How to get hold of info on a prospective used car purchase.

Mrmike wrote on Wed Apr 3, 2024 4:46pm:

I am looking to buy another used car and wondered where I could get info regarding particular cars offered for sale.

Last time, 4 years ago I used Carfax but it is now horrendously expensive (like 20 times more) I tried the Autoficha app but it just gives you a list of when a car was bought etc. I will not buy from a dealer as I got ripped off when I bought my present car. He repaired it once after I had it a w...

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...eek changing a pulley, he had the car in Alicante for 2 weeks while he got a S/H part from Italy. A few months later summer came and I found the A/C compressor was not working correctly. Contacting the dealer, he told me in Spanish that the car had over 200K,Kms and the guarantee was not valid. A Lawyer advised me about the legal costs etc and the fact that the dealer would probably make me wait till who knows when to get the car back. So I did it myself. A few years ago I had a Tucson, low mileage, Going around the dealers they had ones with much higher mileage for sale for 8K plus but none of them would offer me more than 3.5K, I sold it privately for 4.5K

Hence buying privately for me is a much better option. (I have bult a kitcar (7) and almost always repair my own cars. The A/C Compressor for a 2.7D takes 10hrs for Jag mechanics to change, It took me about 16+ hours.(And I found the procedural errors in the Jaguar Manual) I do know a bit about cars!

Anyway back to the point how to get a vehicle Informe free or nearly, Any suggestions.

Mike

PedroB wrote on Wed Apr 3, 2024 5:02pm:

Hi Mrmike.

I think your bad experience with a dealer and the warranty should not put you off, there are genuine dealers out there and I would rather use them than the unknown of the private market. I use and I am sure you will get at least 20 other forum members who recommend FWR Eurocars who are based near...

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... Alicante airport. Frank the owner is originally from the UK but has been selling cars in Spain for over 20 years so he must be doing something right. I bought an older car from him a few years back, after 4 months the cylinder head went. Frank refunded me the whole price I paid and gave me a discount on an other car for my inconvenience! I am sure others will have had a similar experience. Probably the best thing is to ask the forum members who have used FWR that if they have had any negative experience's with him. Yes you will get a car cheaper on the private market but a genuine garage with a real warranty is worth so much more than just 'peace of mind'.

Mrmike wrote on Wed Apr 3, 2024 6:19pm:

Thanks for your reply, I have had over 50 cars, About 50 years ago I used to buy cars at the auctions and sell them on, only got seen off once. Since 2005 I have had a brand new Tucson, my wife got seen off by the dealer, I was abroad. Since then I have had 4 cars, 3 from dealers, Citroen, BMW, J...

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...aguar. (All with problems out of or not covered by guarantee) the intermediate car was a merc bought privately. I changed the timing chain myself at 160K kms Cost 90 Euros. Sold it on at the same price I paid. With the other 2 I lost about 60%. I still have the Jag. When I was young I had an E-type and I had the clutch changed by the main dealer. in Portsmouth, When they returned the car I had oil and water leaks and a dent in the bonnet!!! I remonstrated with them to no avail. While doing this on the gantry by the office a guy with a gammy leg drove an Aston into the back of a Bentley. I said that is what happened to my Car but I could not prove anything. 6 Months later I was in Germany, the clutch went again. The garage mechanics there showed me that the job had not been done correctly. I have had many bad experiences with dealers main and otherwise. A friend here took his camper to a main dealer when he looked at the bill ther was 29E for cleaning the windscreen. Needless to say the original fault returned after a week, the story continued elsewhere. I restored completely an MG Midget in 1984, Not like wheeler dealer or other TV botches, I also built a RH using a donor Sierra in 1995. I know most of the tricks and dealers know them better than private sellers. I have bought my last car from a dealer I hope.

Please do not recommend me any. I am only interested in getting information about the car, like Mileage at each ITV, changes of owners, Past accident status and NO outstanding finance, SUMA, fines etc and valid insurance up to the moment of sale.

nasus wrote on Wed Apr 3, 2024 6:25pm:

https://sede.dgt.gob.es/es/vehiculos/informacion-de-vehiculos/informe-de-un-vehiculo/

This tells you all you need to know.