Hi,
May I introduce myself - Arlette, I am the purchaser and new to the forum. Thank you for your interest and your comments.
I found the RHD syncro on Ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300879990806? ... 1423.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I paid £1000 less than asked for here.
I had to break my journey just north of Edinburgh (Wivenhoe via London) dropped off my daughter so her holiday wasn't entirely ruined and turned back to Edinburgh where I showed it to Chris (Xris) as I was getting really nervous about driving it. I heard some strange clanging in the back before leaving London, and turned into a very tight street to a garage to see if they could look into if it was the exhaust. I then found out I could hard turn the bugger, cars parked on both sides, tight street, a three point turn that was so tricky to do, I sheered the (broken) LH mirror. Damn! I took a knock on the wheel hub while I was at it! (Later I discovered that this was due the drive shaft (welding was done to get it through the MOT; and the steering was down the viscose couplers needing replaced). Then before we got onto the M1, doing 25 mph, the vehicle then did a weird thing, it flicked off to the left hand side - like the tail of a tuna - and out of nowhere we jumped as it were and knocked the kerb. This now knocked the LH slider off its hinges and now needs readjusting. God knows how, but my 7 year old even though she annouced fear and danger agreed to go on, and bit by bit we progressed to Berwick upon Tweed. There were many shameful moments of the transmission dying on roundabouts, leaving the garages unable to get the gear shaft into first. In fact I gave up on first gear altogether and just started up in 2nd.
You may be wondering what on earth made me do it. A dream. I wanted a RHD syncro for Ardnamurchan on the west coast past Glencoe and before Fort-William. (And for any of you who haven't been there yes - it'll make sense to you when you get there - come!)
I knew the rust and the botched repairs on the bodywork were sinful, yet I was confident that I could do what was necessary to make this little Komet look a delight. I've seen what you guys are up to in the workshops and I'm impressed, delighted by the passion and the care. Anyway. What I didn't know what was underneath. Chris took me over to Ian who too it into his workshop. And he was furious when he saw what was there. With me for buying it. And marched me out into his yard and showed me what happens when a Syncro goes badly wrong. He couldn't understand how it was passed its MOT, and finding what he'd consider 16 advisories on it he was really surprised that there were none on the MOT certificate. He rang the previous owner and told him he'd sold me a death trap. By the way, Ian didn't tell me that, as he didn't want to scare me. Instead he said it wasn't safe to drive, it wasn't roadworthy, he was keeping it in the yard and that I was to get a refund or have it re-MOT'd and investigated. Now at just about before 2am he ran Chris and I back to Edinburgh. I have to say, I was in a kind of daze, a kind of shock.
I have found out from Trading Standards that the Fair Goods Act allows me to ask for repair, exchange or refund if goods do not match up description both in print and/or verbal. Both the mechanic and the seller seemed convinced and repeated every time I asked if it was suitable (I made it clear I was looking for something to keep not just run for a couple of years and sell on) confirmed repeatedly that it 'had plenty of life left in it' and stupid-honest here thought they knew what they were talking about. The seller was upset too. I admit I was surprised that he expressed no concern for our safety nor offered an apology for the experience we had and has outrightly refused to consider a refund.
What is my best recourse of action to resolve this, and for all parties?
Do you think there is anyone in the world who would want to buy this project? And if I could list it accurately, factually, honestly then I would feel okay with selling it.
I'd like to find it a home with someone who can take it on.
Its way over my head, way bigger than anything I thought I was taking on. I'm a beginner. I need a van that I can pretty much drive, as my first base.
What I'd really like to do is close the loop with the previous owner, and sort out what when wrong with the garage, as its not just my own safety at risk, its other people's too.
Chris has photos and will put them up for your comments which are all welcome and appreciated.
Thanks!!