NEVER EVER BUY a vehicle from We Buy Cars

Firstly, I don't expect we buy cars to fix/pay for anything that's wrong with the vehicle after I bought it. I agreed to buy what I saw for the price. It's what they knew about, didn't disclose, and their blatant arrogance about it that I'm writing this.

Please learn from my mistakes and avoid buying anything from these people.

I saw a vehicle I was interested in. It had a couple of scratches and dents, broken bulb, some small interior things but nothing serious. It didn't have a full service history but the oil looked clean and it sounded fine so I figured the owner serviced it themselves - mistake 1.

Took it for a drive, breaks needed replacing, probably spark plugs too. Not a problem. I asked for the 101 check report the guy kept on bragging about. Turned out he couldn't find it at the time but will get it to me once the person is back who can actually find it. It didn't concern me too much as he assured me it was done and all is fine. Hence they placed the 101 check sticker on the windshield.

So I bought the car (Saturday) and parked it in the garage as I mainly use my bike - mistake 2.

I decided to take the car for a service first thing (Wednesday and second time driving it). On my way there the engine light lit up.

2 days later the service was done BUT. There was a water leak (they didn't tell me), the thermostat needed replacement (it showed up on a system diagnostic, they didn't tell me), there is an issue with the throttle position sensor (again showed up on the system but they of course didn't tell me).

At this point I was quite upset but I figured they'll only throw the "we don't give warranties and you signed" line at me and "the light wasn't on when we had the vehicle". So just to be sure I'm aware of any other issues I, again, phoned and asked for the 101 report. After long stories of how they can't find it etc etc I eventually got it.

On the report it doesn't mention anything about scratches or dents though there are many on the vehicle (how trustworthy is this report then..?) AND apparently there is something wrong with the gearbox mounting??

My summary is to potential buyers: Don't buy from these ************* people. If you really want to, don't buy anything without a full service history. If you can, phone dealerships and cross check the ODO reading to make sure it's true. Stop and start the car at least 10 times to hopefully make sure any engine warnings show - After a warning has been canceled it doesn't show up immediately. Insist on an owners history report. They'll say it has confidential info but as the current owners they can pull the report, cross out the owner's IDs and give it to you. That way you can verify if it's ever belonged to an insurer, in which case it was probably a write off.

To We Buy Cars 1: What is the point of the 101 if you don't even mention the obvious issues that the car has? 2: How do you exempt yourself from the Consumer Protection Act thus not deem it necessary to tell me about issues found during the 101 check? 3: What steps can a client follow to lay complaints against your employees who ignore your phone calls, treat you as if you're a child and spin stories about reports not available? Specifically Midrand, the salesman and his manager. 4: I expect you, at the very least, to pay for the gearbox mounting issue you knew about but decided to hide from me. 5: I find it ever so suspicious that the cover to the OBD sensor was on the back seat when I bought the vehicle, and 3 ignition cycles (starts) later the engine light lights up.