Advice - New car broke down with potential long repair.

[BertBert]

Just tell the dealer what you want and if not you'll reject the car on a certain date (X weeks into the future)

[Mr E]

I recently had a problem with a lease car, and was in a loaner for a couple of weeks. The loaner was a different model and 4 years old. But, basically fine.

It was smaller. I informed the manufacturer that this was ok for now but I would need either my car back or an equivalent size on <date> as I was going away.

They didn’t fix the car. There were no other cars available. A snotty phone call to my lease company informing them I’d simply rent something an appropriate size and send them the bill resulted in a suitable loan car being found within 15 minutes.


Lease car is much easer I suspect, but as you point out you’re paying handsomely for something you don’t have use of.

[ZX10R NIN]

RonnieHotdogs said:

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.

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!

Call them explain you're going on a family trip & you'll need a larger car, give them notice & I'm sure they'll work something out fpr you, as you say the dealer has been good so I don't see that changing.

[RonnieHotdogs]

Flame Grilled said:

I'll take a wild stab that this is a Land Rover

Hahaha, no, I'm not mental.

Worked in the automotive industry in the midlands for about 8 years for two suppliers to JLR so I know a lot of people who have either worked for or currently work for JLR, mainly as quality engineers. I used to hear loads of inside info regarding issues, bodges, reworks and their general attitude to QA.

I wouldn't buy one with someone else's money.

[RonnieHotdogs]

ZX10R NIN said:

Call them explain you're going on a family trip & you'll need a larger car, give them notice & I'm sure they'll work something out fpr you, as you say the dealer has been good so I don't see that changing.

Oh definitely. I'm sure they'll do what they can to help out, given enough notice.

It all hinges on timescales - another couple of weeks without the car is fine and I'd rather keep costs and inconvenience down for all parties where possible. Stretching further than that gets a little more difficult and inconvenient.

I'll take it as it comes, it's just good to see what others have been able to do in similar situations.

[loskie]

you need to speak to the finance co as they are equally liable and will carry more clout than you.

[CAH706]

RonnieHotdogs said:

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.

Had the same situation recently.

Hire car provided but not really suitable as we couldn’t fit our dog in it which was the reason for choosing the type of car we did.

Repair took 3 months which was a pain but getting a different car quickly would have been difficult ( and finance would have gone up) we decided to wait it out. We also liked the car we had chosen and got a good deal on it.

We did contact the (manufacturers) finance company though and told them we were not paying the full monthly finance payment given the downgrade in the hire car. Basically said we would reject the car if they didn’t reduce the payment. They have us a 50% reduction whilst the car was being repaired which seemed a fair solution.

Car now back and working fine.

[Frankychops]

Porsche?

I'd just get a refund. Or have a hire car of the same model.

[samoht]

M4cruiser said:

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 ...

+1

When I worked for a car hire co, more than once we were sent out to change a customer's hire car for a better one, since they were in your situation, i.e. their own car was off the road and they'd been given a basic car, and had insisted on having a car more comparable to the one they were paying for and not using.

Basically I think it's a common thing and you can probably get a comparable car if you push for one.

[RonnieHotdogs]

So for anyone interested, due to the length of time the car was off the road (I've got it back now, repaired), and the poor hire car provision, the manufacturer / finance company has offered a month's PCP payment back, which I've accepted.

Dealer has been good throughout, it's not a moan at them. I'd obviously have liked it to take less time (wouldn't we all) but they're bound by committed workloads, part availability etc.

[The Gauge]

RonnieHotdogs said:

So for anyone interested, due to the length of time the car was off the road (I've got it back now, repaired), and the poor hire car provision, the manufacturer / finance company has offered a month's PCP payment back, which I've accepted.

Dealer has been good throughout, it's not a moan at them. I'd obviously have liked it to take less time (wouldn't we all) but they're bound by committed workloads, part availability etc.

I think you have been very reasonable about it. Hopefully the dealer sees you as a valuable customer and will look after you if you need them again.