People that sell problematic cars and don't disclose?

[HULK_I6T]

A friend of mine just bought a BA falcon XR6 n/a as his first car. He is only 18 and saved his money for it. It has 146,000km and he paid it $7000.. He was pretty happy about it and it looks very neat in Mercury Silver.

Showed me his car and listed all of "his plans" for it.. You can see that excitement in a youngster with his first car, everyone knows that feeling.

Next time I saw him I asked him about the car, he said it leaks oil. He Took it to the mechanic and ****ZING**** real main seal and $650 he doesn't have.

He said it leaks a fair bit of oil so previous owner must have mopped it up and flogged it off rather than spend the money to fix it.. HE said he checked the car and saw no signs of leaks so the previous owner did a bobby dazzler of a mop up. He said he looked where the owner said he parks it and there was no spots. (I dont think that was its legitimate parking spot), he even asked the seller a direct question, does it leak oil or coolant and the seller said "no, never".

That leads me to my question, is it a dog act to sell off a car to someone knowing there is an issue with it that's either expensive to repair or may leave them stranded somewhere? It may have a checkered history but sellers pass it off as a woman driver etc.

I have always fixed any issue with my cars before they are sold and/or disclosed anything that may be an issue to a buyer. Its a car at the end of the day and why would you want to short change someone and have them want to square you up. Not worth it in my book.

But it seems that many sellers out there systematically try and flog off problematic cars to either make a buck or make it the next blokes problem. It really does boil my blood. Purporting the car is of one standard but knowing its another.

HAve you sold off a problematic car? or do you fix properly or disclose any issues and take a bath on the price.