Very easy, as you've found out

Two ways to do it (with the type the coupé has): fit another instrument cluster complete from a lower-mileage car or remove the original cluster and fiddle with the numbered drums. The clue to watch out for with the second method is that the drums never properly line up again, so beware of any speedo that has undulating numbers in the mileometer.

Someone who shares my healthy scepticism of car traders

I could be very wrong here, but if you look on autotrader there is a 2000 W Reg FIAT Coupe 20v Turbo Plus for sale - electric blue for £5.5k.

I phoned this earlier in the week to check a few details and asked the standard question "Do you still have the car for sale?" which was greeted with "Which one?" and once I said "The Fiat Coop" the guy on the phone started to tell me about an 82k miler LE, in grey until I stopped him and said that I was enquiring about the electric blue turbo plus and he then said "Oh, yep sorry the grey one is sold.

Looking at the autotrader picture of ML advert for the LE, and the third picture of the electric blue turbo plus (88k miles incidently) they appear to be parked up infront of the same brick wall.

According to autotraders distance calculator, "Foundary Cars" (selling the Blue one) is 94 miles from where I live and ML cars are 91 miles away. Thats either a close coincidence or a bl**dy long brick wall!

After the call earlier in the week, I am convinced the sellers are connected in some way, so anyone eyeing the Turbo Plus may want to be wary and get some proper checks done before jumping in.

That might be the Electric Blue Plus discussed a few months back on here. I think the general concensus was that it's in pretty poor condition all round.

ok,
was just about to get onto this.
The same guy bought this Coupe Plus in electric blue on ebay as well... click ...and notice the mileage....
I saw this when I went up to buy the grey one and he said it had 90k miles on it!!!!!! So again, he's clocked that one. I've had no joy getting through to him, I've sent him an official letter demanding my money back or the trading standards would take it further but I don't think he's gonna care! I hope they can sort him out, because I'm going to have no joy getting in contact with him.

Blade him for the plus aswell.

yes, that plus coupe is the same as the one on ebay. £4000 - 17,000 miles = £5500 !! Good business if you can get away with it I suppose. looks as though the bonnet is pi$$ed as well (non standard grille).

I would report them both to trading standards and tell them the connection, in for a penny in for a pound.

I expect he is watching on here as well, so just watch what you say.

he operates under 2 companies....each have different mobile numbers.


Each go through to Orange answerphones when I call, if anyone else has any joy, let me know! Matt responds to both numbers but they're both in the same location that I picked up the LE coupe from.

cool

...

Jamest, the point I think Sugerbear was trying to make, was not that you may be scared of him, but that this is an open forum and its not the best idea to go around throwing accusations until an outcome is reached.

This is for 2 reasons:

1. Its probably a good idea to keep whatever you find out between yourself and trading standards/whoever until the situation is resolved, especially if he may be watching here.

2. If it does all blow up, I don't know what the legal implications are of naming on here are.

So could you please be careful of what you are posting.

Also to everyone else, there is no need for posting types of violence!

Thanks

cool, will keep it quiet.

I'd love to fingerprint test certain parts of the car.

Would be quite "interesting" if you knew who had been mooching.

hm, it's funny to think how many people have driven this car! it drives really well for it's age (I guess!)

I viewed LE 197,defo something not right about it, just about every panel had been resprayed, badly, the front bumper didnt line up with the wings,one of the wings didnt line up with the door, interior seemed very clean though,except for a huge gap between the dash and passenger door card, and the guy tried telling me once a sale was agreed he would get all the bodywork sorted included in the sale price,why would he do that? walked away pretty quickly from that one....

how long ago was that?
I spoke to the guy this morning and said he was willing to do something about it which basically means he's admitting it's been clocked.

was a good month ago now, im sure if you spend abit of dosh on it all will be ok, good luck with getting it all sorted,its a shame there are so many dishonest people out there....

it is very easy to clock a coupe

Can we have a howto guide

ha, yeah maybe we could get a 'how to' guide so I can put the correct miles back on it!

Easy.....



Put it in reverse for a bit....



Ill get my coat

What about discussing a large price drop, the car looks the business and if you're able to get it for a low price selling it on wont be an issue.
I've been told the basic engine will go to the moon and back...the other engine parts tend to need replacing anyway. You could get a bargain for £2k - £2.5k?

The seller needs prosecuted this is only a case of 2 cars which if it were not for this forum....... Think of the other cars he has sold.
At the end of the day he pulled your pants down and tried to make a fool of you.

Yep, he needs stopping asap!

Not being funny and no offense to the poster/buyer but do you all really think trading standards will do much here?


Dont you think they aren't a little bored of hearing people come crying for buying clocked and v-car'd cars for the sake of a £5 HPI check???

Mean look at IrishAndy, not being funny but it was written all over the car and the logbook, if people carnt be arsed to HPI or even read the logbook then im afraid people will be had over.

Clocking isn't something new, look at all the rules and regs when selling. All the disclaimers. A good chunk of cars on the forum are clocked or bent with the owners non the wiser.

The only way to stop sellers doing this is to stop them selling the cars, if people hpi'd and walked away its not long before they go bust.
Unfortunately who am i trying to kid, wont ever happen

Low mileage

I know what you mean, i do feel a bit naieve when it comes to things like this, he knew i would take the bait and i'm paying for it now!

an HPi check was probably the best idea but i just assumed when the advert said 'hpi clear' it was the truth! gutted.

Well, i would accept a lot of money my way and get to keep it because it's an amazing car, obviously with the real miles it's done it would need a lot doing to it like another cambelt etc, but I don't think this chap is going to budge...

Trading Standards and the poilce will be my only saving grace...

Hi James

Any update on the trading standards complaint? How is the car running btw?

Andrew

Hey,
Yeah, trading standards are onto the guy as are the police in Leicestershire but the car is running really well thanks!

To be honest I'd just like some money back for it,
took her down to Powerfiat the other day where Rog had a look and it needs a new thermostat and radiator and just to be safe another cambelt so if the dealer could pay for these then I'd happily keep the car!

I'll keep you updated...

Cheers,
James.

Cool. I'm glad the car ended up in good hands.

Keep us all upto speed on the outcome.

James

One thing that worries me is that you are relying on trading standards and the police to reclaim your money. Shouldn't you be taking out a claim in the small claims court to recover the cost ?