Bizarre VW Polo issue and owners rights

[Freddy88FM]

Hi guys,

A friend of mine recently sold her Shogun in favour of a 2011 VW Polo from a small independent dealer in Wiltshire. Running costs of the Shogun became prohibitive and thus the idea was to replace it with something cheaper to run.

The car was purchased in November '17 and to begin with all was well. Early this year the engine management light came on and so she had it checked over. A few issues were found and corrected and the light temporarily went off only to return again a few weeks later.

The car was taken to a garage to investigate. At this point the only symptom was the light. A mechanic drove the car for a while and while in his care the car began to lose power. The garage replaced almost everything under the sun (current bill standing at £3500) and haven't been able to find the problem. The car was passed on to a VW specialist who can't get the car to 'talk to' the diagnostics correctly. And so the car was trailered on to a VW garage who are in talks with Germany on what is up and how to fix it.

Now, my friend and her other half are lovely people who really could do without this kind of issue. So I wanted just to check with you all whether they have any comeback from the independent garage they bought it from to at least help with some of the cost... or any other advice you can think of.

Thanks in advance.

Freddy

Note: the details are as clear as I can remember her telling me. I may have to clarify a few things if needed.

[TooMany2cvs]

Freddy88FM said:

2011 VW Polo from a small independent dealer
...
The car was purchased in November '17

So it's a now-7yo car that they've had for 8 months.

Freddy88FM said:

Early this year the engine management light came on and so she had it checked over.
The car was taken to a garage to investigate.

But they didn't take it back to the garage they bought it from?

Freddy88FM said:

So I wanted just to check with you all whether they have any comeback from the independent garage they bought it from to at least help with some of the cost...

They can ask, but... no.

Within 6mo of purchase, there might have been an argument that the issue was present at the time of purchase, and not to be expected of a car of that age, but it's not a strong argument. After that time, and after several other people have been working on it? Not a hope.

[Sheepshanks]

Freddy88FM said:

The garage replaced almost everything under the sun (current bill standing at £3500) and haven't been able to find the problem.

That's insane. Are they being asked to pay that bill?

Is the car petrol or diesel?

[Freddy88FM]

TooMany2cvs said:

They can ask, but... no.

Within 6mo of purchase, there might have been an argument that the issue was present at the time of purchase, and not to be expected of a car of that age, but it's not a strong argument. After that time, and after several other people have been working on it? Not a hope.

Ah ok, thanks anyway. I know, they should have taken it back to where they bought it. But, in their defence, nobody expected it to be so expensive. They are fully prepared to pay for it all themselves and chalk it down to bad luck and don't know I'm posting here. But given they're such incredibly nice people and both so kind and generous to all I hoped I may be able to help them. Nobody deserves to sell a car in the hope of something cheaper to run and be faced with a bill almost of the value of the new car... or to be without a car for six weeks while the problem remains unsolved.

Edited by Freddy88FM on Friday 13th July 12:20

[Freddy88FM]

Sheepshanks said:

That's insane. Are they being asked to pay that bill?

Is the car petrol or diesel?

Very kindly the garage has offered just to charge parts and not labour. I think he's a long time acquaintance of my friends. I am unclear on whether the bill is £3500 + labour, or £3500 inc labour.

The car is diesel. The problem was initially thought to be around the EGR valve. But transpired to be far more complex.

[pavarotti1980]

TooMany2cvs said:

Freddy88FM said:

2011 VW Polo from a small independent dealer
...
The car was purchased in November '17

So it's a now-7yo car that they've had for 8 months.

Freddy88FM said:

Early this year the engine management light came on and so she had it checked over.
The car was taken to a garage to investigate.

But they didn't take it back to the garage they bought it from?

Freddy88FM said:

So I wanted just to check with you all whether they have any comeback from the independent garage they bought it from to at least help with some of the cost...

They can ask, but... no.

Within 6mo of purchase, there might have been an argument that the issue was present at the time of purchase, and not to be expected of a car of that age, but it's not a strong argument. After that time, and after several other people have been working on it? Not a hope.

Surely your 3rd point is the reason they wouldnt have taken it back to the garage it was purchased from. If they dont have a hope after 6 months why waste their time.....

[Freddy88FM]

pavarotti1980 said:

Surely your 3rd point is the reason they wouldnt have taken it back to the garage it was purchased from. If they dont have a hope after 6 months why waste their time.....

To be fair when the problems first started they were well inside 6 months from purchase. They'll have receipts to prove round one of the work happened in this timescale. Then a week or two later the problem came back and and thus the start of round two. Even by the start of this stage they were probably within 6 months. Obviously now since the car has been gone for six weeks... we're no longer within 6 months since purchase.

Edited by Freddy88FM on Friday 13th July 12:37

[pavarotti1980]

Freddy88FM said:

To be fair when the problems first started they were well inside 6 months from purchase. They'll have receipts to prove round one of the work happened in this timescale. Then a week or two later the problem came back and and thus the start of round two. Even by the start of this stage they were probably within 6 months. Obviously now since the car has been gone for six weeks... we're no longer within 6 months since purchase.

Edited by Freddy88FM on Friday 13th July 12:37

I was mainly picking up on toomany2cvs regular obtuse comments.

Sympathy with your friends though, it appears they are a bit stuck in terms of the best way forward.

[Sheepshanks]

pavarotti1980 said:

Surely your 3rd point is the reason they wouldnt have taken it back to the garage it was purchased from. If they dont have a hope after 6 months why waste their time.....

More weird cases have been won in the small claims court, but, realistically, it might be worth them throwing themselves at the supplying garages mercy.

Who knows, they may be mortified and want to help. I think it's a pretty slim chance though and the trouble is that once you start down that path then everyone is likely to get into entrenched positions and get nasty.

[Freddy88FM]

Sheepshanks said:

everyone is likely to get into entrenched positions and get nasty.

Yeah, this is what they are clearly worried about. They're nice people and they don't want to rock the boat. I think I'll just keep quiet and let them get on with it. Maybe I'll have a word around the village and see if we can raise a little bit to help them out!

[Freddy88FM]

To all: thanks for your input. Really appreciated as always.