warning bulb, if there`s a problem then the car will go in to linp home mode which will restrict u to 4000 revs but that still get u there, i could do 90 at 4000 revs

If u`r in the RAC or similar then at least u`r covered if u do brake down and they should take u to u`r destination

But obviously if they will pick it up all the better, but you don`t want to be handing over the car to a 3rd party without getting u`r money!

If it was me i would of been there yesterday lol