Peugeot - Good will gesture? Any Advice?
Peugeot - Good will gesture? Any Advice?
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Discussion

Andehh

Original Poster:

7,598 posts

235 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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Her Peugeot 207 1.4 8V is 3.5 years old and 39k miles. In short, the head gasket is letting go. Coolant has trace amounts of oil in it & looks dirty, and there is a slow oil leak. An AA call out confirmed my worries, head gasket is on the way out.

Now, the car's warranty expired in September '13, and it was first serviced by the garage she bought it from. It was due its next service (2 yrs or 20k miles) in 1300 miles time as per car computer - car is on 39k miles at the moment.

Now I will call the garage we bought it from tomorrow, but with a looming £700-800 bill hanging over us I am understandably worried.

Can anyone offer any advice on what to expect from Peugeot in terms of a good will gesture? This garage has supplied 3 cars to our family/parents in 10 years, all serviced through them, so I am hopefully, but would be grateful if any of you could suggest how best to approach this & possibly what to expect?

Cheers,

Podie

46,649 posts

304 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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I doubt Peugeot will do anything.

Your best hope is to be nice to the franchised dealer and hope they want to maintain your business and that they expect you to buy more cars from them in the future.

Mercury00

4,250 posts

185 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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I've probably misunderstood, you post makes it sound like it's only been serviced once?

EDIT: Yeah, I misunderstood. I was thrown when you mentioned the first service and next one straight after. Sorry!

Andehh

Original Poster:

7,598 posts

235 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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Yeah apologies, I initially panicked when I went through her paperwork, but it does clearly state every 2 years/20k miles! 40k = second service.

mike13

790 posts

211 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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I wouldn't expect a garage to do anything for me in this situation,afraid it's one of those things,i'd be looking to pay the whole cost,not what you want to hear but i don't think you can hold anyone responsible

Sensibleboy

1,168 posts

154 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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These old TU engines are so old and simple surely a head gasket change at an independent garage wouldn't be massive money? Just don't even think about using the Peugeot dealer if you end up paying for it.

Supercell

112 posts

161 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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The 1.4 engine is prone to headgasket failure. I'd go to peugeot and explain that after reading the interweb you have noticed its a common fault. They may pay some of the the bill if you're lucky-stress the fact that you are a long term customer and see what they say.

HTP99

25,185 posts

169 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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You need a good service manager who is on your side; he needs to speak to Peugeot customer services and to let them know about your family's purchase history and one would hope their loyalty to the Peugeot brand in terms of servicing at the dealer and also the fact that your car has a FPSH too; along with the age of the car I would say you have a good case for goodwill.

Don't speak to Peugeot yourself yet, only speak to them once the service manager has spoken to them and if he has no joy; you wouldn't want to step on his toes and get onto them and start ranting if he is already dealing with it as it will undermine him.

Sogra

471 posts

240 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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Supercell said:
The 1.4 engine is prone to headgasket failure. I'd go to peugeot and explain that after reading the interweb you have noticed its a common fault. They may pay some of the the bill if you're lucky-stress the fact that you are a long term customer and see what they say.
This is the way I work for a manufacture and we often support when a known problem occurs just out of warranty. To be fait they know of the problem and could have recalled the product but it's a calculation of how May failures in warranty Vs how many will ask for goodwill. Always helps if you suggest a relative is in the market for a new car

Start at the top and work down (md of Peugeot downwards)

Good luck

Sensibleboy

1,168 posts

154 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
quotequote all
Supercell said:
The 1.4 engine is prone to headgasket failure. I'd go to peugeot and explain that after reading the interweb you have noticed its a common fault. They may pay some of the the bill if you're lucky-stress the fact that you are a long term customer and see what they say.
I'd still make sure if Peugeot do contribute that the bill still isn't more than what an independent would charge.

northwest monkey

6,370 posts

218 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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I hope you get some joy with Peugeot, but I can't imagine more frequent servicing wouldn't have helped. This isn't a pop at the OP in any way as he's followed the recommended servicing schedule, but 2 changes of oil in 40k miles doesn't seem vey much.

At the risk of sounding cynical, the car appears very cheap to run for the first 3 years of it's life (hello Mr Fleet Manager or Mr Cheap Lease-Deal) and thereafter once the warranty has expired and the car disappears into the used car world it's nothing to do with the manufacturer what goes wrong.....

Mave

8,217 posts

244 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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northwest monkey said:
I hope you get some joy with Peugeot, but I can't imagine more frequent servicing wouldn't have helped. This isn't a pop at the OP in any way as he's followed the recommended servicing schedule, but 2 changes of oil in 40k miles doesn't seem vey much.

At the risk of sounding cynical, the car appears very cheap to run for the first 3 years of it's life (hello Mr Fleet Manager or Mr Cheap Lease-Deal) and thereafter once the warranty has expired and the car disappears into the used car world it's nothing to do with the manufacturer what goes wrong.....
Not sure how more frequent servicing (especially as they would most likely just be additional oil changes at this mileage) is going to prevent HGF?

northwest monkey

6,370 posts

218 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
quotequote all
Mave said:
Not sure how more frequent servicing (especially as they would most likely just be additional oil changes at this mileage) is going to prevent HGF?
Neither am I, but I just think a car seen a bit more often by a garage is more likely to have potential faults spotted before they happen. Maybe I'm wrong, but maybe not.

Ultimately, as long as the car lasts for 3 years then the manufacturer pretty much isn't too bothered about what happens. Are components designed to be as cheap as possible as long as they last 3 years?


NPI

1,310 posts

153 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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I don't understand why the usual Sale of Goods Act stuff doesn't seem to be applied to cars.

Peugeot could offer 50% which would leave a bill which still might be more than an indie would charge.

itcaptainslow

4,724 posts

165 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
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The service intervals on these are 2 years/20k, the OP has followed this and if it's main dealer history, you've got a good chance of goodwill IMO.

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

275 months

Sunday 2nd March 2014
quotequote all
itcaptainslow said:
if it's main dealer history, you've got a good chance of goodwill IMO.
^^^ This.

Andehh

Original Poster:

7,598 posts

235 months

Saturday 8th March 2014
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Well, Peugeot have excelled! Beyond my expectations.

Original purchasing garage came back same day saying they had been authorised to do the work and Peugeot central would ccover all costs.

I explained we were 150 miles away, so they advised us to contact closest Peugeot garage (different franchise) and suggested who they should contact etc. They again were authorised and within 24 hours we had the car back!

Very very happy, Peugeot (both garages) were helpful, efficient, and thoroughly positive throughout the whole transaction. Couldn't be happier with them!

HTP99

25,185 posts

169 months

Saturday 8th March 2014
quotequote all
Excellent news, I thought you would get a good outcome.

Andehh

Original Poster:

7,598 posts

235 months

Saturday 8th March 2014
quotequote all
HTP99 said:
Excellent news, I thought you would get a good outcome.
Your advice was spot on mate, thank you.

backwoodsman

2,508 posts

158 months

Saturday 8th March 2014
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It's nice to read a thread about good customer service for once.

Well done Peugeot.