How long can a dealer take...
Discussion
... to repair a car?
I'm getting really annoyed! This is what happened: I got a new Alfa 156 in September as a company car. It was a dealer's demonstrator, so it had 3000 miles on the clock. Mid November I noticed a grinding noise which was identified as a failed gearbox bearing. Subsequently the gearbox was replaced under warranty, which took about a week. Four days after I got the car back it failed to start. The main control unit had packed in. I was told that this part is unique to the chassis number and a new one needed to be programmed at the factory in Italy, which would take five working days. Needless to say, the part didn't arrive.
That was on December, 3rd. Since then three more dates have passed without the part actually arriving. It looks like this could go on forever.
The worst thing, of course, is that I am currently driving around in one of these awful Citroen Picasso thingies. Not good for my street cred and no fun at all.
I have complained with Alfa UK, but I'm just hearing the old "Sorry, Sir, but there's nothing we can do."
Any ideas?
Andy
P.S Thank heavens the TVR is running like clockwork
I'm getting really annoyed! This is what happened: I got a new Alfa 156 in September as a company car. It was a dealer's demonstrator, so it had 3000 miles on the clock. Mid November I noticed a grinding noise which was identified as a failed gearbox bearing. Subsequently the gearbox was replaced under warranty, which took about a week. Four days after I got the car back it failed to start. The main control unit had packed in. I was told that this part is unique to the chassis number and a new one needed to be programmed at the factory in Italy, which would take five working days. Needless to say, the part didn't arrive.
That was on December, 3rd. Since then three more dates have passed without the part actually arriving. It looks like this could go on forever.
The worst thing, of course, is that I am currently driving around in one of these awful Citroen Picasso thingies. Not good for my street cred and no fun at all.
I have complained with Alfa UK, but I'm just hearing the old "Sorry, Sir, but there's nothing we can do."
Any ideas?
Andy
P.S Thank heavens the TVR is running like clockwork
I had a similar thing with my Alfa (which I get rid of VERY quickly).
I got a new GTV Lusso as a company car and after a month the engine packed in (wouldn't start in the morning) and I was told it needed replacing. It was off the road for 2 months while the engine came from Italy. I handed my keys back, took back my old Laguna and ordered the Civic.
I bought my wife a Fiat (servied by an Alfa/Fiat dealership and they were crap too (fix one thing and create another problem).
I got a new GTV Lusso as a company car and after a month the engine packed in (wouldn't start in the morning) and I was told it needed replacing. It was off the road for 2 months while the engine came from Italy. I handed my keys back, took back my old Laguna and ordered the Civic.
I bought my wife a Fiat (servied by an Alfa/Fiat dealership and they were crap too (fix one thing and create another problem).
When I stuffed my mgf a couple of years back it took nearly 4 months to come back from the body shop (approved rover garage) due to lack of parts supply, insurance company incompetance and the fact that the garage was moving premises.
Still there was a fair bit of work needed on it... :Evil:
Still there was a fair bit of work needed on it... :Evil:
a work colleague of mine had a similar problem with his TT when they were recalled to Germany for aerodynamics or something to do with the spoiler and was told that it would be for 3-4 weeks and was given a new A4 as a courtesy car
4 weeks passed no news on his car
8 weeks passed still no car
12 weeks and he has got the right hump and has a ruck with the dealer
15-16 weeks and he got the car back
and returns the courtesy car with about 25k on the clock 
The summer has been and gone and he realises how impractical the car is going to be with family & business commitments and decides to change it for top of range A6/8 and gets offered a ridiculos PX value for TT (apparently he would have got a better price in the summer) ;mad: cue major ruck in dealers.
Eventually got one hell of a lot of money as a 'cashback' incentive from Audi after threats to go to the press etc
It does surprise me a little that it doesn't seem uncommon for repairs to take months rather than days.
I can understand that, if a part is out of stock, it can take a little while until the next production run is scheduled, and to be fair to Alfa, they managed to get a new gearbox to the dealer within a few days.
From the examples you've given it looks like I may have to wait quite a bit longer. I hope not....
I can understand that, if a part is out of stock, it can take a little while until the next production run is scheduled, and to be fair to Alfa, they managed to get a new gearbox to the dealer within a few days.
From the examples you've given it looks like I may have to wait quite a bit longer. I hope not....
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