59 replies to this topic

[tekon1984]

I heed this warning to anyone who is looking to buy a Mini in Totton near Southampton. Specifically, from a guy called Sam Cole. I made the mistake of doing so and ended up with, essentially, an over priced paper weight.

I bought the car with a 3 week old MOT that was issued by Breeze Van Centre, 331 Salisbury Road, Totton, Southampton, SO40 3ZU, signed off by Joshua Stone and it was blatantly crooked. Stevie Wonder would do better job.

All was patched up to look ok for viewing, but after a closer inspection, I found the car was riddled with hidden horrors. For example, The bush for the steering column was broken but instead of replacing it (£5 max) he had put it back together with electrical tape and there was no spleen at the end of the shaft. Steering was fine for test drive but fell apart on the motorway at 60mph. Scary stuff!!! Which brings me to my next point. The speedo is 10mph out which i found out by getting caught in a 40 doing 50. "3 Points or a D.A. Course, Sir." Thanks Sam. The wheel flange had no teeth on the inside and only worked as the nut was done up so tight. The rear brake line had been crushed due to someone jacking the car up in the wrong spot. The front subframe rear mount had been patched up by someone who has no skill in welding (the carpet was glued down with what i can only describe as araldite and the crafty little sod had strategically parked the car over a puddle so i wouldn't check it from underneath. Same reason i didn't check the rear brake line) and ripped out as if it were perorated card and the mount on the other side had broken. The list dose go on and on. But even so, Would you MOT a car with any one of these issues???

I've reported the centre to VOSA and sent photos such as  Image088.jpg   224.3K   76 downloads,  DSC00441.jpg   663.83K   50 downloads,  DSC00442.jpg   343.64K   33 downloads as proof and they are coming to fully inspect the car.

Anyway, my point is, DO NOT give any of your money to SAM COLE. He is a scammer and should NOT be trusted when it comes to buying cars from him.

Thank you for reading and I hope to save you a lot of time and money.

DO NOT BUY FROM SAM COLE!!!

Attached Files

•  Image086.jpg   298.72K   59 downloads

[lateral_thinking]

i think you need to go visit him with some big friends and have a nice talk over some tea and scones .... if you know what i mean.
its wrong that someone would sell a car with only one of them issues, let alone all of them, that car sounds like a complete death trap, glad you are ok, but feel sorry for your wallet

[JustSteve]

as above really...

How much did it set you back, if you don't mind me asking?

[tekon1984]

A regrettable £1400. It was my first mini so had no idea what to look out for. I mainly looked out for rust and had a test drive and was happy with the purchase at the time. Until, that is, i took it to my mechanical chum who instantly ripped into me for it. At the end of the day, It was bought with money from a whiplash claim. I did actually get whiplash and was in pain for a good few weeks but still saw it as free money anyway.

It sucks because, as it was my first mini, its put me off getting another one any time soon.

Still, lesson learnt and next time I'll be more thorough. Or get my mate or an RAC or AA person (do you get female RAC/AA people?) to check it out before handing over any money.

[miniman24]

I know how this feels, I bought my Mini 3 years ago with no previous knowledge of them. Fell in love with it and paid £1400 for it - it had a new MOT but with a bit of poking with a screwdriver, the sills and floors looked like this:



She wasnt as dangerous as yours though, luckily she was very sound mechanically.

I fixed her up how she should have been done when I bought her, and love her to bits now but it was very heartbreaking when that screwdriver went through the floor! Hope you get everything sorted man, these crooks need to be stopped

Edit: Sounds like you are in exactly the same predicament I was in 3 years ago

Edited by miniman24, 12 November 2011 - 04:46 PM.

[tekon1984]

That's why I've posted his name and the garage who issued the MOT.

SHAME ON YOU BOTH!!!

With any luck they will both get what is coming to them. and all that. You reap what you sow.

[hunterg30]

sorry to hear a bout your car; but what's the difference whether a male of female rac/aa inspector looks

Edited by hunterg30, 12 November 2011 - 04:52 PM.

[Miniowner123]

i think everyone has a story along these lines, my first mini was a bit of a filler special, granted it wasnt as dangerous as what you have but still i wouldnt have called it structually safe lol

main thing is your safety and the fact the only thing lost is money, not your life. vosa dont mess about no more with mot centres so they will definitely get whats coming to them, as for the person who sold it, he's just been named and shamed, so i think most people will go running if they spot that name on the log book lol

Edited by pinhead, 12 November 2011 - 04:59 PM.

[tekon1984]

To
hunterg30 I was only saying that I didn't know whether to put AA/RAC guy or person. Political correctness is a joke these days. No offence meant.


and Pinhead, I certainly hope so.

[Andyagl]

its a shame there are such people out there. i done the same sort of thing with my first mini. didnt really know what i was looking for. only came to light when i hit the back of a sierra. front end full of filler just shatered, and every big hub nut was loose enough to tighten by hand.
try not to let it put you off minis though, cars of all makes unfortunatly have been given the scammer treatment.

[Neildanks]

without siding with anyone the what the weld looks like cant fail the mot although your right it does look bad and the splines in the wheel would not show up on mot as the nut was tightened also the picture of the front panel mount i think may look rusty but if it is secure then its a pass im afraid. on the steering again another bodge good enough to get it through mot.

Point i am trying to make the mot station was probably as wise as you about the bodges but who ever put them together like that should be shot

[racingbob]

shame you never took someone with you I'm only up at chandlers ford, mind you would not of noticed some of those bodge things
PM me if you want a chat

[Frisco]

Speedo being out 10mph is fairly common and could be down to tyre choice. Not defending the other stuff though

[MaxAndPaddy]

Gutted for you......very scarey that people are willing to sell on a car that dangerous

Dont know how they sleep

[tekon1984]

On a mattress full of my money, thats how. Lol