Does this sound reasonable?
Discussion
I purchased a Jaguar approved late 2007 XKR three months ago from a Jaguar dealer and paid a little under £40k with the usual warranty etc. I have since driven about 1700 miles of fairly tame road use. I took the car back to the dealer's servicing department this week as the rear spoiler was coming adrift at one corner and to have a front tyre replaced and balanced after a puncture. The servicing department subsequently phoned me to say that both rear tyres need replacing immediately as the tread is below the 3mm they recommend (particularly important for an XKR). At the suggestion of the servicing department, I have subsequently spoken to the dealership manager a number of times to complain about having to fork out £600 on new rear tyres barely three months after buying the car. He is claiming that the car had a little over 3mm of tread when they sold it, was therefore above Jaguar's recommended minimum of 3mm and the legal minimum of 1.6mm and I could therefore drive it for another couple of months. I am contending that they sold a reasonably expensive car with just enough to get by and that they should have replaced the tyres before sale or should do so now as a matter of goodwill. However, whilst freely admitting that he would be pretty disappointed if in my position, the manager/dealership is refusing to do so. Does this sound reasonable?
If 3mm is the current Jag minimum standards for an approved used car, then there's nothing that the manager needs to do. Most manufacturers state 3mm or 4mm as minimum tread depth, and if the manager replaced every tire that was close to that on his forecourt then slim profit margins would be even slimmer.
What he should have subsequently done is offer to supply them to you at his trade price and fit them at his internal labour rate.
This would cost him nothing, retain tyre turnover (which can be important to a dealer), increase workshop efficiency, and perhaps keep the customer on side.
However, if tyre condition was of concern to you, you should have looked at them when you were considering buying a used car, and negotiate accordingly.
What he should have subsequently done is offer to supply them to you at his trade price and fit them at his internal labour rate.
This would cost him nothing, retain tyre turnover (which can be important to a dealer), increase workshop efficiency, and perhaps keep the customer on side.
However, if tyre condition was of concern to you, you should have looked at them when you were considering buying a used car, and negotiate accordingly.
They probably didn't point out that the rear tyres only had a few months to go, but then again it seems you didn't look. The car was legal to go and you bought it. Had you wanted to use tyre condition as a negotiating tool then the time to do it was at sale time, not a few months afterwards. Sorry but I think they're within their rights on this one.
I concede the dealership is within its rights but am nonetheless surprised that they sent the car out with just enough to get by and are not prepared to offer anything in the interests of maintaining goodwill less than three months later. I am without doubt a future Jaguar buyer and spent a moderate sum on the car; I expected better but realise this may have been naive.
When I purchased my XKR I noticed the tyres were due for replacement
I did feel the car was at a fair price so didn't push them down on price but insisted that they put new boots all round in that price. They agreed
Personally I take them down to 2mm, I can't see a problem, OK don't be silly in the rain but even with new tyres you don't drive as if it was dry.
I did feel the car was at a fair price so didn't push them down on price but insisted that they put new boots all round in that price. They agreed
Personally I take them down to 2mm, I can't see a problem, OK don't be silly in the rain but even with new tyres you don't drive as if it was dry.
kailear said:
I concede the dealership is within its rights but am nonetheless surprised that they sent the car out with just enough to get by and are not prepared to offer anything in the interests of maintaining goodwill less than three months later. I am without doubt a future Jaguar buyer and spent a moderate sum on the car; I expected better but realise this may have been naive.
Well you can remember the experience and mention it when you're haggling for the next one 
All things come to those who wait.
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