[A_P]

Bit of a diff thread this time, a bit more serious. It was taken from a member of a another forum who shared his experience :
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Hi all,

I thought I would share with you a recent drama I had last week.

My partner is selling her BMW 1 Series and we advertised it on the Autotrader website.
I had a phone call from guy calling himself "Stephen" interested in the car and he wanted to view it the same day. He said he would be round mine for 1600hrs. At 1600hrs he phoned to say he was still around 60 miles away according to his satnav so he will be late. At 19.29hrs he rang to say he was in the area at a nearby business and if I could meet him, luckliy I said No as he was about 30 seconds from my house. At this point I wait outside my house to guide him in. He got dropped off at a crossroads about 20yrds from my house and the "Silver" car drove off. I met him and my gate and asked why the car has drove off, he said his fiance needed the toilet so she drove up the road to go to the pub and use the toilet there. I thought that was reasonable but odd. He spent about 10 mins looking in and around the car then asked about the paper work. He came into my home at which he met my partner Karen and he was very pleasant and nice natured. He inspected all the paperwork and was very happy & asked for a test drive. I asked about the level of car insurance he had and said he drove a van, which he was fully comp on, I still wasn't satisfied so I said I would drive.

"Stephen" and I got into the car and headed off. After about 2 mins of driving I noticed a "Silver" car parked up in the entry towards a farm with someone in the passenger seat laying low, again I thought this was strange but the car never followed us, so I then thought I was just being paranoid.
"Stephen" asked if we could park up somewhere there was light to have a closer look at the body work, which I thought was reasonable so I said yeah, but didn't say where I would go.
I parked up next to a pub with plenty of exterior lighting adjacent to a main road. He spent another 15 mins inspecting the paint work asking all the right questions. During this time I rang my partner Karen to ask if she was okay, she said Yeah and couldn't understand why I had rang (I rang because I still wasn't happy about the Silver car and I was concerned for her safety and the M3's lol).
After inspecting the car he asked about the clutch bite, I told him I wasn't happy about him driving on a public road so I said he could turn the car round in the pub car park to get a feel for the clutch. He turned the car round, with me in the passenger seat and parked the car very close to the edge of the car park. This is when he starts talking about price but I told him it's my partners car so we will have to go back home to discuss this with her.

INTERESTING BIT:

I said I will drive back and he opened the drivers door and started to get out, I did the same out of the passenger's door and made my way to the back of the car to walk round and swap seats. As I get round the back of the car all I here is the door shut and the rear wheels spin, I thought "Oh Bugger"!
He drove off the car park and he had to make a tight left turn, this bought me enough time to run and jump through the passenger door which was luckily left wide open. My feet were dangling outside the car while I was leaning in trying to pull the handbrake and hit the stop/start button. The handbrake slowed the car but the Start/stop button didn't turn the engine off while he was driving, at which point I snapped the key out of the ignition and I think this turned the engine off. During this time the car was swerving all over the road and I can remember thinking we are going to crash, as it's a narrow country road. He tried to stop me from pulling the hand brake and turning the car off but I managed to do it, at this point I remember he put his hands in his pockets and I just thought no you don't so I pinned him to the drivers door and said some unpleasant things as well as get out of the car. He did and because I had half the key in my hand I got out as well. He ran off down the road but I didn't give chase, I shut the doors to the car, locked it and drove home as fast as I could. My main concern was Karen, she was at home alone and I was worried what his mates were up too. While driving back I contacted the Police, bluetooth of course, and explained to them what happened.

All was okay at home and I never saw any of them again. The Police did an area search, took statements and Scenes of Crime have dusted for prints. Luckily during the altercation in the car he lost his glasses which the Police now have.
I'm just glad no one was hurt and they didn't get away with anything.

He claimed his name was "Stephen" and he came from "West London", travelled in a Silver car, I couldn't comment on make or model & his description:

Slim build, over 6 foot, mixed race, a loose, long (About several inches) wet look afro and was wearing glasses at the time. My partner recalls he had a small scar on his face near his hairline, only small though.

I thought I would share this encase it's an organised group that go round doing this on a regular basis, stay safe people!!

[dakhu1]

Scum off the earth people like that!!

Very useful to know and thanks for the heads-up AP!!

[Kal]

The main thing is you are both safe, the outcome could have been a lot worse.

This is the reason I sold my car to a dealer, I lost a bit of money but situations like this put me off.

[davyk31]

But is it true ???????? Sounds a bit too heroic to me to be honest.

[nicktyler]

This sort of thing seems to be prolific. Not so long ago I heard a story of a guy that went to buy a car but diddn't take the cash. Decided to buy it so walked round the corner to get the cash. Then got robbed at gun point on the way back.

[surrey 335i]

you should be able to get a feel for scumbags and timewasters on the phone, dont invite them round!

[dxb335d]

The start/stop button does turn the engine off...

Had a mate do it to my 335 at 70+ once...,

[dxb335d]

Sounds far fetched to me, they were out to steal a car not rape his wife,

[xenon]

I thought it just didn't sound right either. No offence to A_P for re-posting but it somehow doesn't scan.

[MEGA]

To be honest every time I get scuppered when trying to steal a car I do automatically fall back on my second love which is of course raping...

So I think the OP's post is for real. fo sho.

[A_P]

So you guys reckon he was chatting cheddar cheese?

[zltm089]

Could be real....with all these scumbags around!...

[AlanYoro35i]

Real or not these scenario's can become true. Reading some of these things can help improving what to do if your in a similar situation. Regardless of the story is fake or real the world is simply too big and just because you think it's not possible it can happen.

[A_P]

Originally Posted by Yoro35i

Real or not these scenario's can become true. Reading some of these things can help improving what to do if your in a similar situation. Regardless of the story is fake or real the world is simply too big and just because you think it's not possible it can happen.

Spot on mate, this is the reason I posted in the first place. If not for anything, then for a little reminder to be on guard.

[davyk31]

Theft while test driving is unfortunately common, its the superman heroics after that which sound dodgy to me. No matter what however there is a warning in it for everyone and extremely hard to be completely safe on a test drive sadly.

[Business edition]

I was thinking that too. I have tired the start stop button at 10/20mph the car didn't turn off lol. Might try it at 5mph

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Business edition

I was thinking that too. I have tired the start stop button at 10/20mph the car didn't turn off lol. Might try it at 5mph

200% works mate, my friend pressed it on mine.. At over 70mph.

This was in 2008 and the car an 07, maybe they have changed now?

Same as a a key turned ignition... Should always be able to be turned off.

[Amini77]

People are freaking scum.

[Business edition]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

200% works mate, my friend pressed it on mine.. At over 70mph.

This was in 2008 and the car an 07, maybe they have changed now?

Same as a a key turned ignition... Should always be able to be turned off.

Aww ok mate, I must of not done it right. Am not going to try, might crash in to something lol

[MEGA]

You need to hold it down for several seconds.

Beware what this can do as suddenly you have manual brakes, no power steering and no ABS

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by A_P

So you guys reckon he was chatting cheddar cheese?

Dairylea AP,Cheddar is the real McCoy and not processed

There are a few inconsistencies in the story AP,putting on the 'Poirot' hat,it has the whiff of 5yr old Camembert!

I did hear a story about a Guy selling a E91 on AT.

A couple came around to look at the car,after a test drive around the area by the owner,the very attractive and well endowed young bit of skirt,kept the owner chatting,whilst the Guy allegedly coded a key to the car using a 'Ebay' device.

The car was stolen the following evening,no need to tell how that occured!

Still,a worthwhile read,and highlights the pitfalls of selling cars privately.

[A_P]

LOL. Fair enough. Seem like a but of an action man from previous posts. Still though u never know. Dairylea seems to be cosensus on here. And action man on m3cutters.

Anyway back to the pressing issue. Any pics of this poirot tash ur sporting Ian?