Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

That this is weird as hell - car - is it for sale?

113 replies

Balibo · 22/02/2023 15:24

So DH and I have moved to a more rural location down South. We're both originally from a big city up North. We have a fairly large house, on a main road with a large driveway. We park our cars on the driveway obviously. We have 3 cars. 1 car though we've just acquired. It belongs to a family member who recently passed away.

Twice in the last few months (once today and once a few months back - when we only had 2 cars) two seperate men have come to the door, knocked and asked if one specific car is for sale.....it's not a fancy car. It's a Ford.

The first time I thought that's weird but didn't think much more of it. Today though I think it's really weird. I was caught off guard because I'd decided to have a shower and wash my hair in the middle of the day. So I'm there with wet hair in my dressing gown having dashed from the shower to get the door (assuming it would be a parcel or something). Not very relevant but just setting the scene that I felt blindsided.

So today I said - you're the second person who has asked that, why do you think I'm selling my car? And he said because it doesn't look like it's being used.

We live on a main road with a high fence all around our driveway. We have neighbours opposite us - it wasn't them asking and then it's quite a distance to the next house. We aren't overlooked by anyone.

How can anyone who is just driving past - know whether we are using the car or not? He said I have a friend just up the road..... but i was thinking so your friend up the road is tracking how much I drive?

It's really weirded me out. If you were looking to buy a car - why not fb marketplace, auto trader, or a car show room - surely not just knock on a random person's door??

I don't understand at all. I said to my DH I feel like reporting this somewhere it doesn't feel normal - he said no I'm being daft but it is weird. Who is tracking our house/my movements to know whether we use the car.....if it matters I don't use the car.....but that's what's freaking me out - like they know I'm not using it but I'm not overlooked by anyone. It's a country road, an A road. Our driveway is private. Yes you can see the cars if you walk or drive past our house but how would someone know we werent using the car? There's only one house who could feasibly track our daily movements and it's not her. The car is in good repair. It doesn't look like a heap of crap on the driveway.

Just to clarify I have rarely used this Ford even before I got the other car because I generally drive my husbands car. But we've always needed two cars incase he's out for the day with work etc because I still need to do nursery runs etc

IABU? Is this just us with a big city mentality being suspicious over something we needn't be?

Also if this matters they both came at a similar time during the working week. Rather than say a Saturday.

Yabu - happens all the time
Yanbu - that's really weird

OP posts:
Eastereggsboxedupready · 22/02/2023 15:26

This is happening where I live. These are sadly' casing the joint '.. Seeing how fast you react to doorbell /looking for cctv. Who lives there.. Any ddogs? Police are involved here and neighbourhopd watch!

Courtorder · 22/02/2023 15:27

If you commute (for example) past a car twice a day and it’s in exactly the same position on a driveway then you’d notice after a while. Given the price of cars at the moment and the cost of living, I’m not that surprised that they plucked up the courage to hedge their bets and ask. Also, most households don’t need three cars so seeing that makes sense.

Jadetreesbringluck · 22/02/2023 15:27

I'm in ireland so it could be different but this would be very common here. These guys come and take away bangers and sell them on for scrap. I know this because my stbex had a penchant for buying second hand cars and then leaving around the house when he bought another useless car...

UdoU · 22/02/2023 15:34

Seems a very inefficient way to find a car.

Is this car really clean whilst the other car is muddy?

Balibo · 22/02/2023 15:34

Jadetreesbringluck · 22/02/2023 15:27

I'm in ireland so it could be different but this would be very common here. These guys come and take away bangers and sell them on for scrap. I know this because my stbex had a penchant for buying second hand cars and then leaving around the house when he bought another useless car...

It's not an old banger. It's a 7yr old Ford fiesta in good condition.

OP posts:
Balibo · 22/02/2023 15:35

Courtorder · 22/02/2023 15:27

If you commute (for example) past a car twice a day and it’s in exactly the same position on a driveway then you’d notice after a while. Given the price of cars at the moment and the cost of living, I’m not that surprised that they plucked up the courage to hedge their bets and ask. Also, most households don’t need three cars so seeing that makes sense.

Maybe this could be it. It is in the same place I guess everyday but the way our driveway is - there wouldn't be anywhere else for it. All our cars go into the same spot, so to speak.

OP posts:
REP22 · 22/02/2023 15:36

I was going to say casing the joint, but the first poster beat me to it. One of the offices I work from has regular visits about "the trailer we've got for sale". We've never had a trailer for sale. They also ask the question of the farmer next door (we share this sort of info. because thefts are common in the area).

bellac11 · 22/02/2023 15:36

Con men essentially. No different to the 'Im just released from prison and selling cleaning cloths'

And totally off topic, I would never answer to the door if it meant dashing down from th shower in my dressing gown.

Balibo · 22/02/2023 15:37

@Courtorder yeah and that could be true re/3 cars but the 3rd car is very recent. Basically my Dad died and I've taken his car as his house is being sold. When the first guy came we just had 2 cars on the drive.

OP posts:
Balibo · 22/02/2023 15:38

bellac11 · 22/02/2023 15:36

Con men essentially. No different to the 'Im just released from prison and selling cleaning cloths'

And totally off topic, I would never answer to the door if it meant dashing down from th shower in my dressing gown.

Omg! I've had one of those too! What do they want? What are they trying to con you with?

OP posts:
Balibo · 22/02/2023 15:38

UdoU · 22/02/2023 15:34

Seems a very inefficient way to find a car.

Is this car really clean whilst the other car is muddy?

All sort of the same really dirty/clean wise

OP posts:
Ilikewinter · 22/02/2023 15:40

Sorry OP but OP I find this really concerning....especially as someone whos had their house broken into for car keys, whilst we were in bed. 100% I would think they were casing your house. I would get additional steering locks on your cars, cctv, and a massive lock on your gate. Sorry if my paranoia is way off track 😥

OneTC · 22/02/2023 15:40

I would assume they were approaching you looking for scrap

rothbury · 22/02/2023 15:42

I knew before you gave any info that this would be about a Ford Fiesta.

They're being discontinued and the prices of secondhand ones have rocketed OP.

It would weird me out having people knock the door asking if it’s for sale though.

Balibo · 22/02/2023 15:42

Ilikewinter · 22/02/2023 15:40

Sorry OP but OP I find this really concerning....especially as someone whos had their house broken into for car keys, whilst we were in bed. 100% I would think they were casing your house. I would get additional steering locks on your cars, cctv, and a massive lock on your gate. Sorry if my paranoia is way off track 😥

I've wondered as well because this car is parked infront of our garage....which we did deliberately so no one could try and break into the garage because the car is in the way....

OP posts:
Courtorder · 22/02/2023 15:43

Balibo · 22/02/2023 15:37

@Courtorder yeah and that could be true re/3 cars but the 3rd car is very recent. Basically my Dad died and I've taken his car as his house is being sold. When the first guy came we just had 2 cars on the drive.

So your dad’s car isn’t the Ford?

watcherintherye · 22/02/2023 15:50

A 7 year Old Ford Fiesta, you say….
Just on the offchance, op, are you looking to sell it? Grin

Crumpleton · 22/02/2023 15:51

Balibo · 22/02/2023 15:38

Omg! I've had one of those too! What do they want? What are they trying to con you with?

We get so many of these "just out if prison/Army" people.
They sell household cleaning bits and such....dish clothes, dusters, hankies etc at very very inflated prices.

They tend to get dropped off/picked up in groups.
They're known as Nottingham knockers and the police always ask to notify them if seen in the area.

DramaLlama20 · 22/02/2023 15:54

You say fird fiesta but what exactly model is it? We have an ST which is desirable and they're ceasing to make the fiesta completely soon so it's making them even more desirable - a future classic. If its just a bog standard 1.0L basic then this may not apply. But something a bit special- might be why people are knocking. I'd also be concerned though and beef up your security. Get a chain on your door if you keep answering it to random people.

DramaLlama20 · 22/02/2023 15:55

Ford exact 🙈

DramaLlama20 · 22/02/2023 15:55

Bloody hell! Ford exact trying to correct my errors but making more errors.

PepsiMaxCan · 22/02/2023 16:04

I get asked to sell mine all the time. I also get stopped and asked how many miles on the clock (assume a pre to asking if for sale)

There is a national car shortage

ProfessionalWeirdo · 22/02/2023 16:06

OP, can you contact your local police (online would probably be the easiest way), tell them what you've just told us, and ask their advice?

Catspyjamas17 · 22/02/2023 16:17

In my experience, we had a couple of guys coming round our neighbours asking if caravans and motorhomes were for sale then not long after my mum and dad's motorhome was stolen. So I'd be very careful.

Balibo · 22/02/2023 16:19

Courtorder · 22/02/2023 15:43

So your dad’s car isn’t the Ford?

Nope. The Ford was/is my little run around.
DH has an SUV. My Dad has an estate - I took his car in January just to get it off his drive and sort the paperwork while we go through probate etc.

The Ford is the car both guys have come enquiring about.

OP posts: