Advice - New car broke down with potential long repair.
Discussion
Hi all, looking for a bit of advice.
I bought a new car from a main dealer just under three months ago. The car broke down on me a week or so ago, and it's looking like a part which **could** take a number of months for the dealer to get hold of. It's undriveable without this part. I've been put in a basic hire car for the time being.
It's not a particularly cheap car (£50k+) and is on finance with the manufacturer's own finance company.
The concern I have is that I'm paying a considerable sum each month for a car I may not be able to use for the foreseeable future at no fault of my own. Yes, I have been put into a hire car which is fully insured etc, so I am not out of pocket technically, but the hire car isn't even comparable and it seems like a kick in the teeth to be essentially paying to drive it for potentially a prolonged period.
It's obviously not the dealers' fault, they've been good so far, it's more down to the manufacturer not ensuring there is sufficient availability of parts for this car.
I know I have a 6 month final right to reject, but I'd rather avoid that option. I know it requires me to permit a repair of the car, but repairs have to be completed in a "reasonable time" which a few months definitely isn't. Again that's down to part availability and not the dealer so I'm not sure where I'd stand. I know I wouldn't get a full refund, and a replacement for this car would be difficult to source.
It may all work out absolutely fine, and honestly hoping it does. I'm not trying to jump the gun and make assumptions, just trying to look at what my rights / options may be should the worst happen, as these things tend to happen to me.
Has anyone here been in the same position, and if so, what were you able to sort?
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, and I'm expecting an update with an ETA for repair mid next week. Fingers crossed.
I bought a new car from a main dealer just under three months ago. The car broke down on me a week or so ago, and it's looking like a part which **could** take a number of months for the dealer to get hold of. It's undriveable without this part. I've been put in a basic hire car for the time being.
It's not a particularly cheap car (£50k+) and is on finance with the manufacturer's own finance company.
The concern I have is that I'm paying a considerable sum each month for a car I may not be able to use for the foreseeable future at no fault of my own. Yes, I have been put into a hire car which is fully insured etc, so I am not out of pocket technically, but the hire car isn't even comparable and it seems like a kick in the teeth to be essentially paying to drive it for potentially a prolonged period.
It's obviously not the dealers' fault, they've been good so far, it's more down to the manufacturer not ensuring there is sufficient availability of parts for this car.
I know I have a 6 month final right to reject, but I'd rather avoid that option. I know it requires me to permit a repair of the car, but repairs have to be completed in a "reasonable time" which a few months definitely isn't. Again that's down to part availability and not the dealer so I'm not sure where I'd stand. I know I wouldn't get a full refund, and a replacement for this car would be difficult to source.
It may all work out absolutely fine, and honestly hoping it does. I'm not trying to jump the gun and make assumptions, just trying to look at what my rights / options may be should the worst happen, as these things tend to happen to me.
Has anyone here been in the same position, and if so, what were you able to sort?
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, and I'm expecting an update with an ETA for repair mid next week. Fingers crossed.
RonnieHotdogs said:
andymc said:
dealer has one chance to repair
Ok, but hypothetically, what if that repair takes 3 months and I have no use of the car in that time? Do I just need to accept I'll have paid out £ks of money for a car I have no use of?All the best Barry Homeowner
bennno said:
I rejected an audi s6 under similar circumstances.
You need to reject it to the finance company, they should jump all over the dealer.
Thanks - I'm really hoping it won't come to that, but from speaking to a few owners who've had to replace the same part recently I know they've had issues getting hold of OEM parts, and their local dealers have quoted 3 months+.You need to reject it to the finance company, they should jump all over the dealer.
I don't want to be unreasonable, but I also want to understand my rights and the best process as a lot of money is involved.
RonnieHotdogs said:
Thanks - I'm really hoping it won't come to that, but from speaking to a few owners who've had to replace the same part recently I know they've had issues getting hold of OEM parts, and their local dealers have quoted 3 months+.
I don't want to be unreasonable, but I also want to understand my rights and the best process as a lot of money is involved.
Try to pin the dealer down to a date, if they can't give you one then give them & the finance company one. BUT also dangle the carrot that you'll be happy to take up the finance on another car of similar spec mileage etc.I don't want to be unreasonable, but I also want to understand my rights and the best process as a lot of money is involved.
That way if it starts to get close to the deadline they're motivated to sort things one way or another.
ZX10R NIN said:
Try to pin the dealer down to a date, if they can't give you one then give them & the finance company one. BUT also dangle the carrot that you'll be happy to take up the finance on another car of similar spec mileage etc.
That way if it starts to get close to the deadline they're motivated to sort things one way or another.
Thanks for this. I'm hoping it'll be a case of a week or so to get the part and get it fitted, but I'm not convinced at the moment after discussions with other owners. It's not even been properly diagnosed yet and its been in a week, but I understand they're busy and it's been dropped on them. The dealer has been very accommodating and helpful, and I know if the part is on a long waiting list it's not their fault, so trying to be as decent as I can be given the circumstances.That way if it starts to get close to the deadline they're motivated to sort things one way or another.
I'd be more than happy with a replacement car - I'll bring this up if it comes to it. They've stopped making the car now, so it might be difficult but hopefully not impossible.
A long wait time would also scupper our holiday plans - we've got a few trips planned for the next month or so with the dogs, and part of the t's and c's for the hire car is no pets at any time.
The hire car also isn't comparable to my actual car, so it wouldn't be big enough for a week away in Wales!
RonnieHotdogs said:
The hire car also isn't comparable to my actual car, so it wouldn't be big enough for a week away in Wales!
If it was me I'd press for a better hire car, i.e. one comparable with your own car.Then remember that your own car isn't having any mileage added during this time.
Not so bad then ...
OP I have a relative who had a similar issue - a solicitor by profession - and when he threatened rejection, the part suddenly materialised within 3 days...
Edit to add - they were not a finance buyer, so that aspect may complicate matters
Edit to add - they were not a finance buyer, so that aspect may complicate matters
Edited by Canon_Fodder on Saturday 29th July 20:37
Thanks all - it's all hypothetical at the moment and planning for worst case.
The dealer has been very honest, helpful and upfront so far, so no reason to believe they'd lie to me, and with it being an almost new car I'm sure they'll want it fixed as quickly as I do.
At least I have an idea of how to approach it if it's looking like it's going to take a long time to get sorted.
The dealer has been very honest, helpful and upfront so far, so no reason to believe they'd lie to me, and with it being an almost new car I'm sure they'll want it fixed as quickly as I do.
At least I have an idea of how to approach it if it's looking like it's going to take a long time to get sorted.
RonnieHotdogs said:
Thanks all - it's all hypothetical at the moment and planning for worst case.
The dealer has been very honest, helpful and upfront so far, so no reason to believe they'd lie to me, and with it being an almost new car I'm sure they'll want it fixed as quickly as I do.
At least I have an idea of how to approach it if it's looking like it's going to take a long time to get sorted.
What car and what part, if pressured they might take component off a stock car as opposed to refining you The dealer has been very honest, helpful and upfront so far, so no reason to believe they'd lie to me, and with it being an almost new car I'm sure they'll want it fixed as quickly as I do.
At least I have an idea of how to approach it if it's looking like it's going to take a long time to get sorted.
bennno said:
What car and what part, if pressured they might take component off a stock car as opposed to refining you
I'd rather not say at the moment, but it's in the drivetrain and could normally be classed as wear and tear if my car hadn't done such few miles.Don't think they'd get away with using a used part because of this - they'd most likely need a trail for the part to charge back to the manufacturer as part of the warranty job.
Sounds like a right headache and not the sort of thing you should have to accept with a brand new car.
If it was me I'd be thinking, is this a know fault with the manufacturer (is this a old model car that teething issues should of been teethed out)and this could be alarm bells for the future.
Either they need to put you in a more suitable hire car or you need to reject the car and move on. Personally I'd do the latter.
I'll take a wild stab that this is a Land Rover
If it was me I'd be thinking, is this a know fault with the manufacturer (is this a old model car that teething issues should of been teethed out)and this could be alarm bells for the future.
Either they need to put you in a more suitable hire car or you need to reject the car and move on. Personally I'd do the latter.
I'll take a wild stab that this is a Land Rover
Of all the suggestions above I'd be pushing for an equivalent hire car. After that... just let them get on with it.
Explain you are unhappy with the hire car, it does not meet your requirements.
I think for me that would make the situation right. If for example I bought a BMW 5 series estate because I wanted a family hauler and plenty of room for my dogs but I got given a 1-series as a hire car I would be unhappy. If they gave me a 5 series estate to roll about in for the worst case scenario of 3 months waiting for a part then that wouldn't be so bad.
Explain you are unhappy with the hire car, it does not meet your requirements.
I think for me that would make the situation right. If for example I bought a BMW 5 series estate because I wanted a family hauler and plenty of room for my dogs but I got given a 1-series as a hire car I would be unhappy. If they gave me a 5 series estate to roll about in for the worst case scenario of 3 months waiting for a part then that wouldn't be so bad.
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