Been taken for a ride by car dealer

Been taken for a ride by car dealer

Author
Discussion

hutchst

3,696 posts

95 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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It's only a loss if you sell it for 350. You could keep it.

Jonno02

2,246 posts

108 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Begall said:
So worst case it’s just over £200/month depreciation. I suspect that for a large number of people here that’s far less than they’re happily paying to lease a car! It’s not an extraordinary loss imo
Those that have a lease car have budgeted for it, OP hasn't budgeted for a £1650 loss.

OP you only lose money if you sell it. Run it for a year more, then sell it?

Boydie88

3,283 posts

148 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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It's not just that it's a hidden N, OP has no idea what the damage was that led to an N.

I bought a car last year, all seemed and drove fine, checked out on the HPI, only when I jack it up do I discover it's at some point been driven into something as there's a large dent in the bottom of the intercooler and smashed under tray.

Garage would have known if they serviced it properly as they claimed but just refused all responsibility as it's just cosmetic.

Now because I'm not a (though some in NPE would tell you otherwise) I'm going to have to advertise it as so when it comes to selling and have taken a hit on the value of it.

OP has no idea what damage could be hidden. If it is against trading standards for the dealer to not tell that info, I hope OP goes after them. Far too many dodgy dealers that need to be punished for this shyster behaviour.

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Jonno02 said:
Begall said:
So worst case it’s just over £200/month depreciation. I suspect that for a large number of people here that’s far less than they’re happily paying to lease a car! It’s not an extraordinary loss imo
Those that have a lease car have budgeted for it, OP hasn't budgeted for a £1650 loss.

OP you only lose money if you sell it. Run it for a year more, then sell it?
yes If it's got an MOT on it and it'll get through another one just keep it till you've had your money's worth.

The only issue is if it won't get through the next MOT on emissions.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
quotequote all
Boydie88 said:
It's not just that it's a hidden N, OP has no idea what the damage was that led to an N.

I bought a car last year, all seemed and drove fine, checked out on the HPI, only when I jack it up do I discover it's at some point been driven into something as there's a large dent in the bottom of the intercooler and smashed under tray.

Garage would have known if they serviced it properly as they claimed but just refused all responsibility as it's just cosmetic.

Now because I'm not a (though some in NPE would tell you otherwise) I'm going to have to advertise it as so when it comes to selling and have taken a hit on the value of it.

OP has no idea what damage could be hidden. If it is against trading standards for the dealer to not tell that info, I hope OP goes after them. Far too many dodgy dealers that need to be punished for this shyster behaviour.
To be fair, I wouldn't get too hung up on it.

Any car could have been in a huge accident and badly repaired and simply not declared. So wouldn't show up as a write off at all.

rallycross

12,744 posts

236 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Claires828 said:
The offers I have received from private buyers are 200, 250 and 350 - This isn't trade offers .
With older/lower value cars like this the cat N does not always make a huge difference to value, 30-40% but sometimes no difference at all on cheap runners if its still a tidy little car, so don't let than put you off.

The damage could have been very minor, a good mechanic should be able to spot if its had major repairs just from a very quick look.

Best advice, ignore most of the negative advice and get a 2nd opinion on the car from a mechanic who is used to working on older cheaper motors, it may well turn out to be fine and keep you going, a bit of smoke on start up is no big deal on a cheap runner either.

Sa Calobra

37,000 posts

210 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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In the nicest possible way treat all dealers sceptically.

I've had two main dealers try to shaft me until one financial arm of said manufacturer got in touch and on the second head office intervened before legal action.

You'd think you would be safe with a (used) main dealer car.

Begall

138 posts

90 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Jonno02 said:
Begall said:
So worst case it’s just over £200/month depreciation. I suspect that for a large number of people here that’s far less than they’re happily paying to lease a car! It’s not an extraordinary loss imo
Those that have a lease car have budgeted for it, OP hasn't budgeted for a £1650 loss.

OP you only lose money if you sell it. Run it for a year more, then sell it?
As mentioned, this only happens in the worst case of selling the car now for £350, which is not strictly necessary if the thread is accurate as it does not seem in imminent danger of failing completely. Make it another 8 months (16 months total) without any further drama and now we’re at £100/month, because it ain’t going to get any worse than the £350 value.

I would suggest that if you’ve purchased a car for more then absolute bottom of the barrel and you’re not prepared to be taking a 100/month cost to run it then you’re not being realistic. I brought a £2.5K car, ran it for 3 and a bit years and sold it for £600 - £50/month isn’t so much worse than £100/month in the grand scheme of things.

loskie

5,143 posts

119 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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was any of it paid on credit card or finance? If so you may have recourse through a section 75 claim.

AndrewT1275

760 posts

239 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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Claires828 said:
Nope - no-one has been able to get to the bottom of it at all . It runs fine except smoking like a trooper in the morning ... injectors , glow plugs all fine ... told egr could be sticky but also told that it's not faulty . No engine management lights or warnings ... just smokes from cold and then continues as normal when you pull away
I've no idea what a Corsa engine is like but have the valve guides / stem seals been checked for wear? Oil could be slowly leaking down into the cylinders while the engine is sat overnight which is then burnt off on startup. This would fit with your symptoms.

putonghua73

615 posts

127 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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rallycross said:
Claires828 said:
The offers I have received from private buyers are 200, 250 and 350 - This isn't trade offers .
Best advice, ignore most of the negative advice and get a 2nd opinion on the car from a mechanic who is used to working on older cheaper motors, it may well turn out to be fine and keep you going, a bit of smoke on start up is no big deal on a cheap runner either.
I would go further and post on the Vauxhall forum and seek (multiple) recommendations for good mechanics who specialise in the marque - even if it measn that you have to travel - and then ask for a quotation for investigation work first before deciding whether it is economically worth to proceed further. A good mechanic will present all of the options inc. costs to allow you to determine whether it is economically viable, as well as be able to inform you of the condition of the car. What area of the country are you in? Hopefully, some posters on this thread may be able to provide recommendations for a good Vauxhall mechanic / indie near your area.

My Audi indie is c28 miles from where I live (couple of miles from my workplace), and I been taking my Audi to them for 3 1/2 - 4 years because they have given me reason to trust them in being open and honest both in terms of advice, any potential work, what has to be done, what can be postponed, and potential costs.

Begall has posted really good advice on Total Cost of Ownership [TCO] in terms of average cost per month. Prior to this issue occuring, how long were you intending keeping the car?

Hope that you manage to find a good, honest and reliable mechanic who can diagnose and fix the problem. Do keep the thread updated!

Claires828

Original Poster:

44 posts

71 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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loskie said:
was any of it paid on credit card or finance? If so you may have recourse through a section 75 claim.
Yes the deposit was paid by credit card £300

Claires828

Original Poster:

44 posts

71 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
quotequote all
Thank you for all the replies . I have found a buyer for it who is fully aware of it's fault and the category N . At least it's new owner is fully aware of it's problems and as much history as possible . So ... it's gone ... and to be honest I am relieved .

Thanks to all for the helpful replies

Begall

138 posts

90 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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How much for, out of interest?

Jurassic pork

243 posts

171 months

Friday 14th December 2018
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Don't let it go, you can get all of your money back.

As per another poster, being as you paid a small amount by credit card, they are now jointly liable and you can claim for the full amount even though you only paid the deposit on the card.

Get on to your card issuer and tell them you want to do a chargeback on the transaction, give them all of the info and they will get this sorted for you.

tomsugden

2,232 posts

227 months

Friday 14th December 2018
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Jurassic pork said:
Don't let it go, you can get all of your money back.

As per another poster, being as you paid a small amount by credit card, they are now jointly liable and you can claim for the full amount even though you only paid the deposit on the card.

Get on to your card issuer and tell them you want to do a chargeback on the transaction, give them all of the info and they will get this sorted for you.
Two posts above yours. It's sold and gone.

Claires828

Original Poster:

44 posts

71 months

Friday 14th December 2018
quotequote all
Begall said:
How much for, out of interest?
It went for £850 in the end . I am fairly happy with that and at least it means not a complete loss . Lesson learned and hpi checks all the way from now on .

Sa Calobra

37,000 posts

210 months

Saturday 15th December 2018
quotequote all
Claires828 said:
Thank you for all the replies . I have found a buyer for it who is fully aware of it's fault and the category N . At least it's new owner is fully aware of it's problems and as much history as possible . So ... it's gone ... and to be honest I am relieved .

Thanks to all for the helpful replies
Some good news. I'd be happy with that. You are better off buying private with lots of checks as well as independent at that price range. I can't remember the last time I bought from a dealer, any dealer after a Citroen main dealer tried ripping me off on a used car.

Never again.

mcpoot

782 posts

106 months

Saturday 15th December 2018
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I can understand why you just wanted to get rid and draw a line under it as soon as possible but it's a shame having paid the deposit by credit card you didn't follow jurassic pork's advice. Even if you pay as little as £1 the credit card company becomes jointly liable and you can claim for the full amount. Far more chance of success with a cc as well since they are not personally involved and will simply get it back from the car dealer anyway.

Dan W.

1,196 posts

77 months

Saturday 15th December 2018
quotequote all
Sa Calobra said:
Claires828 said:
Thank you for all the replies . I have found a buyer for it who is fully aware of it's fault and the category N . At least it's new owner is fully aware of it's problems and as much history as possible . So ... it's gone ... and to be honest I am relieved .

Thanks to all for the helpful replies
Some good news. I'd be happy with that. You are better off buying private with lots of checks as well as independent at that price range. I can't remember the last time I bought from a dealer, any dealer after a Citroen main dealer tried ripping me off on a used car.

Never again.
Do tell the story please I am intrigued.