Used Car Dealers and Warranties
Used Car Dealers and Warranties
Author
Discussion

IdiotH

Original Poster:

55 posts

185 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Gents if you bought a used car from a dealer with no manufactures warranty, do you have any sort of come back?

I did speak to the dealer (none franchise) and he said he doesn't offer warranties, but that I did have my statuaroty rights, i.e. must be fit for purpose, and if the engine were to blow up in 3 months time he would give me a refund.

Put simply I’ve had the car a couple of weeks and I think it may need a new pedal box (or at least a repair). Would it be reasonable of me to expect him to repair or have the car repaired under 'fit for purpose'?

I just want to gather my ammo but approaching him...

Also would I have to drive the car to his garage for him to witness the fault (2 hours each way), or can I just take the car to my local dealer and pass on the invoice?

big_boz

1,685 posts

237 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all

IdiotH

Original Poster:

55 posts

185 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
I’ve found various articles on google thanks, but none answer my specific questions above.

big_boz

1,685 posts

237 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
I think link to the Which website clearly does, well as clearly as it can be in this very unclear situation.

If your pedal box has gone but the car has done lots of miles, even though you are within a few weeks, you probably don't have a leg to stand on, if its quite new and only lightly used, stop using it and see what the dealers says...simples

IdiotH

Original Poster:

55 posts

185 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
The car has done 20,000 miles so you expect the springs in the pedal box to still work.

I know phoning up the dealer is simple, but I'm asking for experiences from other users. I have no idea what to expect; will they want to personally fix it themselves? Are they allowed to? I just want to drop it off at somewhere local and forward them the bill.

The cost of fuel and time to sort it I may as well fix it locally myself, but this voids the point of buying from a dealer.

DHE

4,669 posts

220 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
The dealer will probably want to use their own garage for a repair. I believe the Sales of Goods Act means the dealer could be liable for upto six months.

IdiotH

Original Poster:

55 posts

185 months

Saturday 24th November 2012
quotequote all
The dealer doesnt have their own garage, just a small unit for 6 or 7 cars.

After some haggling I asked him to email over confirmation that he would pay the invoice after I have sent it to him, he has yet to send me an email...

markmullen

15,877 posts

264 months

Saturday 24th November 2012
quotequote all
Most dealers will want to control the work themselves, ie through garages they know and trust, rather than someone local to you who will charge them retail prices instead of trade prices and who may embellish the costs involved.

Grenoble

59,612 posts

185 months

Saturday 24th November 2012
quotequote all
markmullen said:
Most dealers will want to control the work themselves, ie through garages they know and trust, rather than someone local to you who will charge them retail prices instead of trade prices and who may embellish the costs involved.
This. Once you start deciding where warranty work will be done without giving them a chance to fix it first, your "warranty" options rapidly shrink.

Shurv

1,024 posts

190 months

Saturday 24th November 2012
quotequote all
Get a quote locally for the work,then decide if it's worth all the time and expense taking it to all the way back etc.If you factor in the 3 visits to him, 1/ to inspect it and agree the work, 2/ to get it done, 3/to collect the car, it's likely to be not worth doing.If you buy from a long distance, expect to rectify and faults yourself, you've lost the advantage of buying local because you probably bought cheaper,but at a distance.The moral of the story could be, pay a bit more and buy local.

IdiotH

Original Poster:

55 posts

185 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
quotequote all
Shurv said:
Get a quote locally for the work,then decide if it's worth all the time and expense taking it to all the way back etc.If you factor in the 3 visits to him, 1/ to inspect it and agree the work, 2/ to get it done, 3/to collect the car, it's likely to be not worth doing.If you buy from a long distance, expect to rectify and faults yourself, you've lost the advantage of buying local because you probably bought cheaper,but at a distance.The moral of the story could be, pay a bit more and buy local.
They were my first thoughts, but he said I could get it repaired and sent him the bill, when asked for it in writing he hasn't bothered.

Franchised dealer wants £200, independant wants £77 - its a 4 hour drive back to the dealer I bought it off.

Save Ferris

2,738 posts

243 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
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For £77 I think I'd just pay it myself.

IdiotH

Original Poster:

55 posts

185 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
quotequote all
I know but its the fact the dealer is negating his responsibilities, coward.

Also I think it needs new gas boot struts, that'll be fun.

jamoor

14,506 posts

245 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
quotequote all
how old is this car?how much did you pay for it?

Edited by jamoor on Sunday 25th November 22:18

POORCARDEALER

8,666 posts

271 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
quotequote all
IdiotH said:
I know but its the fact the dealer is negating his responsibilities, coward.

Also I think it needs new gas boot struts, that'll be fun.
Easy to fit gas boot struts.

IdiotH

Original Poster:

55 posts

185 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
quotequote all
6 years in march, £8500, 20,000 miles. Those miles are genuine I have all the invoices from over the years, well look after example.

poshboy

602 posts

193 months

Monday 26th November 2012
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This is the problem with small 'traders' who operate from units, they use the bullst anout being a dealer but give no warranty in this case and have no workshops! I'm sorry but why did you hand over that kind of money to someone with 6 cars in a unit, spend £500 more to start with at a proper garage, with a workshop and a nationwide warranty cover.

IdiotH

Original Poster:

55 posts

185 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
poshboy said:
This is the problem with small 'traders' who operate from units, they use the bullst anout being a dealer but give no warranty in this case and have no workshops! I'm sorry but why did you hand over that kind of money to someone with 6 cars in a unit, spend £500 more to start with at a proper garage, with a workshop and a nationwide warranty cover.
Cheque arrived in the post, thanks.

aw51 121565

4,773 posts

263 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
quotequote all
Excellent thumbup .

A bit late now, but is the car a late-ish Polo? Assuming it is (and assumptions being the mother of all mess-ups), I seem to recall there was a recall for pedal box problems - this might get your dealer something back in turn, if you check with VW that your car wasn't repaired under the recall then explain your situation and ask them to make their cheque payable to the dealer (stranger things have happened, and one has to be an optimist wink ).

Recalls from the mid-'90s are on the VOSA website, btw smile .