Purchased a Used Car from Private Party

[Stiper2]

What is the name of your state?CO
I bought a used car from the Facebook Marketplace. The vehicle was advertised as in VERY GOOD CONDITON. I met with the owners and test drove and checked out the car. It didn't seem to have any issues and had very low miles for the year. After purchasing it and picking it up later in the day, a couple alarms went off letting me know it had a couple problems in which did not come on during the test drive. They came on as I was driving the car home from the sellers house. So I had notified the seller and they said they knew that the alarm was coming on intermittently but didn't think it had a problem. I took it into the repair shop and it needs $4000 worth of repairs.
At this point, they knew it had an issue but did not disclose it to me and said the car was in very good condition, in which apparently something is wrong with the car. I Would I have a case for small claims since they knew it had a problem, in which I would had not purchased the car until it was resolved . The seller had told me about them knowing in Facebook messenger so it is in writing.
Any info would be appreciated.

 

[Zigner]

$4,000 worth of repairs to correct the problem with the alarm?

 

[Stiper2]

Well it had 2 issues the night I had picked it up from the seller. The Temp gauge was alarming, and the Airbag light was on. Took to the service dept they found other issues with the car, some maintenance and another main issue was the Vacuum pump was leaking oil. All I had asked from the seller is to take care of the known issues that were not disclosed. They refused. What I had told them is if I had known about the temperature gauge issue and air bag issue I I wouldn't had purchased the car without getting it checked out first. They advertised it in VERY GOOD CONDiTION and had owned the car for 10 years. So, I assumed the they knew the car well.

 

[Zigner]

In other words, you knew the car had problems, yet you bought it any way. "Very good condition" is subjective. To some, a 10+ year old car with only two lights on might actually be a very good condition car, for its age. I'm sorry, but I think you are stuck with this. In the future, the time to have a car inspected is BEFORE you buy it.

 

[Stiper2]

NO, I did not know the car had any problems prior to purchase. The Temperature light did not come on during the test drive. It only came on when the car was cool and first started. Once the engine coolant was warm enough it kicked off the alarm. After I found out, then the seller told me they knew of the issue and did not disclose to me prior to buying. They assumed it was nothing serious. I know all about the "AS IS" in buying the car. But the seller represented it with no issues. I am 61 years old, I have been around the block a few times. Yeah it should of been taken to be checked out by a mechanic but I was told it had no issues.

 

[Stiper2]

Some would say it was falsely represented and committed fraud knowingly. I have it in writing that they knew about the issue.

 

[Zigner]

NO, I did not know the car had any problems prior to purchase. The Temperature light did not come on during the test drive. It only came on when the car was cool and first started. Once the engine coolant was warm enough it kicked off the alarm. After I found out, then the seller told me they knew of the issue and did not disclose to me prior to buying. They assumed it was nothing serious. I know all about the "AS IS" in buying the car. But the seller represented it with no issues. I am 61 years old, I have been around the block a few times. Yeah it should of been taken to be checked out by a mechanic but I was told it had no issues.

"I was told..." is the leading cause of disappointment in buyers.

Some cars have a light that indicates when the coolant temperature is low. It is quite normal for it to come on and then go off when the coolant reaches the normal operating temperature. I was surprised to learn then when I rented a car last year, but it is normal in those cars.

Are you also claiming that the airbag light was not on when you test drove the car?

 

[Zigner]

Some would say it was falsely represented and committed fraud knowingly. I have it in writing that they knew about the issue.

Which issue did they know about that you weren't aware of during the test drive?

 

[Stiper2]

Which issue did they know about that you weren't aware of during the test drive?

the temperature gauge did not alarm while test driving it. It needs repair, its not normal for it to come on and alarm (bell went off) wen you first start up the car on this particular model.
The airbag light I did not notice it on, due to the fact we drove it with the top down, the sun may had obscured it from seeing it on. The position of your hands on the steering wheel blocked it. Im sure they either didn't notice it or else just "Forgot to tell me" It just decided to come on like the Temp gauge when I picked it up.
This was a Sunday car for these people. They didn't drive it much and thats why they said they were selling it. Only had put 24,000 miles on it in 10 years and were second owners.

 

[Stiper2]

the "I WAS TOLD" it was advertised with no issues and in "Very Good Condition"

 

[quincy]

... I know all about the "AS IS" in buying cars. ... Yeah it should of been taken to be checked out by a mechanic ...

Unfortunately, you knew what you should have done prior to purchase and you failed to do it.

If the repair shop you took your vehicle to is estimating $4000 worth of repairs, I would take your car to another repair shop and get another quote.

Good luck.

 

[Zigner]

the temperature gauge did not alarm while test driving it. It needs repair, its not normal for it to come on and alarm (bell went off) wen you first start up the car on this particular model.
The airbag light I did not notice it on, due to the fact we drove it with the top down, the sun may had obscured it from seeing it on. The position of your hands on the steering wheel blocked it. Im sure they either didn't notice it or else just "Forgot to tell me" It just decided to come on like the Temp gauge when I picked it up.
This was a Sunday car for these people. They didn't drive it much and thats why they said they were selling it. Only had put 24,000 miles on it in 10 years and were second owners.

What year, make & model car is it?

 

[Stiper2]

Its a 2006 VW Beetle Convertible.

 

[Stiper2]

Unfortunately, you knew what you should have done prior to purchase and you failed to do it.

If the repair shop you took your vehicle to is estimating $4000 worth of repairs, I would take your car to another repair shop and get another quote.

Good luck.

As far as I am concerned repair shops are out to get you one way or another. There are few that are I would consider to be honest. Its all about making money!

 

[quincy]

As far as I am concerned repair shops are out to get you one way or another. There are few that are I would consider to be honest. Its all about making money!

The repair shops DO want to make money. No doubt about that.

Here is a link to 2006 VW Beetle car complaints: http://m.carcomplaints.com/Volkswagen/Beetle/2006/tsbs

The $4000 figure seems awfully high to me. I still recommend you take the vehicle to another repair shop to compare prices. The cost for Beetle repairs is likely to go up in the future, as a note, since VW will no longer be making them.

Good luck.