[ollie]

OK here goes,
Not that long ago I sold my DD escort to a sort of family friend.
I know that is probably a bad idea.Well after her taking the car and driving away happy,and me being happy I had enough cash to pick up my DD.
Mind you when I was selling this car to her I was nervous because if anything happens that "I'll be the bad guy."
I mean they looked at the car,drove it and came back happy.I told them absolutely everything that I could think of that was wrong with the car.I also told them that I really dont like to sell used cars to FF(family friend) because of the whole bad relationship thing.

insert two weeks

I THOUGHT that everything was cool and we go on with life.
WRONG! I get a call from the FF's boyfriend.
He tells me that they have a transmission problem and it leaks.(I have never had a problem with any trans leaks BTW)
Anyhow her beau tells me that she is unhappy and wants me to buy the car back.I politely tell him that I simply dont have the money and used what they gave me to buy my other DD.He doesnt get beligerant or anything,but I can tell that he isnt very happy.
I simply offered him to help with the repairs and that was probably the best I could do.I'm not sure he liked that answer.
I mean the car isnt undriveable and its not like they dont have wheels.
The crazy part is the repair bill came to $1200 to do both pan gaskets and a main shaft seal(Or so says the repair facility) :roll:
The hard part is the FF is the daughter of one of my wife's sales reps.

1:I could say "Screw it you bought a used car deal with it."
A certainly cheaper route for me,but I dont know how bad that would hurt my wife's relationship with her sales rep(whos doing alot of business for my wife BTW).

2:I could offer to buck up and pay half the trans bill.That would come to a grand total of $600 and break my motor fund completely.I dont even know if they would even like that,but at least I'm being helpful enough that my wife's rep cant say I'm not helping.

Theres no way that I could buy back my old car.I simply dont have the cash.
I'm in a bind as this is her first car and I dont want to mess her over.At the same time I was completely honest as to the car being used and was under no type of warranty.
This catch 22 puts me in a strange situation.Either way their not going to like what I say(I think).

What would you do?

 

[rex2nr]

thats a tough one. Did you write the bill of sale "as is"? I'm assuming you did since you said there was no warranty.

I'd offer to help them fix it, but I guess it's kind of late for that. It sounds a bit fishy that this just appeared. Seals like that just don't go overnight.

If it wasnt a work relationship for your wife, I would say to just let them deal with it... if they wanted a warranty, buy from a dealer. My best advice would be to try to talk to them, and see what they will agree to. I would offer like, $2-300 to assist, and go up from there.

 

[ComposiMo]

And this is why i've never sold a car to a friend, or someone i know in running form (i've sold one to a friend, but it wasn't running anyway.. lol!). there is far too much to go wrong, and they usually think that since you are a friend, there is additional 'recourse' of some sort.

If they had bought this car from ANYONE else, and this happened, then the sale is as-is-where-is... they should have done the due diligence to have the car inspected, and source the problem beforehand. Chances are, this is a problem that could have been caught before they bought the car... stuff like that doesn't usually happen overnight (although if it DOES, you can guarantee that it'l happen right after you sell it... lol)

Thats the hard/cold/true answer... however, since you are friends, that changes things a lot. However, you could ask them to put themsleves in your shoes, and realize that there isn't much you can do to help. I'd say at MOST maybe the 50/50 thing, because after all, put yourself in their shoes... they just spent the money that they have on a car, and they don't have enough money to repair something like this (much like you don't have it to buy the car back). They may not even have enough to do the 50.50 thing. However, not having $600 and being a sales rep means they either don't make neough, or spend far too mcuh on other things (which is likely, because according to you, she does sell a lot, which means she ought to have enough $$).

So what would i do? Help, but don't be their backbone. Insist that they foot most of the bill for the repair, or get a second opinion (arent you an auto tech? Do you have friends that could do this repair?)

Or just say as-is-where-is... i think the law regarding used cars is basically that. So, if they filed a small claims suit against you for the repairs, i think the judge would agree that they should have done a more intensive investigation of the car. Much like the Law, not knowing is not an excuse... it is your responsability to know, or in this case, to investigate the car.

 

[stick]

You were honest. You told them everything you could think of that might possibly be a problem with the car. They chose to buy a used car. When you buy a used car, you usually have to expect that you're going to put a bit into it to bring it up to speed. $1200 seems like a rip for those kinds of repairs.

Be nice. Reassure them that you were completely open and honest with them. But don't be too nice! I think your offer to help them do the repairs was nice. I think offering to pay for the repairs is too nice. $600 is a lot of money to shell out on a car that isn't yours...and wasn't repaired in the most cost effective manner. I'd say you should find out what that repair *should* have cost from a reputable shop, and go from there.

 

[Krix]

I wouldnt have offered to pay even $600. tell them you would have either paid for the parts OR done the labor. Tell them $1200 is too high for the work they had done and you cant help them. I know you cant come right out and say this to them, but they bought a used car and want you to foot the bill?

At most I would offer up $200 and tell them that should cover the parts, but they overpaid the repair bill. I mean yeah it sucks for them, but its a used car afterall.

Unless you foot the entire bill they probably wont be happy. Maybe remind them again this is why you dont like to sell to FF and you clearly stated that. I say if they arent happy with the $200, tell them you offered and go about your business. Even if you paid the entire bill for them they will always think in their mind that you screwed them.

 

[ollie]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Compi:Yes I am a master certified Ford chassis tech.I hold 6 ASE certs. :wink:

I am going over in my head what I can do putting myself in both parties shoes.
Can I possibly fix the car myself:yes I can,but lately my time has become VERY valuable,and I just dont have the time.

I will talk with my wife tonight after she gets home about her rep.
Wish me luck.

 

[crxfisher]

That really sucks man. First thing I'd do is offer to help fix it. They pay for parts. $1200?? Geez. Looking at it from their point of view, I'd be upset too. But if you offered to save me some money by spending some time helping to fix it, that would ease the pain. But for them to expect you to buy it back? That's ridiculous. I would say maybe offer a few hundred bucks to help out if you really don't have the time. You have to figure out what's more valuable to you. The time, or the money. Tough choice.

 

[coldtotouch]

Like stickershop said, don't be too nice.
Imho, i don't think you should really have to pay for anything, considering the people who purchased the car should've been well aware of the condition of the vehicle before they purchased it... Family friend or not.

BUT, to be nice:

I'd say you should find out what that repair *should* have cost from a reputable shop, and go from there.

 

[Krix]

they did know it was a ford when they bought it right? :lol:

maybe tell them "you bought a ford, what did you expect?" then go napolean on them with a "GAWD!!"

 

[shorte]

Do you have the option to examine the car yourself? I mean if it's leaking that bad wouldn't it have left puddles in your driveway?
Maybe she ran over something and smashed the pan enough to leak, if you see that then your totaly in the clear in my book.
Obviously if it's not leaking when you look at it it can't be bad, even if they try to say that the other place cleaned it off.

Maybe they found a car they like better and are trying to get out of yours. :roll:

 

[SETI20]

Like said before.
It's not a new car.
It's bound to have issues.
There is no warranty.
You don't havd $1200 fixed on an old car like that.
$1200 is a rip-off. How is it your fault that they are stupid enough to fall for that?

Pe polite, but stern.

 

[Neil]

What would you do? Never mix business with pleasure. You sold a used car, and escort even, to someone you know. Last I checked, this fact alone doesn't hold you responsible.

I understand wanting to do the "right thing" by helping out with the fix, but do you think they are doing the "right thing" by exploiting the friendship and business venture? If they are good honest people, they will not hold it against YOU that a mechanical device has failed.

If they had bought this car from ANYONE else, and this happened, then the sale is as-is-where-is... they should have done the due diligence to have the car inspected, and source the problem beforehand.

................exactly.

 

[DiscoStu]

On topic: they may not have gotten ripped only because dropping that transmision may have been a royal pain (you might know better than the rest of us). Still, it isn't your fault that the car went all leaky and you shouldn't be 'expected' to deal with it, family friend or not.

Off Topic: and I know I'm'a gonna get hammered with this... As a ford master tech, do you have any opinion on the new Fusion?

 

[Ragnaarok]

i'd say keep one thing in mind, because of all that has happened, EVEN IF you buy the car back or pay all repair expenses, THEY STILL WON"T BE happy.

so, save yourself a ton of money and don't pay a dime. offer to help with time and labor, because honestly that costs you, too. If they don't see that, that's their problem.

You did not lie about the car, if the problem was there before you didn't know, they didn't check it out / find it, so it's again, their problem.

The repair cost they stated seems high, and after all, with some searching you can always find a shop that will do it for a little less. Maybe they took a higher estimate so they could make you feel guilty when they told it to you. Appears it may have worked slightly since you are considering all this, but I say DON'T feel guilty.

Just the fact that you are having second thoughts shows you are a good friend, but due to the fact it is a used car sale, your friends are just going to have to eat it. The only thing that complicates matters is the sales rep thing, but there is no telling if that relationship has already been hurt, so paying them the $200, the half of cost, etc -- may be like paying twice, once for the parts/labor, and again with lost sales. So keep the money you can control, which is the cash in your pocket now.

All in all a harsh situation, but at least you've learned a lesson:
Money + Friends = do not mix, extremely bad idea, hells no, never :nuke:

that's been my experience every time.

good luck, man. :wink: hope your friends are cool in the end and aren't dickheads just because they didn't do their homework.

 

[D_Britt_57]

I think that you should ask them what THEY would do, if they were the seller.
I suspect they would say the same thing, that YOU sold them a lemon.

Tell them the facts, as is, where is.
That you value their friendship, but this is a business transaction.
Offer to help, make it clear (again) that you don't have the money or lots of time to help.

Ask any of your mechanic friends if they can take a gander at the problem.
I also suspect that the shop they took it to is simply trying to make money.

Unfortunately, you will be the bad guy, whatever you do.
Unless they realize that you weren't out to hose them, which doesn't sound like they will change their minds.
Oh, the boyfriend wants to be the hardcase here, maybe talking to the girl would be better?
I hope it works out.

Dave

 

[ollie]

Once again thanks guys.It helps to clear the mind to get a different point of view.
I have decided that tomorrow at work I will get a rough estimate of repairs from the heavy/trans tech.(I'd say that I'd do the estimate but, I am not a auto trans guy)
I also have it made up in my mind that since this happened recently to the sale I will offer them $200 and wash my hands of the deal.(what can I say I have a conscience)
Mad or not I dont think that any amount I offer will make them totally happy.
Once again this is one of those life lessons that I'm never planning to repeat. :roll:

Stu:From what I see the fusion is turning out to be a relatively problem free car.(At least I havent seen alot of them coming in for any reason yet.)
The only thing that I do go by is "I never buy any first year run production cars." Why?
Because thats the year car that the factory usually "works out all the kinks."
nuff said :wink:

 

[CrxCarl]

I think your decision is a good one.
They got hosed on the repair quote. That is their fault.
Buyer beware.
When you are dealing with cars that cost less than $4000 (I am just guessing here), you just got to expect a certain amount of crap to go wrong.
Unless you buy a Honda.

 

[ollie]

Update***

Well enter the workweek....:fanfare music:
So I make a few phone calls on a lunch.Guess what?Out of the 5 trans shops that I called 4 said that a $1200 bill was quote "Insane!"

Well well now that I have the proper ammo I give my FF a call and let them know they were about to be ripped off by a shady shop. :mad2:
Oh BTW guess what the average bill was to fix the trans?
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Come on guess?
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$350 out the door!:shock::lol:

So now after some prayer and consolation I have come to this decision.
I will give them $150 and say best wishes.
I'm absolved from this whole mess.

 

[shorte]

Nice!
What was their reply?

 

[dohcya]

Wow, that;s great that the situation got better for you. They don't deserve to be handed $150 out of you pocket but I guess that's you being a nice guy and trying to keep things good between ya and looking out for you gf. Good luck with it ollie! =P