Used Car Purchase - Expectations too high?
Discussion
I recently bought a new car (Defender 110 XS - 35K miles, 08 plate, LR used approved) from a "Leading Premium Retailer". The car was bought from a dealership in Wales, and delivered to me in Scotland, and sold as FSH with no faults and very good condition (And I paid the premium for it to be such!)
The car arrived, I drove it 4 miles and there was unusual noises, whining, from the transmission. The speedometer is reading 10/15 miles an hour, jumping to 40 and back down again when in actual fact I am doing 45/50. The car also pulls to the left and needs the wheel held at 30° to drive straight. I pulled over and called Land Rover assist, this was last Friday. After 5 hours, the car being sent to a closed garage, I ended up at home. On unloading the car from the AA truck the driver could not get the car to engage any drive in Hi Range and had to use Low Range, and the flatbed had a clear thick fluid underneath the front end. My Friday night was ruined and I missed a concert I was due at, but these things happen with cars. It was at this point that I discovered an intermittent fault to the electric window on drivers side. The car was collected again on the Saturday morning and delivered to another dealership. I then waited for the courtesy car to be delivered - so a good portion of my Saturday ruined as well.
The car is being repaired locally in Glasgow, on agreement of the dealer in Wales.
Today, I go collect the car to be told the electric window has been fixed, a faulty switch. The clear liquid is normal and just from the air conditioning, and that the car not driving was user fault. The car is now ready to go.
I drive the car, the moment I hit the motorway the issue with the speedometer, pulling to the left, and the whine at speed are evident, it's clear no test drive was carried out more than round the block of the dealer. I've left the car with them again, had to wait for the hours (Really, I was at the dealership at 2 this afternoon, and only left at 16:45) for them to arrange for me to drive the car I had out on rental as the rental had been terminated, despite the car sitting in the car park, as authorisation was needed from Wales, and all staff were on training.
I've to go in tomorrow to go out with a drive to show the faults, so another Saturday morning ruined.
I'm now pretty pissed off, I feel I've been fobbed off by the original dealer, and they say the warranty will cover the work, the garage it's at say that LR won't be interested as it's only done 10 miles (I did 6 today, went onto motorway and 3 miles before next junction to return). Obviously I'm not going to be out of pocket by this, but it is posing a problem with work travel, and a planned trip to Manchester on Sunday as the 7 seats were going to be used. Also worried that they drove it from Wales to Glasgow with this pull to the left and it's going to have damaged what were good new tyres.
Also been informed by the garage it's at that the FSH is only by mileage, and it went 30 months without a service, this breaks the LR warranty as it's every 15K or 12 months, thought this would be shown on the approved used scheme. Also a simple thing, it has no radio code for reinstalling the radio!
I'm considering telling the dealership if it's not fixed this week I will be rejecting the car, is this over the top? It's the most expensive car I've ever bought, been bought through a reputable dealer approved by LR, but I'm already beginning to hate the vehicle.
TLDR: bought used approved car, broke straight away, upser.
The car arrived, I drove it 4 miles and there was unusual noises, whining, from the transmission. The speedometer is reading 10/15 miles an hour, jumping to 40 and back down again when in actual fact I am doing 45/50. The car also pulls to the left and needs the wheel held at 30° to drive straight. I pulled over and called Land Rover assist, this was last Friday. After 5 hours, the car being sent to a closed garage, I ended up at home. On unloading the car from the AA truck the driver could not get the car to engage any drive in Hi Range and had to use Low Range, and the flatbed had a clear thick fluid underneath the front end. My Friday night was ruined and I missed a concert I was due at, but these things happen with cars. It was at this point that I discovered an intermittent fault to the electric window on drivers side. The car was collected again on the Saturday morning and delivered to another dealership. I then waited for the courtesy car to be delivered - so a good portion of my Saturday ruined as well.
The car is being repaired locally in Glasgow, on agreement of the dealer in Wales.
Today, I go collect the car to be told the electric window has been fixed, a faulty switch. The clear liquid is normal and just from the air conditioning, and that the car not driving was user fault. The car is now ready to go.
I drive the car, the moment I hit the motorway the issue with the speedometer, pulling to the left, and the whine at speed are evident, it's clear no test drive was carried out more than round the block of the dealer. I've left the car with them again, had to wait for the hours (Really, I was at the dealership at 2 this afternoon, and only left at 16:45) for them to arrange for me to drive the car I had out on rental as the rental had been terminated, despite the car sitting in the car park, as authorisation was needed from Wales, and all staff were on training.
I've to go in tomorrow to go out with a drive to show the faults, so another Saturday morning ruined.
I'm now pretty pissed off, I feel I've been fobbed off by the original dealer, and they say the warranty will cover the work, the garage it's at say that LR won't be interested as it's only done 10 miles (I did 6 today, went onto motorway and 3 miles before next junction to return). Obviously I'm not going to be out of pocket by this, but it is posing a problem with work travel, and a planned trip to Manchester on Sunday as the 7 seats were going to be used. Also worried that they drove it from Wales to Glasgow with this pull to the left and it's going to have damaged what were good new tyres.
Also been informed by the garage it's at that the FSH is only by mileage, and it went 30 months without a service, this breaks the LR warranty as it's every 15K or 12 months, thought this would be shown on the approved used scheme. Also a simple thing, it has no radio code for reinstalling the radio!
I'm considering telling the dealership if it's not fixed this week I will be rejecting the car, is this over the top? It's the most expensive car I've ever bought, been bought through a reputable dealer approved by LR, but I'm already beginning to hate the vehicle.
TLDR: bought used approved car, broke straight away, upser.
I too have bought a car sight unseen that was also advertised as FSH. Before making an offer I asked the seller to list dates and mileage of all services, photo of the service book and copies of the invoices in relation to these services.
I would reject the car now as false advertising. It doesn't have a FSH.
I would reject the car now as false advertising. It doesn't have a FSH.
Spoke to garage today, looks like it's only ever had an oil/filter change, no change in diff oil or any belts (it is chain driven though).
Technician who came our today was saying speedo very wrong and steering a good chunk out. Whining noise is normal defender noise but slightly louder, possible an oil change would help these things.
Technician who came our today was saying speedo very wrong and steering a good chunk out. Whining noise is normal defender noise but slightly louder, possible an oil change would help these things.
You need to consider rejecting it. I am amazed that its got a LR warranty without the full and proper history. I recently bought a Jag from a dealer with a full approved warranty and in that case he told me it must have a proper FSH (by date or mileage), a full service before being sold, a comprehensive check up (and I saw the sheet it was very comprehensive) and anything under spec fixed before they could warranty it.
In my case it meant It had a full service, new rear brake disks and pads all round plus some bits and bobs fixed before I could drive it away.
Having said that, if it does have a LR warranty and its as good as the Jag then you are good to go. I've had a number of things that needed fixing including minor oil leak , coolant leak and lambda sensor replacement that have all been fixed, no quibbles from Jag,
I would suggest that as they are having to get authorisation from the garage in wales you dont have a proper full LR warranty. My Jag one I go to any dealer , they do the work, thats it.
In my case it meant It had a full service, new rear brake disks and pads all round plus some bits and bobs fixed before I could drive it away.
Having said that, if it does have a LR warranty and its as good as the Jag then you are good to go. I've had a number of things that needed fixing including minor oil leak , coolant leak and lambda sensor replacement that have all been fixed, no quibbles from Jag,
I would suggest that as they are having to get authorisation from the garage in wales you dont have a proper full LR warranty. My Jag one I go to any dealer , they do the work, thats it.
I'm surprised warranties cover defects on a car that has just been sold, I think its why some dealers often don't prep the cars properly , why bother if the warranty company will cover the costs once they sell it.I see Land Rovers exchange programme is the same as Audi, it only allows an exchange if they can't fix it, it's not an unconditional exchange programme, I think your best chance of rejecting it would be the lack of service history/mis sold. Is the warranty actually valid if it hasn't been serviced according to guidelines ?
I would not for one moment buy a defender over the internet, and low miles is not always a good thing on them, it just means it's been driving off road for most of them miles! I absolutely love defenders and spent years repairing them but they are truly horrible cars to drive on the road, yet I still love them.
Try and return the vehicle and buy one you can see and test drive locally
Try and return the vehicle and buy one you can see and test drive locally
Edited by BMW3s6 on Saturday 9th November 17:50
Edited by BMW3s6 on Saturday 9th November 17:50
Little Lofty said:
I'm surprised warranties cover defects on a car that has just been sold, I think its why some dealers often don't prep the cars properly , why bother if the warranty company will cover the costs once they sell it.I see Land Rovers exchange programme is the same as Audi, it only allows an exchange if they can't fix it, it's not an unconditional exchange programme, I think your best chance of rejecting it would be the lack of service history/mis sold. Is the warranty actually valid if it hasn't been serviced according to guidelines ?
You can reject within 30 days or 1000 miles, so be quick:http://www.landrover.com/gb/en/lr/approved-used/th...
Sounds like an awful car with expensive problems: I would be rejecting without question.
BMW3s6 said:
To be fair I would not for one moment by a defender over the internet, and low miles is not always a good thing on them, it just means it's been driving off road for most of them miles! I absolutely love defenders and spent years repairing them but they are truly horrible cars to drive on the road, yet I still love them.
Try and return the vehicle and buy one you can see and test drive locally
I agree.Try and return the vehicle and buy one you can see and test drive locally
Heartworm said:
there was unusual noises, whining, from the transmission. The speedometer is reading 10/15 miles an hour, jumping to 40 and back down again when in actual fact I am doing 45/50. The car also pulls to the left and needs the wheel held at 30° to drive straight.
Sounds reminiscent of my old Series IIa Landy!Little Lofty said:
I'm surprised warranties cover defects on a car that has just been sold, I think its why some dealers often don't prep the cars properly , why bother if the warranty company will cover the costs once they sell it.I see Land Rovers exchange programme is the same as Audi, it only allows an exchange if they can't fix it, it's not an unconditional exchange programme, I think your best chance of rejecting it would be the lack of service history/mis sold. Is the warranty actually valid if it hasn't been serviced according to guidelines ?
Interesting you say this, as that is Land Rovers position and they are passing it back to supplying dealer. I called and said I was intending to reject the car, go told that it may have just not have the service books stamped and they will check there invoices for the car, I suggested this sounded like covering facts when they suggested sending out a new stamped log book if it had been forgotten.
Expecting a call from sales manager on Monday.
Never bought a car without seeing it before, but thought that approved would cover me on it. The car looks stunning, and underneath very little rust (Surprising considering it's a Defender). It certainly looked the part on delivery.
Heartworm said:
Little Lofty said:
I'm surprised warranties cover defects on a car that has just been sold, I think its why some dealers often don't prep the cars properly , why bother if the warranty company will cover the costs once they sell it.I see Land Rovers exchange programme is the same as Audi, it only allows an exchange if they can't fix it, it's not an unconditional exchange programme, I think your best chance of rejecting it would be the lack of service history/mis sold. Is the warranty actually valid if it hasn't been serviced according to guidelines ?
Interesting you say this, as that is Land Rovers position and they are passing it back to supplying dealer. I called and said I was intending to reject the car, go told that it may have just not have the service books stamped and they will check there invoices for the car, I suggested this sounded like covering facts when they suggested sending out a new stamped log book if it had been forgotten.
Expecting a call from sales manager on Monday.
Never bought a car without seeing it before, but thought that approved would cover me on it. The car looks stunning, and underneath very little rust (Surprising considering it's a Defender). It certainly looked the part on delivery.
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