Advice re buying car from ex that has been unused for over a year

[BlondDaisy]

I need some advice about a car I’m buying from my ex. His mum (my kids’ grandmother) passed away two years ago and I agreed with him, then, to buy her car at some unspecified point (mine had just passed its MOT, lockdown happened and I was working from home and not driving so didn’t really need the car right then, plus him and his brother were still occasionally using it).

Since then (2 years ago), neither of us has addressed the issue of the car until now – I’ve just had MY car scrapped as it was so old and not worth putting through the MOT last week.

So, I’m just going through the process of getting the other car registered, taxed, etc. but it’s been sat totally idle, off-road and unmaintained for over a year and I’m worried about how this has affected its value and condition. I believe all the fluids will need replacing, the battery may be gone and there may be other problems. Plus it’s 2 years older so possibly worth less.

So, lovely ladies, in the interests of what's reasonable and fair, should I:

a) Just suck it up and pay what he asked me for it two years ago and pay to get it serviced myself (and be thankful he kept it for me for 2 years)?

b) Ask him to pay or part-pay for any work needed to re-condition it after it’s been idle for so long? Also, would it be unreasonable to ask HIM to take it to the garage. (I work and he doesn't.)

c) Any other ideas?

I don't think I would buy it. I would worry about it being sat for so long, even with a hood service etc. But I don't know much about cars. Sorry not much help! Hopefully someone else might be more knowledgeable!

Good, not hood!

Have you tried it?
I left my old car for a year and it never worked again. Cars need to be driven

He needs to service and MOT it at the very least.

Used car prices have gone up recently, so you might not be far wrong with the price (check similar cars on Autotrader for comparison), but you need to make sure it's running and roadworthy before committing.

Also if they've only ever been used for pottering around they are often not the bargain you think. Friend thought she had a bargain when her elderly neighbour sold her his car. Once she started driving it properly everything went wrong and the engine gave up, it didn't even make it to 20, 000 miles on the clock

I wouldn’t touch it with a bargepole.

It’s no longer a car. It’s a money pit which you will be continuously throwing money at.

I would only buy it if fully serviced & with a new MOT. Plus all advisory work completed.

If possible have this done at a garage you trust & ask them whether they think it's worth the investment. Our garage are brutally honest & I love them for it.

If it's been idle for that long, it's a near certainty you'll need to have some serious work done on the brakes (very quickly affected by rust).

Why are you buying it rather than any other car?

HE has to get the car registered and MOT'd before you agree to buy it not you.
Being sat that long I wouldn't bother though.

My own car (8 years old) sat on the drive for most of 2020 yet cost me more in repairs than it usually does. Cars hate being sat on the drive. That’s 2 years of hate you’ve got to content with. At the very least your ex needs to get it serviced & mot’d do you know how much of a money pit it will be.

*so

If he’s saying you need to pay to get it registered, serviced & mot’d tell him to jog on.

Don't do it

May also need 4 tyres as well

@Shade17

May also need 4 tyres as well

And a new engine, chassis and body?