The seller is indeed a hard biatch negotiator but to go as far as saying he is dishonest, no one really cares... we just want his damn car lol

Stupid question (I could use google, just lazy); do you guys have third parties (eg. a legal entity) that will "list" private/second hand vehicles on their website and offer, as added value, a PPI or inspection of any sort? 3 months warranty type deal?

Asking this because here in China it is the norm. Nobody, simply nobody, will buy a car from a private owner (never heard, unless its familly). All second hand cars are sold by third parties running these million-hits-per day Car for Sale websites. Process for the seller is simple:

1. Call that x website hotline, take an appointment
2. Rep shows up your place, do a visual PPI, take pics
3. Agree on a reserve price (final price is at third party discretion)
4. Send the car for mechanical PPI (if pass, 3 months warranty is added to the vehicle)
5. List the car on their website
6. Off it goes

Seller is totally released from his vehicle at that stage. Anything happening afterward it is that website dudes to deal with lol

I thought that was brilliant! Anyone doing the same in the USA?

Not to my knowledge, at least not in So Cal. Its a great idea. Protects both the buyer and seller

Hmmmm mabe a new business plan is in order
I'll cut you in for a point or two for the idea

Started 10 years ago here... sthg like that. Yep great business start-up that can go viral in no time for a serious US investor. You welcome lol

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^ the biggest here, literally millions of cars for sale. There are some 3-4 other competitors of course (all the same product really).

Google Translate

Fred, what does it cost the seller to "list" their vehicle on this type of deal??
Is it a fixed cost or a % of selling price?
What happens if you want to sell a POS and it fails the PPI?

Steve - its' "free" mate. That what makes it all a monopoly (game changer!)

Fixed cost (agreed reserved) or auction style. Both ways are available.

POS does not get a 3months warranty. Sold as-is. In most case the seller have no choice but to make the potential buyer aware of any rusty bolts. Mind you... you'd be surprised, maybe buyers buys these POS cars, fixed them up, and resell using the same channel for a thou more (many car traders does that all day long).

These car websites are so big now (as big as insurance co) they even offer full financing on second-hand cars, 3 months warranty, other added services, etc.

Its brilliant. NOBODY buys car from private sellers anymore - ever lol

Works!

Just quickly checked with one of my contact here who is involved in that second-hand car trade industry.

The "ONLY ONE" in the states who is offering similar tactics is Manheim. My contact here is also telling me that this company already worth/quoted by investors @ 10billions USD.

Any entrepreneur here, you got to write this business plan quick. Still plenty of room for another one in this industry I'm pretty sure ;)

AU seems to be untouched as well ;) Nobody doing this there he confirmed.

HOW TO GET RICH QUICK DOING WHAT YOU LIKE MOST, play with cars ;) lol

I believe that Manheim is wholesale only auctions and you need to be a licensed dealer. I think they do some public auctions as well for some large sellers, mostly repos, but that still is very different from what you are describing in China

Totally different in a sense yes I agree, but still the idea is pretty similar. Look-up how much this Co worth for some profitability indications ;)

Regardless, looks like there is room for similar-a-la-Chinese business(es) for North-America. Target customers would be you and I (individuals). You get rich (billionaire) in less that 10 years.

Works here, those who run those websites have total monopoly on the second-hand car market. So long to the small car trader shops (and crooks)... those are all gone and died 5~7 years ago.

The 2000 S is a dual row IMS, right?

If so, failure rate is low so that is a plus.

So I went to see the car this morning, and when I turn the key, the Check light does not come on? Seller says that he never noticed that before!! Should I now be running for the hills?

Sounds like it. If you have a cheap code scanner, you can plug it into the OBDII port and see if it has any error codes.