Is there really nothing I can do?
Discussion
So, on Saturday I bought a new car... Had been looking for a pug 205 xs for months finally found one, went up to see it and all was good. Bought it after a test drive (no signs of anything amiss) and started the long journey home. 25 miles later I'm in the services on the M1 with a blown headgasket.
Phoned the guy straight away, (he had replaced it himself) and said it wasn't on. Basically he told me to bugged off and I was on my own.
Now I've read these kind of this before, and I know they never really end well, but is there absolutely nothing I can do in terms of returning the car or compensation? I believe he sold me an unroadworthy car.... But then again that's only my view.
So, ph massive, do I have any rights at all regarding this?
TIA.
Phoned the guy straight away, (he had replaced it himself) and said it wasn't on. Basically he told me to bugged off and I was on my own.
Now I've read these kind of this before, and I know they never really end well, but is there absolutely nothing I can do in terms of returning the car or compensation? I believe he sold me an unroadworthy car.... But then again that's only my view.
So, ph massive, do I have any rights at all regarding this?
TIA.
AIUI, unless he sold you that car knowning it had that fault, deliberately tried to cover it up and you can prove all of that then it's caveat emptor. Sorry about your woes but it's probaly not the end of the world; if you stopped quickly and haven't warped the head then a gasket change should be relatively painless. Other than that haeds for 205s can't be that expensive can they?
From the sale of goods act...
Basically, you have very few rights, and you really will struggle to get any comeback whatsoever.
sale of goods act said:
You will only be able to claim against a private seller for one of the following reasons:
•the vehicle doesn't match the description they gave you
•the seller broke a specific contract term
•the seller was actually a dealer posing as a private seller
•the seller did not have good title to the vehicle
•the vehicle is unroadworthy.
You won't be able to claim on roadworthiness, this applies to things like bald tyres etc. •the vehicle doesn't match the description they gave you
•the seller broke a specific contract term
•the seller was actually a dealer posing as a private seller
•the seller did not have good title to the vehicle
•the vehicle is unroadworthy.
Basically, you have very few rights, and you really will struggle to get any comeback whatsoever.
Undoubtedly but your rights are limited.
Was it a private sale? If so your chances are very limited.
Did you buy as seen? If so your chances are even more limited.
I assume you saw the car and tested the car before purchase.
Most sellers claim private status and that the vehicle is sold as seen but not every seller records this on paperwork.
You could try trading standards but unless the seller is a known dodgy trader they will be powerless.
You could try pursuing the seller through court.
If the car was sold seen by a private individual you have no case. Not a hope.
If the car was sold by a Trader with a warranty (there will be an implied warranty) you may have a case. But only may!!
What you will have is certainty of costs. Court cases cost money and time and no one can predict a result.
I think you will have write this off to experience.
The attitude of the seller (push off) suggests he considers the car sold as seen in a private sale. You bought the car: your problem.
Sorry, but that does seem the likely outcome.
Was it a private sale? If so your chances are very limited.
Did you buy as seen? If so your chances are even more limited.
I assume you saw the car and tested the car before purchase.
Most sellers claim private status and that the vehicle is sold as seen but not every seller records this on paperwork.
You could try trading standards but unless the seller is a known dodgy trader they will be powerless.
You could try pursuing the seller through court.
If the car was sold seen by a private individual you have no case. Not a hope.
If the car was sold by a Trader with a warranty (there will be an implied warranty) you may have a case. But only may!!
What you will have is certainty of costs. Court cases cost money and time and no one can predict a result.
I think you will have write this off to experience.
The attitude of the seller (push off) suggests he considers the car sold as seen in a private sale. You bought the car: your problem.
Sorry, but that does seem the likely outcome.
Have to agree with whats been said before. HOWEVER, am pleased you have such a fine car to repair (seriously). Had a 205 XS back in 1991 or so, was a 1988 on an E plate (in red) so had the updated dashboard and GTI interior, all with a 1360cc twin choke engine (almost gave a VTEC like shove at 4500rpm). Would love to buy one of those again when owning 2 cars is sensible. Hope it goes well for you though.
I've been on both sides of this and ultimately you have no comeback - I've had a cambelt go on a car with 4 miles of me picking it up for my sister - sometimes its just bad luck. A fault presented on a car I sold within a day and I chose to pay for it to be fixed, but I didn't have to.
It's not worth the hassle it would cost to even try and pursue IMHO.
It's not worth the hassle it would cost to even try and pursue IMHO.
I can't be specific on the 205 Pug, but I worked for renault for many years.
Head gaskets replaced on their own was a receipe for disaster as the 'cause' was not addressed at all, and I suspect that this guy knew that and took the 'cheap' option.
'After-the-fact' I know, but if I was told that the head gasket had been replaced, I would immediately ask for the evidence that the head had been checked/skimmed for warping, and that the wet liners (where appropriate) were properly reseated. If not, I would have walked away from the deal!
You live and learn...
Head gaskets replaced on their own was a receipe for disaster as the 'cause' was not addressed at all, and I suspect that this guy knew that and took the 'cheap' option.
'After-the-fact' I know, but if I was told that the head gasket had been replaced, I would immediately ask for the evidence that the head had been checked/skimmed for warping, and that the wet liners (where appropriate) were properly reseated. If not, I would have walked away from the deal!
You live and learn...
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