On the Friday morning I was at work and got a message from the 190 seller saying he would sell it but he needed the full asking price for it. As the difference was only £500 I replied back and spoke to him on the phone agreeing I would buy the car.
I said I wanted to call out, shake his hand, sign a used car sales agreement and pay a £500 cash deposit. He said that same Friday evening would suit and he would let me know a time later.
This was the first formal agreement that we had a deal and I was excited about it! I created a used car sales agreement and printed 2x hard copies in preparation. (We would both sign both copies and retain a copy each)
The seller did not contact me that Friday evening as agreed. I tried texting and phoning him the Friday evening and Saturday morning / evening and nada
I was getting p#ssed off at this stage as the seller wasn't respectful. But I kept my cool and he phoned me back late the Saturday night saying he "had been on a fishing trip" and the deal was still on.....
I said no point talking on the phone ill call the Sunday morning. So I arrived at his house the Sunday morning at 10.30 as agreed with the £500 cash and used car sales agreement copy. When I arrived his elderly mum and dad were sitting outside at a garden table. They offered me tea and a scone which I didn't want to be rude and accepted. It was nice of them to offer. They went to get the seller and said he was still in bed. (Guy in his late 40's!!) Some 15 mins later he came out and said he "had a few beers last night".
We shook hands, signed the sales agreement and I paid the cash deposit. It took over a week and lots of ups and downs to get to that point but I felt really good leaving the house that morning because at last the sale was agreed and I went home to clear space for the car and make arrangements for its uplift in a few days time.
The agreement was that the full remaining payment would be made by bank transfer to his brothers UK bank account before collection. This is because the seller was living in Australia so didn't cause any concern. I did say to make sure and send the correct details.
I also said to him that day that if he could find the car's original owners manual pack and service history etc I would give him an extra £100 cash. (Was worth asking and I wanted to motivate him to look for it)
The next evening I had space cleared for the car. I messaged the seller and he agreed I could collect the car on the Tuesday evening and he would send the bank details that Monday night.
I had the transporter arranged and all ready to go. Late on the Monday night I got a text from the seller with the confirmed bank details. I decided to check them and they were invalid. I messaged the seller and said he needed to check and re-send the bank details and nothing. That Monday night I hardly slept with the strangeness of all to date and knowing the timing of the bank transfer and collection the next day would all need to run right to get the car home.
The next day the "fun" really started. I was at work and come 2pm still no word from the seller and not answering the phone. He then rang me around 2.30 and asked if I could put the transporter off until the Wednesday night as it would really help him out as there were "things going on at home"
I reluctantly agreed to this and tried to keep patient knowing the seller had my cash deposit and I didn't want to fall out with him or I could lose the car and my £. I phoned the transporter and rearranged for the next night.
Then, just a couple hours after that the seller phoned me again and started telling me personal stuff at home regarding family troubles. I listened a bit but didn't invite any of that and tried to keep him focused on the sale. He then said he "needed cash" and his brother wouldn't give his bank details. This was after banks close at 3.30pm and was a large amount I knew could not be lifted without giving a UK bank 48 hours notice.
I phoned around family and made arrangements quicky to get the large sum of cash together to keep the deal and get the car home the next night as the seller's irrational behaviour was really annoying me. I messaged the seller the same Tuesday evening to say it wasn't easy at such short notice but I had the cash sorted and transporter re arranged for the next night. He said OK.
Then that night I got another text to say he had found the paperwork and any chance of a +£500 "luck penny" as it would really help him out
A luck penny is given to the buyer not the seller!! I had realised by now the seller was an alcoholic and had lots of problems so this was just another bit of bad karma from him. (It also wasn't what I asked for and was just some old MOTs and old registration documents)
I text to say no, absolutely not I would pay what I agreed at £100 and not a penny more. No more changes please and ill see you tomorrow night. I didn't sleep at all that night as I knew it wasn't going to be easy to get this deal done and I was fully expecting further shenanigans the next day.
It was only the UK journalists not " knowing better"(or wanting to make it count that Cosworth had a finger in this car aswell...Yes the brits are proud of their Cosworth heritage i understand..and they should be 
And lied to him that the car was inside still.
and not a good one!
Some people just have zero honour I guess ill know for next time to be more cautious and not get my time wasted as this to date has wasted alot of time and I had arrangements made to uplift the car so I have some embarrassing phone calls to make now to cancel that. Terrible.
