VTEC-DA

A week ago, I sold my friend the turbo kit off my car. He installed it yesterday, at least everything except the fuel pump, gauge and FMU that he bought seperately. Well, he installed that this morning and went for a test drive, and it caught on fire. I know it wasnt anything I sold him because he drove around w/out the fuel stuff on for a while and it was cool. Then he installed the fuel stuff he bought seperately and it caught fire. It destoyed all the wiring and vacuums under the hood, the fenders and something on the side of his car (he wasnt too specific). My bind is this:

His is tight on cash and is gonna need halp fixing this. I sold him the kit for $2k. I KNOW he is gonna ask for it back and give me back the turbo. I still have the money but I really dont wanna do this. What would you all do. He is a really good friend and his car (FBP 99 Si) is really nice, 10 times nicer than my coupe. What would you all do?

To keep this tech realted, I have 2 ?'s:

1. How hard is it gonna be replacing all the wires and vacuums under the hood?
2. Could anything from the turbo kit have been damaged from the fire? It was only on a fire a while and its all burnt black now, so I guess I am just making up ?'s so the mods dont try to screw me and move this.

Katman

Hmm, well if you do indeed give him his money back to help get him back on the road, that is just downright a way friendly thing to do. I just hope the returned parts aren't melted into molten lava.

His car may be nice and all, but who's fault was it that his car caught on fire? Who worked on his car? not you, right? That's his problem if his car caught on fire due to user install and/or faulty parts which you claim you did not sell him. In other words tough doo-doo for him. Hearing from you that his car is super nice, gives me the impression he can pay for his own problems, unless he's real manipulative...lol. I mean, if your turbo parts are still good + usable and not melted to molten lava, as a good act of showmanship, take your stuff back and give him his money back.

*blacksheep* The choice is youurrs.
But look at the facts of what happened, then look at your friendship you have with him. Then choose your path.

1. well you need to find out how much of the wiring was burned....like if the wiring into the firewall is burned. If its just the engine harness, you can always buy a used one at the junkyard. Vaccum lines, you can just go to the junk yard again, and look for vacuum lines off some junked cars or you can just buy vaccum tubing from Pep boys or some automotive retail place.

2. We don't know how bad the burn job is on your turbo parts....you'll have to look and see for yourself. I'm pretty sure if any of your turbo parts are melted, you can kiss those parts goo-bye.

Mr. Furious

If you had installed the turbo, I would say that you are responsible for all of the damage done, plus any money that he might have paid you for the installation. However, since you had nothing to do with the installation, I don't see how he could hold you responsible. Although he may be mad that he purchased your part and installed it himself, I don't see how he could fault you. All you did was sell it to him. And it sounds like a bargain at $2K. Ya know, turbos don't spontaneously combust.

Jesse H

I'd agree with all that Katman said.

Although he is your friend, you weren't responsible for the fire, you're not obligated to do anything. Why is he buying a turbo kit if he can't afford it? Perhaps he could try selling the kit himself, there are many other folks out there in Hondaland that would buy it.

Good luck to your friend.

kinesistech

If it were me and my friend, I would lend him the money to buy another wire harness and rubber hoses and give him a hand installing it and get the turbo/engine running properly. That way he could repay me later but still have a car relatively soon, and it'd still be turbo'd.

owen_the_soyboy

exactly, and I think he messed up big time, and now has to take a step back an dsell some things off of hisd car if he does not have money otherwise. that will allow him to repair his car. Dont get taken for your $2000 either, because his insurance may cover a lot of this damage and he may get $2000 from you and $2000 from his insurer, plus other $$$ to cover damages to other parts of his car. Really its not your fault, its not your responsibility to take your parts back, now that they are charred up. It is your responsibility as a good friend to help him out, but that is with time and effort, not your $$$$$$$

ben_vtec

if he wants to sell the turbo kit, you should do him a favour and offer to put it on h-t classifieds to help sell it for him.

i dont mean to sound harsh, but it was his bad luck, not yours.

if the $2000 is just sat there doing nothing, and he is a really good friend, then maybee you could do him a bit of a loan.

he will probably wanna keep his turbo kit anyway

ichibanjap

iTrader: (1)

Tell him you'll buy it back for half price, j/k.

It all comes down to how good of a friend is he? Would you feel comfortable doing that for him, if he asks you to? Do you think of him as a friend you would do anything for or more of a good friend you'd go partying with? If you don't feel comfortable giving him the money back for the turbo, just tell him you have spent some of it already.

Maybe you could loan him a couple hundred to get him started, anything past that is a little extreme unless you are rich or you think of him like a brother IMO. It's a really tough situation that your stuck with, but go with what you think is right.


[Modified by ichibanjap, 11:23 PM 11/6/2002]

RedHatch

If i were you i would spend some of the money and if he wants to get a refund just tell him you bought something and that if he needs any help or anything you're up to it.

The_Head

I would help him out. I don't think the fire is your fault, so I wouldn't give him a refund for the kit, but I would at least loan him some money to get the repairs done.

Where I live, REAL Honda enthusiasts (plenty of FF/APC bullsheit around here tho )are few and far between. We try to help each other out working on our cars and with swapping parts as much as possible.

BigMoose

If you and your bud were to go before Judge Judy, you would be squeaky clean legally.

That said, no one can put a price on friendship.

That is the statement you will have to weigh. How important is the freindship to you and effectively "what is it worth to you." You don't have to do anything, though you may want to do something up to a full refund and takeback of parts. Only you can make that call.

The fact that you posted says that you have some "ties" beyond a pure legal transaction.

This is often the reason some folks won't sell used cars to friends (me included.)

Good Luck,
Regards,
BigMoose

Ricky Rojales

All I can say is don't be a crutch for your friend. He's gotta learn responsibility somehow. Help him in any way you can, but don't allow yourself to be taken advantaged of either.

If he's a real friend he will see this, admit his fault and learn from it. Your friendship will remain intact.

On another note, IMHO I hope your friend is glad that it was his car that burned up and not him or you along with it. Some of our priorities need to be put in check too.

It's just car. And, if that statement makes anyone defensive then they have serious issues to contend with.

senpai

He screwed up. If he wants his money back, then you know how 'good' a friend he is (or was).

92sleepR

Certainly you are not obligated to him in any way and to a certain extent it's kinda uncool for him to ask you to reverse the deal after something he did, but on the other hand, if the kit is still sellable and you can spare the 2 grand, you would win the 'coolest dude on earth' award for letting him off the hook.

As for repairing the engine. replacing the harness, hoses and probably a few sensors shouldn't be too big a deal. Its no different than building an engine. Tell yor friend to call Import Auto Salvage, Hasport, or Sohfast for the parts. Getting them new from Honda will cost a grip. The cosmetic stuff is just that. Who cares, get the car running again first.

Mike


[Modified by 92sleepR, 5:42 PM 11/7/2002]

Dokta

1st Rule of Modifying Your Car: "Never do anything to your car unless you have enough money to fix your car if that mod blows your car up."

If you choose to ignore Rule #1, its your own problem.

1st Rule of Friendship: "If your friend is in trouble, do what you can to help him out."

You can help him fix his car, but that 2k is yours anyway you cut it. If your friend needs help with money then lend him some bucks till he gets back on his feet.