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EdwardCox

Guest
I live in Southern California.
I recently sold my 1962 Ford Falcon to an individual who lives 500 miles away in Northern California. In my online ad I had stated that the car had a straight 6cyl(with less than 300 miles on replacement engine). The purchaser called me and I explained to him that prior to my purchasing of the vehicle, the previous owner had put in a replacement engine and that I had only logged, at most, 300 miles since purchasing the car. I never implied that the engine was rebuilt and that I was not sure of the actual mileage on the engine, but just of my miles since I bought the car. He then proceeded to send me $500 as a deposit, so that I wouldn't sell the car to anyone else, in addition he sent via email (That he was sending the deposit and that upon further inspection, if he discovered any damage to the engine or chassis that I did not disclose, the sale would be null and void).He then drove down and inspected the vehicle and we decided on a price of $2800 (asking price was $3100). However, prior to him traveling down, he had mentioned that he planned on driving the vehicle back to N.California. I suggested that he tow it instead, because I was not comfortable with the distance he would be travelling. I informed him that I had never taken the vehicle on long distance drives and was not sure how it would react to the punishment of that long of a drive. He stated that he knew old cars and that if it stranded him on the way up, he would know how to fix it. 500 miles later, upon arriving in N.California, the car went out on him. He took the car to a mechanic and the mechanic informed that it would cost $2000-3000 to rebuild the engine. He then contacted me and asked me what I was going to do about it. My question is, do I have any financial or legal responsibility in remedying his situation?
 


I AM ALWAYS LIABLE

Senior Member
EdwardCox said:
I live in Southern California.
I recently sold my 1962 Ford Falcon to an individual who lives 500 miles away in Northern California. In my online ad I had stated that the car had a straight 6cyl(with less than 300 miles on replacement engine). The purchaser called me and I explained to him that prior to my purchasing of the vehicle, the previous owner had put in a replacement engine and that I had only logged, at most, 300 miles since purchasing the car. I never implied that the engine was rebuilt and that I was not sure of the actual mileage on the engine, but just of my miles since I bought the car. He then proceeded to send me $500 as a deposit, so that I wouldn't sell the car to anyone else, in addition he sent via email (That he was sending the deposit and that upon further inspection, if he discovered any damage to the engine or chassis that I did not disclose, the sale would be null and void).He then drove down and inspected the vehicle and we decided on a price of $2800 (asking price was $3100). However, prior to him traveling down, he had mentioned that he planned on driving the vehicle back to N.California. I suggested that he tow it instead, because I was not comfortable with the distance he would be travelling. I informed him that I had never taken the vehicle on long distance drives and was not sure how it would react to the punishment of that long of a drive. He stated that he knew old cars and that if it stranded him on the way up, he would know how to fix it. 500 miles later, upon arriving in N.California, the car went out on him. He took the car to a mechanic and the mechanic informed that it would cost $2000-3000 to rebuild the engine. He then contacted me and asked me what I was going to do about it. My question is, do I have any financial or legal responsibility in remedying his situation?
My response:

You have no responsibility whatsoever. He bought a car. If he failed to have the car inspected by a mechanic prior to purchase, then who's fault is that ? It's his.

In California, it's Caveat Emptor. Oh, he'll try to sue you, but the judge will tell you exactly the same thing I'm saying here.

IAAL
 

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