Sold a lemon car, with an explantion, but?

[A-Step-Towards]

So i got this '86 nova hatchback. It was my grandpas, I spent a lot of time working on it and to get it legal spent 300$ in parts , it was a good running car but I got a 1970 VW bus I perfer to drive.Anyways I knew the clutch was going out in it, I told people that in person, email, phone and my craigslist ad. I drove it and could feel it slipping.I posted an ad on craigs had a few people like it but wanted to see clutch repair cost. These cars are toyotas made for chevy by toyota so there strong running cars.

I had a lady show up with 4 other people, one a mechanic and the others I am not sure. They all drove it and said the clutch was in need of replacement I agreed, and the mechanic was willing to do it for them.Anyways the car sold the 3rd, I know get this nasty email and the lady complaining the clutch went out the 2nd day she had the car.Now I told her the problems,the mechanic did as well and so did 4 other people and my father.She offered me 700$ for it and I guess the new clutch cost her 700$ on top of that.I feel bad but in some ways I am mad at the same time as 6 people told her the issues, potential cost etc.

Do i ignore this email?

[MatticusMania]

No, write her back saying that she was informed by 6 people, including yourself AND her mechanic, that the clutch would need to be replaced. She went and bought the car anyway, "as is" and is now complaining about it...

Also, you did not sell her a lemon, but rather a car with an admittedly bad clutch. I think the onus here is on her.

[Ripper]

You warned her, other people warned her, and they all know that they and you warned her. There's nothing she can do to you, and once you signed the title over it was no longer your problem.

[A-Step-Towards]

Ok I know that, honestly yeah she knew what she was buying I think she thought a clutch was cheaper or something , I said it was about a 100$ plus labor and my dad stepped up and said "with a car like this labor is going to cost 4-500$."

About the title "lemon car" after I wrote that I realized I kinda missed titled the thread , in a sense making me look like I was out to screw someone, that was not my intention. I did however plan on taking less , but she pulled out the cash and paid my asking price.

Anyways I think I will just send a semi nice email back so she does not think I am ignoring her.

[MatticusMania]

Yeah, no need to be rude about it, just politely inform her that she knew full well what she was buying before she bought it, and that your responsibility ended at the transfer of the title.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

You and other people, including a professional told her that was going to be an issue. That issue must have been factored into the price she paid, seeing she was told about it. So she has nothing to stand on.

[A-Step-Towards]

Ok thanks "offtopic" folks, never have dealt with this issue before so I figured I would ask TB's finest .

[need4mospd]

Maybe she thought you were a sucker and would offer to pay part of it. After all, it can't hurt to ask. I'd be polite the first email, reminding her of the half a dozen people that informed her of the problem. If she is persistent, tell her she can contact your lawyer or file something in small claims court. If you're lucky, maybe you'll get on Judge Judy or something cool.

[A-Step-Towards]

Originally Posted by need4mospd

Maybe she thought you were a sucker and would offer to pay part of it. After all, it can't hurt to ask. I'd be polite the first email, reminding her of the half a dozen people that informed her of the problem. If she is persistent, tell her she can contact your lawyer or file something in small claims court. If you're lucky, maybe you'll get on Judge Judy or something cool.

haha oh man that would blow! I already have traffic court monday

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by A-Step-Towards

...I said it was about a 100$ plus labor and my dad stepped up and said "with a car like this labor is going to cost 4-500$."......

Right there is where you messed up.

-Mike

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by A-Step-Towards

haha oh man that would blow! I already have traffic court monday

If it went to small claims court you could countersue for wasting your time! haha

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Hey, you told her, others told her. The clutch's failure was inevitable and the only thing no one knew was the "when." You save money up front buying a fixer-upper with the knowledge that you'll have to put some money and/or work into it.

I saved a few grand off the Blue Book on my car that way. The previous owner (or his shop) had messed up the electrical stuff a bit, which is kind of redundant on a VW. Fortunately, electrical troubleshooting and repair isn't very difficult for me. I put in a few hundred bucks and a couple dozen hours to get it right, and it's been fine since.

[MatticusMania]

Hey Bob, it wasnt a green VW Beetle was it?

[EricF]

It appears that you did a pretty decent job of disclosing the issue, and she did her own due diligence by having her mechanic check out the car. Even with this information, she decided to purchase the car. Assuming there was no warranty or guarantee - even an implied one - I don't see how she can go after you for anything. She's just bummed she had to make repairs so soon. Respond politely.

[A-Step-Towards]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

If it went to small claims court you could countersue for wasting your time! haha

haha that works to, I doubt it coming to that or if so her winning very slim.

Yes i guess i just dont understand her logic, i guess now she has about 1400$ into the car, but now it has a new clutch and a toyota engine with 150,000 miles on it. I could see her getting up to another 100,000 miles out of it, I just think she thought a slipping clutch is something you can drive on longer .

[A-Step-Towards]

Originally Posted by EricF

It appears that you did a pretty decent job of disclosing the issue, and she did her own due diligence by having her mechanic check out the car. Even with this information, she decided to purchase the car. Assuming there was no warranty or guarantee - even an implied one - I don't see how she can go after you for anything. She's just bummed she had to make repairs so soon. Respond politely.

Plan on it, i am a peaceful creature

In some ways i feel bad for her, but there was not watch I could have done except maybe made a billboard with flashing lights saying the clutch was slipping and needing replacement.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Hey Bob, it wasnt a green VW Beetle was it?

OMG, was that yours????

[MatticusMania]

Where abouts did you pick it up from? And when?

Not mine, but my fiancee's (if it is the same one, was it perhaps, missing a front license plate?). She went through a whole sleu of problems with it before giving up on it. It started off with overheating. She had a friend work on it and he ended up screwing it up even more. Then his mechanic worked on it and they gave it back to her without fixing the actual problem. The electronics got messed up, I believe, from escaping steam. If it is, indeed, the same car Keighley will trip when I tell her I know who has it now.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Where abouts did you pick it up from? And when?

Not mine, but my fiancee's (if it is the same one, was it perhaps, missing a front license plate?). She went through a whole sleu of problems with it before giving up on it. It started off with overheating. She had a friend work on it and he ended up screwing it up even more. Then his mechanic worked on it and they gave it back to her without fixing the actual problem. The electronics got messed up, I believe, from escaping steam. If it is, indeed, the same car Keighley will trip when I tell her I know who has it now.

J/K. Mine's a black GTI.

I don't know if I could fit my bass and rig into a Beetle.

[MatticusMania]

Damn, so close to such an awesome coincidence!