Hidden vices (3/4) – Every Monday in August, Le Figaro gives the floor to injured buyers who have experienced misadventures to buy a car. Today, an ancient automobile enthusiast recounts the discovery of corrosion under the careful makeup of his new Jaguar.
For Jacques, the case seemed perfect. In August 2021, this Ardéchois collector came across an enticing announcement: a 1962 Jaguar MK2 offered at 34,000 euros in the Paris region. “”I live in Ardèche, but I did not hesitate to do 500 kilometers to go see it He says. On site, the car seems impeccable. “” The exhaust jar was new. The seller said to me: “Look at the underside, how beautiful it is!” He tells me about new brake discs, nine tank Remember the buyer. And miracle, technical control was ” virgin », That is to say without any reported defect. Jacques only notices painting defects, and therefore negotiates 5,000 euros in discount. The seller accepts, the case is concluded for 29,000 euros.
The discovery of the pot with roses
Shortly after, Jacques decides to entrust his jaguar to a bodybuilder for the predicted painting. “QUand the bodybuilder started to sand, he discovered that there were two centimeters of “sauerkraut” – a mixture of polyester and mastic – all over the body. He said to me: “I won’t go further on this car, I stop everything.” »»
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After having scratched, Jacques and his bodybuilder discover the extent of the damage: the wings are “rotten», Fund under the doors were replaced by makeshift sheets covered with putty, and the chassis has blocked holes with … cardboard. “The car was completely made up “Explains Jacques.
The new owner cannot come back to it and ruminates a question: ” How could such a deception have been unnoticed during technical control? I have proof: the owner went to the mechanic who carried out a preconstruction … Neither him nor the technical controller has nothing to find to say ”. For Jacques, this is clear: “The technical controller was satisfied with a check, without really controlling anything. »»
A technical detail would corroborate his theory: ” From the moment you put blackson – a tar which protects from corrosion, which the mechanic can place on the chassis – technical control obeys a procedure where he must indicate “the presence of Blackson did not allow me to check the condition of the chassis”. And that has not been indicated.»
Jacques cannot come back, the seller’s profile had everything to reassure him: “C‘was someone who had money, and I saw that he had another very beautiful car in his garage». Jacques has developed another theory on this story. “” He is a gentleman who had to be rolled himself and who should not have attack the sale. Now he seeks to pass on the hot potato. Like what, it is not always the best dressed that make the most honest ”.
The start of a court procedure
Contacted after the discovery of vices, the seller denies any deception. “” I said to him, “Sir, your car is all rotten”. He replied: “How can you question the honesty of a technical control ?” »says Jacques.
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Since this appeal, legal proceedings have been initiated before the Tribunal de Versailles for hidden defects, with request for sales resolution. The buyer claims the cancellation of the transaction and the reimbursement of all the costs incurred: purchase price, insurance, transport, gray card. “” But the procedures are very long: 6 to 7 years old. We hope that the first hearing will take place before the end of 2025 ”sighs the Ardéchois. In the meantime, the Jaguar remains immobilized in a garage, without anyone being able to take advantage of it.
Errors not to be reproduced
With hindsight, this enthusiast of ancient cars recognizes his mistakes: “I had 3 or 4 vintage cars, I never made myself have like that. Everything was gathered to get swelling, I was 600 km from my home, the seller presented well, but the virgin technical control was weird … I was stupid not to notice it. The bride was too beautiful. »»
So, he now prefers to give advice to future buyers. “” Never trust blindly, even if the seller seems honest. When someone does a voluntary step by saying to yourself “Look, look, beware. And above all, always do it Experience the vehicle by an independent specialist before purchase ”he concludes.