As Ben is no longer replying to any correspondance/phone calls, I have no choice but to post this.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I exchaged cars with Ben, but was royally duped, and now have a car that is totally undrivable, and am faced with a
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
£1700 repair bill, whilst Ben has my pristene Integra.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
It's a real shame that Ben couldn't have been more honest in his description of the car, in that it's suffering from chronic piston slap.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
The sale price of
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
£7500 would never have been realistically reached, had anyone known about this.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
We met to exchange cars at a service station just outside Birmingham, last weekend.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I arrived shortly after Ben.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
After looking at the MR2, and showing Ben around my Integra, I asked if he would like to go for a test drive.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
He said
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
"No", and that if the cars had been driven this far, there would be no problem with them.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I had no reason to disbelieve Ben, and obviously had every confidence in my Integra, as it was a real mint example that had been very well looked after.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I had heard nice things about Ben, and I had researched the car well before contemplating exchanging with him.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
We signed log books, and shook on the deal.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
Ben then jumped into the Integra, and drove off very quickly indeed.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I finished packing what things I'd had in the Integra into the MR2, and drove out of the car park.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I'd been driving less than a mile before I noticed a rattle coming from the engine.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
It happened at low rpm, and under load.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
The knock bar on the Power FC Commander read 100!!!!
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I now had no way of ringing Ben to bring my car back, as my mobile phone is out of order, and will only recieve calls.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I tried ringing his mobile from a call box, but got no reply, so I had no other option but to drive the car home, and try and call him from there.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
The car seemed to drive fine at motorway cruising speeds, and showed no sign of the rattle.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
It was only under load that the noise appeared.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
This would explain the lack of rattle when I started the engine and listened to it at the service station.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
It has obviously got a lot worse since, and now sounds more akin to a diesel Transit than a 300+ bhp sports car.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
Ben refused to answer his phone, and reply to any PM's/emails I sent.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
Instead, he got his MOTHER to ring me and try to fob me off with excuses.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I have since had several emails and phone conversations with Ben's mother Gina, and would like to say that whilst I she seems to be a very nice person
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
(and I can even understand her trying to defend her son), she should never have been put in this position in the first place.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I have since had an email from Peter Gidden, saying that the car was indeed suffering from quite bad piston slap when he replaced the crankshaft a few WEEKS ago.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I, in no way wanted this to become a legal matter, but have been left with no other choice but to proceed with a law suit against Ben/Ben's mother, to try and recoup the cost of repairing the car.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I have offered to swap back, whilst the car is being repaired, and would have even tried to contribute to the cost of the repair, but was met with such a negative attitude from both parties, I am now more determined than ever to recoup the full cost, which Peter Gidden has quoted at around
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
£1700.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I can only say that I have been both shocked, and appaled by Ben's actions.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
Not only did he decieve me, but he has acted in such a cowardly manner, using his mother as a shield from any responsibility he may have regarding this situation.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
He is a grown man, with children, and yet he still seems to use his mother to fight his battles.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
My appologies if this has burst anyone's bubble regarding Ben as a respected member of this community, but it just goes to show, you can't judge a book by it's cover.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
I await Ben's reply.
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
Regards,
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
Glen Barnett
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
(EarL).
![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)