Soga rejecting a used car
Discussion
Morning all.
OH recently purchased a 2003 plate car with 110k on the clock from a small dealership up in Yorkshire. On the way home the coolant light came on numerous times and filled it up each time until she got it home (approx 80 miles). Booked it in the garage to give it a once over without driving it again 4 or so days later when they are free and it turns out the headgasket is on its way out and somebody has done a bodge job with a load of sealant on the back of the engine in an attempt to stop water flowing out of thrre. Garage don't even want to touch it themselves because of how bad a state the bodge is plus the fact of the amount of labour involved (v6 diesel in the world's smallest engine bay.) So call back the trader who says a manager will call me back they never do and ignore any future phonecalls from me. Ring them off another number a few days later he then offers to fix the car himself but it will take '3 or so months' after some research it turns out I can reject the car in the first 30 days anyway in of which he tells me to f off and take him to court and hangs up the phone. I've sent two letters already to the dealer site aswell as the guys home address and still not had any contact from him. Any advice of what to do next? Cheers
OH recently purchased a 2003 plate car with 110k on the clock from a small dealership up in Yorkshire. On the way home the coolant light came on numerous times and filled it up each time until she got it home (approx 80 miles). Booked it in the garage to give it a once over without driving it again 4 or so days later when they are free and it turns out the headgasket is on its way out and somebody has done a bodge job with a load of sealant on the back of the engine in an attempt to stop water flowing out of thrre. Garage don't even want to touch it themselves because of how bad a state the bodge is plus the fact of the amount of labour involved (v6 diesel in the world's smallest engine bay.) So call back the trader who says a manager will call me back they never do and ignore any future phonecalls from me. Ring them off another number a few days later he then offers to fix the car himself but it will take '3 or so months' after some research it turns out I can reject the car in the first 30 days anyway in of which he tells me to f off and take him to court and hangs up the phone. I've sent two letters already to the dealer site aswell as the guys home address and still not had any contact from him. Any advice of what to do next? Cheers
Not SOGA any more - Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies to all sales post October last year.
Yes, you've got a right to reject in the first 30 days, and there can't be a lot of doubt that the car was losing coolant. BUT... Driving it 80 miles with coolant peeing out could easily be what caused the HG to fail, and they're likely to raise that as damage arising from your failure to heed the symptom - the low coolant light.
Given their attitude, it'll almost certainly require you to go to court to enforce your rights.
Yes, you've got a right to reject in the first 30 days, and there can't be a lot of doubt that the car was losing coolant. BUT... Driving it 80 miles with coolant peeing out could easily be what caused the HG to fail, and they're likely to raise that as damage arising from your failure to heed the symptom - the low coolant light.
Given their attitude, it'll almost certainly require you to go to court to enforce your rights.
Sorry, not a nice situation to be in.
This reinforces the argument for buying from local dealers especially a 13 year old car with 110k miles.
AS above you drove it when it was loosing coolant which is never a good thing.
However the bodge job is an indication that they knew about the problem and attempted to cover it up.
Can you not go up there and have a chat?
They are hoping you will just give up after being told to do one.
This reinforces the argument for buying from local dealers especially a 13 year old car with 110k miles.
AS above you drove it when it was loosing coolant which is never a good thing.
However the bodge job is an indication that they knew about the problem and attempted to cover it up.
Can you not go up there and have a chat?
They are hoping you will just give up after being told to do one.
Wasn't far outside of Keighley I'll say that much 
In regards to the coolant loss thankfully it wasn't ran dry or below the minimum which I guess will be helpful in any case against them. Driving up to see them would be possible but it seems they're never there when letters have attempted to be delivered until one was sent to their home address.
Contacted a few people over the last few days and most seem to think it's a 'rogue trader' type deal. When she went to view the car he met her there after she arrived and the place was behind a closed gate which he did have the key too. Honestly think even if it went to court he'd just string it out and try and claim he was selling privately or something similar so took the steps of copys of their adverts on autotrader aswell as tracking down his own facebook profile linking him to selling numerous cars. May just go dump the car outside covered in stickers along the lines of 'don't buy a car here'
In regards to the coolant loss thankfully it wasn't ran dry or below the minimum which I guess will be helpful in any case against them. Driving up to see them would be possible but it seems they're never there when letters have attempted to be delivered until one was sent to their home address.
Contacted a few people over the last few days and most seem to think it's a 'rogue trader' type deal. When she went to view the car he met her there after she arrived and the place was behind a closed gate which he did have the key too. Honestly think even if it went to court he'd just string it out and try and claim he was selling privately or something similar so took the steps of copys of their adverts on autotrader aswell as tracking down his own facebook profile linking him to selling numerous cars. May just go dump the car outside covered in stickers along the lines of 'don't buy a car here'
anothernameitist said:
Think you are on to a hiding to nothing with this person, but I think you know that already
A car dumped outside his place won't worry this type.
Get it sign written with there dodgy car sales details and park it near the place. bingo!A car dumped outside his place won't worry this type.
Worked for a chap with audi 2.0 fsi that drank oil!
BertBert said:
How much was it?
You'll get nowhere other than legal proceedings, so either start that or write it off as a dumb buying decision.
Bert
Not aimed st me, but why do thing it was a dumb buying decision? What tests would you have done to uncover the issue at purchase inspection?You'll get nowhere other than legal proceedings, so either start that or write it off as a dumb buying decision.
Bert
Came across a bit harsh. What I meant was:
110k miles
12 years old
V6 so liable for big bills
Dodgy dealer circs
Pissing out coolant
External signs of bodgery
I could be more wary than most, but some more due diligence might have saved the day. Unless it was cheap enough to be disposable.
Bert
110k miles
12 years old
V6 so liable for big bills
Dodgy dealer circs
Pissing out coolant
External signs of bodgery
I could be more wary than most, but some more due diligence might have saved the day. Unless it was cheap enough to be disposable.
Bert
Car was under a grand thankfully but still a fair whack of cash for the OH currently. Bodge not visible easily at all aka around the back of the engine not visible as obscured by engine cover etc. Coolant loss not noticeable on test drive I did check it. Seems as the bodge came undone over distance it slowly started to leak more. Unfortunately she was adamant she was going to get one. Thankfully she's picked up another one cheaper and actually in decent condition. If taking them to court doesn't pan out I'll probably just repair it myself over a few weeks and either run it as a second car of flog it.
Under a grand from a dealer? Probably worth £5-600 quid so very much in shed territory.
Dealer sounds like an Arthur Daly type who will be well versed in fobbing people off and isn't too bothered about trading standards or the courts and will just let a few CCJs add up and then liquidate the business and re-open under a slightly different name and carry on as before.
At this end of the market it is generally a case of 'some you win, some you lose'. It's annoying when you lose but in future it's best trying to find a private example to buy rather than a dealer.
Dealer sounds like an Arthur Daly type who will be well versed in fobbing people off and isn't too bothered about trading standards or the courts and will just let a few CCJs add up and then liquidate the business and re-open under a slightly different name and carry on as before.
At this end of the market it is generally a case of 'some you win, some you lose'. It's annoying when you lose but in future it's best trying to find a private example to buy rather than a dealer.
ben5732 said:
Car was under a grand thankfully but still a fair whack of cash for the OH currently.
Just wondering what was so special about this car that made you go 80 miles to get it?A V6 engine, 110K mile, 12yr old car from 80 miles away seems an odd choice.
Surely if you're buying a banger you keep an open mind and buy the best vehicle you can get locally?
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