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Sister purchased car..think she got scammed

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yeah its a fucked up situation. trouble is my SIL is a bit pig headed and you can't talk her out of stuff once she gets it in her head.

the car looks new. no scratch's, no dents, interior is perfect. it drives like a new car (except for 2nd).

Since it was a regelur at where she works (she is a waitress) she does not think he would screw her. The guy was calling her telling her that his wife wanted to keep it so if she wanted it to hurry. then he claimed he had someone offer him 3k but since he offered her it first he would take hte money.

yes the title will be in both names. i guess when it comes in i will be locking the car in the garage..i don't trusth the guy.

yes its a fucked up situation. but it is what it is. i can't go back in time and force my SIL to not do it. i just want to get the car working without any problems (well besides she can't drive a stick!). long as it last until she goes to college im good.
 
My suggestion to you (once the title is cleared up), is work with what you have. I've bought a lemon or two myself and it sucks, but you make due. Fix what you can, that car should still last a while yet if the tranny can be fixed. Take it to a mechanic you trust, or even two, and see what they say. If you can get the car fixed for less than $1500 making the total purchase price $4000, i think you are doing alright on that car, its not a total disaster. Especially if she keeps the car for at least 2 - 3 years, $4k isnt bad for a 2 - 3 year car. Ive paid $1200 for a car + $600 for struts + $300 for starter (long story) + $300 for tires, and the damn thing only lasted 10 months and the starter was STILL spotty. We could only sell it for $500. You are definitly still on the positive side of this deal.
 
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This is one of the worst deals.. ever.

BTW you can get out of the deal, minors can't enter into legal contracts.

(or at least that argument should be good enough for him)
 
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waggy said:
then he claimed he had someone offer him 3k but since he offered her it first he would take hte money.
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Have him sell it for that amount and give you your money back. The car is undriveable in it's current state.
 
43st said:
I don't know.. A fairly major part is clearly broken. Making it move and driving it on a day to day basis are not the same thing IMO.
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+1. Movable... and drivable are separate things. Just because you CAN fenagle the car into going by driving it a CERTAIN way doesnt mean its really DRIVABLE. Drivable to me is a car with no issues that can be driven to and from a job for example on a daily basis without having to THINK about the car in any way.

Though i guess it could be argued that driving is driving and if you can make it move, you are driving it and therefor it is technically drivable. And therefor NOT UNdrivable.

BUT, a TECHNICALLY drivable car is no fun to drive and therefor undrivable. HA!
 
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43st said:
Have him sell it for that amount and give you your money back. The car is undriveable in it's current state.
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its drivable. you just have to let the RPM's down when putting it in 2nd and even if you do not it does not do it all the time.

otherwise there is nothing i can find wrong with the car.

though i am going to take it in. since she is 17 (18 in 2 months) if its expensive i will tell him to suck it and give the money back.
 
I'm not familiar with US car titles, but WTF? You bought the car, why would it still be under the previous owner's name?

Seriously, I'd be trying hard to get my money back.
 
How are you still letting the title be in her name and a TOTAL STRANGER's name? Do you realize that he owns it as much as she does? He could walk to your house some night, plug in a spare key he made a while back and drive it off. Theft? No, it's in his name.

This is madness!
 
CraigRT said:
I've never run a vehicle history on any used car... If it looks, runs, and feels good.. Who cares? Clean title is all that matters. (not full total salvage rebuild for example)
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Confirm it's not salvage or flood or a major accident (the latter meaning you could negotiate a few more bucks off it).
 
What state are you located? In Texas ,17 year olds are considered minors and can't enter legal contracts (like buying an automobile) unless you've petitioned the court to have her declared an adult. Threaten to sue and get her money back. If he still won't give the money back, file suit in small claims court (you don't have to hire an attorney).

Another option is to hire a lawyer to make up a legal notice that you intend to sue. Many law offices will write the letter for $150 to $200. It might scare him enough to give her the money back without having to go to court, and she will only be out the $150 to $200.
 
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SearchMaster said:
She's 17, desperate for a car, and has money burning a hole in her pocket?
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this. she is 17 had 3k to buy a car. we been looking for damn near a year and only stuff we have found are things that should be in a junk yard. over that year she is forced to drive my Van or my wifes car.

my wife gets bitchy when others drive her car (her 2nd car ever and 1st car new car she has ever owned). my wife don't like her driving it more then to school and back.

this was the first car that was not a piece of shit. When i say this car looks new i am not kidding.

I don't think i could have talked her out of it. she was dead set on getting this car wich is why she went without me when said it was not a good idea.

Yes the title is in her and this guys name. though i did get him to sign a bill of sale. though he told her to throw it away after we turned in the title..
 
waggy said:
this. she is 17 had 3k to buy a car. we been looking for damn near a year and only stuff we have found are things that should be in a junk yard. over that year she is forced to drive my Van or my wifes car.

my wife gets bitchy when others drive her car (her 2nd car ever and 1st car new car she has ever owned). my wife don't like her driving it more then to school and back.

this was the first car that was not a piece of shit. When i say this car looks new i am not kidding.

I don't think i could have talked her out of it. she was dead set on getting this car wich is why she went without me when said it was not a good idea.

Yes the title is in her and this guys name. though i did get him to sign a bill of sale. though he told her to throw it away after we turned in the title..
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DO NOT throw the bill of sale away. Store that thing in a safe deposit box if you got one! The title aspect of this deal is pure shenanigans IMO.
 
Wow, I'm sorry, but your SIL sounds pretty dumb. And how are you unable to find a decent car for $3k? I've found a ton of late 90s Corollas in that range. Sure they don't look new, but they're much better cars than a fricking Cavalier. Maybe prices are just a lot higher where you are.
 
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