New Car - dodgy "FSH" advice please

[sg0102]

Hi there,

Some advice for a novice please.

I bought a Vauxhall Insignia last week from an Evans Halshaw near me. It was an 09 plate with 36k miles. The car was advertised with FSH, and when i checked the log book (after i had paid) it only showed one service, which was done by that Evans Halshaw at 35800 miles. Nothing before then.

I questioned this, and the sales rep assured me that it definitely would have had FSH he just needed to find out about it. It was confirmed over the phone that it had had one, just previously just there had been some mix up on the log book. And i would get proof as soon as they had it.

Feeling between a rock and a hard place, i asked what guarantees i had if it didnt have FSH, as i was adament i want it. I was told it would have it, and if it didnt they would take the car back, and get me one that did. (Lip service?).

Anyway, lo and behold, i have received a letter through the post, headed paper from Enterprise Rent A Car, confirming that they carried out a service at 19000 mile (at teh 1st year).

I suppose my question is, does this constitute "Full Service History"? Would Vauxhall accept this if I have any problems and need to use my warranty (still has 16months to run)?

I plan to go back to Evans Halshaw today and complain, just wanted to get some more expert advice before i do!!

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Steve

[Kiltox]

So it's had 2 services on time yet the book only shows the one that EH did?

I'd try to get a replacement service book that shows these two services, first one stamped by ERAC if possible.

(even better, I'd tell them to stick their ex hire st up their ae, but I assume you knew it was ex-ERAC when you bought it?)

[SLCZ3]

Check the service manual for the servicing schedules, and determine if the correct service has been done at the correct time/mileage that you have been supplied with, generally there is a 1,000 miles service and then at 10,000 mile? intervals, with specific items for servicing at each stage.

[Kiltox]

SLCZ3 said:

Check the service manual for the servicing schedules, and determine if the correct service has been done at the correct time/mileage that you have been supplied with, generally there is a 1,000 miles service and then at 10,000 mile? intervals, with specific items for servicing at each stage.

1000 mile service on a Vauxhall? No.

It'll be 1 year / 20k whichever comes first.

[Alex97]

Enterprise Rent a Car almost certainly did not service the car. Oil/filter change maybe, but no way a full service.

[Kiltox]

Alex97 said:

Enterprise Rent a Car almost certainly did not service the car. Oil/filter change maybe, but no way a full service.

Minor service on an Insignia won't be much more than this will it? - so in terms of retaining warranty if they say they serviced it then they did.

[Presuming Ed]

Sounds fine to me, cars 2 years old and has had 2 services, just get EH to get the book up to date and you're OK.

[hornetrider]

Alex97 said:

Enterprise Rent a Car almost certainly did not service the car. Oil/filter change maybe, but no way a full service.

That's all a first service is apart from some tickbox 'checks'.

[Alex97]

hornetrider said:

That's all a first service is apart from some tickbox 'checks'.

Fair enough then

[sg0102]

Thanks for all responses guys.

Basically I have had a letter from ERAC saying they gave the car a "first oil service" at 19277 miles.

Then Evans halshaw gave it a service.

I guess I know that is the right number of services, just questioning if te letter is sufficient proof?

Thanks
Steve

[Teebs]

sg0102 said:

Thanks for all responses guys.

Basically I have had a letter from ERAC saying they gave the car a "first oil service" at 19277 miles.

Then Evans halshaw gave it a service.

I guess I know that is the right number of services, just questioning if te letter is sufficient proof?

Thanks
Steve

Get Evans Halshaw to produce a new service book with both services stamped.

[bigdods]

IME its unlikely that the rental company did anything. From my experience with one of the biggest rental chains (admittedly quite a few years ago)they just ignore servicing.

I was working for a company that used rentals instead of buying/leasing cars. I did ~30k miles a year and I usually got brand new vectras with delivery mileage on. At that time there was a 1000 service, then every 10k IIRC. I drove 3 cars, each of them to ~25k with no servicing. I advised the rental company at each service interval and they told me not to worry just keep driving.

[Kiltox]

bigdods said:

IME its unlikely that the rental company did anything. From my experience with one of the biggest rental chains (admittedly quite a few years ago)they just ignore servicing.

I was working for a company that used rentals instead of buying/leasing cars. I did ~30k miles a year and I usually got brand new vectras with delivery mileage on. At that time there was a 1000 service, then every 10k IIRC. I drove 3 cars, each of them to ~25k with no servicing. I advised the rental company at each service interval and they told me not to worry just keep driving.

I've had rentals with high mileages and some seriously sludgy oil too.

[Drive Blind]

This is becoming more common especially with more cars now going 20K between services.

People conveniently ignore the 1 yr bit from the 20K miles/1yr which ever comes first. So you'll see cars with 55K miles advertised with FSH when the reality is 2 oil changes at 20K and 40K.

Just means you need to ask more questions and for evidence of what 'FSH' actually consists of.

[thinfourth2]

A fully stamped up book guarantees you have a book with stamps in it.

Beyond that is purely guess work

[fwaggie]

Get them to update the book (with official stamp) - forgetting to stamp the book seems to be a common oversight, and so long as the book has the official stamp (and maybe a written explanation of why they're out of order) I would be happy with both stamps, but in the wrong order.

Of course, phone up a different Vauxhall garage and see if they would be happy if this was the case and you needed to make a warranty claim.

Can't see why not.

[edo]

I'd be more worried about the hundreds of people who thashed the living daylights out of it for the first year of its life.

Tenner says Evans didnt service it either!!

[sg0102]

Thanks for the advice guys, all appreciated.

Will try and blank out the thought of how I treat hire cars, ad nothing I can do about that now!!!

[sg0102]

Thanks for the advice guys, all appreciated.

Will try and blank out the thought of how I treat hire cars, ad nothing I can do about that now!!!

[kmc1]

About a year and a half ago i bought a used focus just under 2 years old and 45k miles on the clock from a main dealer and YES it was an ex-hire car (Hertz) but the deal was very good and anyways I was happy (not turning this into a 'would you buy an ex-hire car' thread).

anyhow, ABS light came on and so I took it back to the garage (same company, different branch) and they didn't bat an eyelid over the warrenty work. They only checked it was within the 3 year time limit even though all previous work had been carried out by Hertz.

Besides, doesn't Vauxhall have to honour warrenty work provided proof of servicing is present by a VAT registered garage which Enterprise undoubtedly is?