Ask an expert
Hello, I have bought a Mitsubishi RVR from a private person and he told the only thing which is not working is the radio. I could not find any problems during the test drive. On the first day of driving I realized that sometimes it is giving a cracking sound when I put the manual transmission into the first gear and that the heating is not working. I brought it to a service to get it fixed but the price would be about the half of the price for the car. Theere is a problem with the gearbox and some serious issue with the heating. I payed 1500 for the car and to fix both problems could be more than 700. The mechanicer told it does not worth to fix it.
Is there anything which I can legally do?
Unfortunately, there's not much protection when buying privately. If you had purchased from a dealer, you would be covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act - although a $1,500 car is unlikely to be sold by a dealer. Also, a pre-purchase inspection would have been advisable when buying privately, as it is really up to you to satisfy yourself that the vehicle is in sound condition before you commit to purchasing.
Having said that, the seller should not have made representations to you that the only thing wrong was the radio. Therefore, there is a chance that you may be able to seek some redress by taking the seller to the Disputes Tribunal. However, it's possible that the Disputes Arbitrator may find in favour of the seller, given the low value of the vehicle.
In summary, buying privately is not without risk and when buying a cheaper vehicle some faults can often be expected, but the Disputes Tribunal is there to mediate if you think you would like to take the matter further.