buying Shogun/Pajero 4WD on ebay?? Anyone done it?

[jen1]

Sort of thinking of getting a 4WD and trading in my little car which is getting slowly wrecked with the state of our roads and the track to the yard! Seen the post below about Pajeros but this is slightly on from that!

Anyway was thinking about a Shogun or Pajero SWB. Don't have a lot to spend though and have been looking at them on ebay and wondered if anyone has bought a car off ebay and if there's anything I should look out for? Looks like they are pretty reliable?

Know a couple of guys who may come with me for a look but I am not technical and don't know what to look for. Is it better to go to a dealership? If buying off ebay is there anything I should look out for, get an HPI check etc etc. Is there anything that goes wrong on these cars at a certain time or after a certain mileage that I should be aware of? Or anything that I should be looking out for if I go to see any?

 

[dozzie]

Haven't bought a pajero but have 4 bought cars off ebay. (I know other friends who buy and sell with ebay too.) All have been fine and reasonably priced. 2 were not all exactly as described although close but they were both insurance write-offs

so you do need to go look beforehand if you dont have a mechanic at home

but IMO it is a good way to buy as you can check feedback. If you went to a secondhand dealer and asked to speak to their last 100 customers they would tell you where to go! With ebay you can check it out.

Most of the ebay sellers also know that if the car is not as described the buyer can walk away so I think they tend to try to cover everything in the ad.

If you have friends in the trade they may be able to to more detailed HPI checks for you too.

Also, if you find one you like, ask the reserve price and make an offer!

Can save the hassle of bidding wars! Experienced sellers of cars also know that even when a car is sold on ebay some buyers will still tyre kick and try to argue the price. For some sellers to know the car is sold and gone is worth more than taking the risk of leaving it on ebay!

 

[SDH]

Hi Jen

It was who did the earlier post about Pajero

After getting advice from HHOers I found the Paj onwers club website. They have loads of advice on what to look for when buying etc. really imformative
www.POCUK.co.uk

 

[nic85]

Have PMed you

 

[Louby]

I know nothing about cars but I would buy off Ebay, our 4 x 4's up for sale on there at the moment as we have just bought a Shogun sport as we needed 4 doors. Most sellers will let you look first and if they dont I wouldnt bid.

 

[Baileyhoss]

I have pm'd you too.
Fx

 

[Spyda]

Yeah, I bought one off eBay about 5 months ago. A LWB Pajero though (for £1625), to tow our Ifor Williams 505 trailer (which I also bought on eBay for £2200).

No problems with transaction, except 'recent service' turned out to have been done 8 months previously! And the '6 months tax and MOT' turned out to be 2 months and 3 months respectively. Hmmm

Just double check everything before you visit or bid, i.e. that they've got the FULL log book in THEIR name, service history, etc., and the exact dates the MOT and tax expire. Ask if there was anything 'advisory' on the previous MOT. Ask, too, how long they have owned it before selling it on (and check the log book for verification). If they claim to be a private seller and haven't had the vehicle very long.... check why they are selling it on again.

Oh, and in addition to checking the Seller's Feedback history (and checking how many other vehicles they've sold on there if they are claiming to be a private seller), do get an HPI check done before you commit. If they are an honest seller there is no reason in the world they would prevent you doing this.

Try and find the lowest mileage vehicle you can afford, and a diesel engine is likely to trug on longer and more reliably than a petrol version (so my husband, who's an agricultural mechanic, insists.)

Good luck. We're happy with our eBay bought Pajero.