Thanks for the welcome...what have I missed tonight then? It's a private sale.
Ok, if it's a private sale, it's just a case of doing your due diligence.
I'm not sure how knowledgable you are in the buying field, so please excuse if this is teaching you how to suck eggs. (never understood that saying)
My first port of call (after any initial contact with a potential seller) is a Full HPI check. Not the free one, that's not always enough information, and it's not pennies you're potentially spending here. Outstanding finance is always a worry on a private sale, as is any major insurance claims.
On the subject of outstanding finance, this is totally fine if the seller intends on getting you to pay this off as part of the sale. People worry about this process, but it's pretty simple.
I know your initial question was a direct reference to buying a T6, and what issue they might have to look out for, but they are a pretty tough straight forward vehicle. I don't know of any common issues that are outside the wear and tear remit, but other members might add suggestions. The 102 engine is pretty bullet proof if it's maintained correctly, but try to find out it's history. (no history, walk away) Has it been a previous hire vehicle, ex company van, private owner etc.
The ideal purchase is a 1 private owner, full service history, loads of paperwork etc. But that's often hard to find in commercials. Most are thrashed, bashed work wagons. The 102 is normally a 5 speed, so bare that in mind with future residual value. Also, some members have reported the 102 being a little underpowered, but this can be worked around with a re-map.
When looking round a commercial vehicle, inspect every panel. Stand at each end, get on your knees and view down a panel, this will help you see if there are any dents and damage, where as looking directly at a panel face on, can hide things. Don't expect it to be perfect.
I own a business that specialises in Caravans and Motorhome exteriors, and as part of my business, we inspect the full exteriors for customers, hunting out any poor body repairs, which are extremely common in my industry. A tip from me: If you have a pair of polarised sunglasses, use these to view each panel in different outdoor lights. Direct sunlight is best, so don't be afraid to move the vehicle around to take advantage of any sunlight. The lenses will pick out bodywork far better than the naked eye, and if you can see where any repairs have been carried out with this method, it normally suggests that the repair is not to the best of standards. If the van is arrow straight, and you cannot find any repairs, then that suggests any repairs have been done correctly. Paintwork and body repairs are nothing to be worried about, unless they have been done to a poor standard. To give you an example. A good mate of mine purchased a private sale Silver T6 a while back. He didn't move the van around to inspect every panel, and subsequently he later found the tailgate had been repaired and painted a slightly different shade of Silver, which drove him nuts. He's just collected it from the bodyshop after having this rectified, costing just short of £900, which he may of been able to negotiate off the private sale, if only he'd of listened to what I told him
As a rule of thumb, we tend to think along the lines, if you are happy as a seller to have a vehicle that's been bodged up, then maybe this seller is not worth dealing with. There are still plenty of unscrupulous sellers out there.
Next, the more obvious stuff, listen to the engine from cold. The 102 from experience can be a little rattly on start up, but that's normal, unless is excessive. Try the clutch bite, a clutch replacement isn't the end of the world, but it is a good reason to knock the price down. Test all the electrics work. Even simple problems can get expensive, but also bare in mind there's a wealth of very knowledgable members in here, that can help to fix an issue far faster and cheaper than a main dealer. I'd say check tyres, but again this is obvious, and bold tyres are just a good reason to haggle.
Other than the above, it's just generally being astute when buying a used commercial as a private sale. Private sales are not as common as they used to because of the rise of cheap dealer finance, but there are some bargains to be had if you are careful.
A simple conversation with the buyer can tell a thousand answers. I tend to commit to viewings on how I find the seller if that makes sense, but a good tip is to say to the seller, that you are realistic, you expect a few issues, dents, worn parts etc, and you're happy to take this into consideration. Then ask the seller if they can list the issues they feel are minor and might need attention, just so you can get an idea what it will cost to put these right. Most genuine people will then say it's got this and that, because they know you're expecting it anyway.
Lastly, it's a used commercial, not a used car. If it's been used for it's intended use, then it will have signs of that. Minor problems can be put right, if the price reflects that, but major issues, and walk away. There are others to view. Also, if you have a budget, and spec in mind, maybe pay to be a VIP member, and you can add a Wanted advert in here, where it's a little less of a minefield and members tend to be a little easier to trust, rather than total strangers.
Good luck with your hunt, and don't be afraid to ask in here if you're not sure on something.
