Paint defect with used car

[sdh2903]

I've a feeling I know the answer to this but I thought I'd check with the collective.

My lad bought a 67 plate golf gti from an independent dealer a few weeks back.

Now I've just come to go over it with the polisher today and noticed some marks on the roof. At first glance it looked like bird crap, but on closer inspection it's defects within the clearcoat. At least a dozen spots over the roof. It doesn't look like long term poop damage as I've dealt with that before. It's like the clear is wrinkled and is turning white.

Is there any come back with the used car warranty? Have checked the vw site and that's 3 years for defects and 12 for corrosion.

[Jag_NE]

I don’t know if there is a legal comeback with SGA but expecting perfect paint on a 4 year old car is pushing it…

[sdh2903]

Jag_NE said:

I don’t know if there is a legal comeback with SGA but expecting perfect paint on a 4 year old car is pushing it…

I wouldn't expect perfect paint at all. But I wouldn't expect to require a roof paint at 4 yo either.

[Jag_NE]

sdh2903 said:

Jag_NE said:

I don’t know if there is a legal comeback with SGA but expecting perfect paint on a 4 year old car is pushing it…

I wouldn't expect perfect paint at all. But I wouldn't expect to require a roof paint at 4 yo either.

You probably have higher expectations than average, I don’t think they would have bought it or put it on the forecourt if it really needed new paint.

[Glassman]

The marks weren't visible on handover?

[sdh2903]

Glassman said:

The marks weren't visible on handover?

I'm gutted I didn't notice them to be honest as I normally notice everything. However the car was positioned from the prep bay wet. I'm not sure it was done intentionally as we were early for collection. I've been working away for the past few weeks so the first I've seen close up since.

[V8covin]

Used car dealers.....so that includes main dealers....will do as little as they can get away with.
Go in with the mindset you're dealing with Arthur Daley.
A 4 year old car could have had no end of paintwork.....or none at all

[Sheepshanks]

What colour is it? Daughter had a metallic black (VW use the same paint ocde) SEAT Ibiza and that was a nightmare for bird droppings damage.

Could be the car was at an indie as the damage was known and the dealer network wouldn't retail it.

[ZX10R NIN]

Take the car back show the marks to the dealer & see what they say, having the car there & some pleasant dialogue may result in a sensible compromise.

[sdh2903]

ZX10R NIN said:

Take the car back show the marks to the dealer & see what they say, having the car there & some pleasant dialogue may result in a sensible compromise.

Therein lies a problem, dealer is 400 miles away. Also he's just dug through his paperwork and it's under vw warranty until mid August so assume its been sold approved used. I don't know if that muddies the waters regarding going back to the supplying dealer or not?

[2Btoo]

sdh2903 said:

Now I've just come to go over it with the polisher today and noticed some marks ....

I suspect that if it's something you only notice when you go around the car with a polisher then you are being more picky than the warranty company would think reasonable. If such small details are important then the dealer will (fairly reasonably) suggest that you should have inspected more closely before giving him your money.

[HTP99]

If you wanted perfect paint then should have bought a new car (however the paintwork is still likely not to be perfect!) it's 4 years old!

[sdh2903]

Look guys I'm not after an opinion on whether I'm being picky or not or whether he should have bought new. I've bought enough cars to know used means used. However I wouldn't expect a 4 year old car to have numerous 5p coin sized blotches of defective clearcoat on the roof. My current 15 year old daily with 6 times the mileage has managed to keep its roof clearcoat in reasonable condition. Yes ideally he or I would have noticed at pick up but we didn't.

I'm merely asking for advice if we have any recourse with the warranty. If not then he'll stump up to get it sorted.

Any genuine advice gratefully recieved.

[colin79666]

If you bought it remotely you have some distance selling rights but that time has possibly passed.

Could always get the roof wrapped?

[N111BJG]

Some cars in particular colours do suffer from the lacquer coat coming off. I have personal experience of this with a 2015 Mercedes C Class finished in Opal Red. Mercedes dealers denied it was a commonplace problem but many many cars were resprayed under warranty. (I returned mine when PCP term expired)
Maybe your problem is of a similar nature & VW will sort it out whilst denying there’s any issue.

[The Rotrex Kid]

The short answer is, no, you/son bought a used car with used paint.

The long answer is, speak to the dealer, they may offer to do something about it, they may not. If they do, great, if they don’t, suck it up IMO.

[ZX10R NIN]

sdh2903 said:

Therein lies a problem, dealer is 400 miles away. Also he's just dug through his paperwork and it's under vw warranty until mid August so assume its been sold approved used. I don't know if that muddies the waters regarding going back to the supplying dealer or not?

That actually makes it easier for you, take it to you're nearest dealer that has a bodyshop & you should be okay.

[The Rotrex Kid]

ZX10R NIN said:

sdh2903 said:

Therein lies a problem, dealer is 400 miles away. Also he's just dug through his paperwork and it's under vw warranty until mid August so assume its been sold approved used. I don't know if that muddies the waters regarding going back to the supplying dealer or not?

That actually makes it easier for you, take it to you're nearest dealer that has a bodyshop & you should be okay.

Bodywork isn’t covered under VW approved warranty. VW paintwork warranty is 3 years from new.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Rotrex Kid said:

Bodywork isn’t covered under VW approved warranty. VW paintwork warranty is 3 years from new.

Now that's a problem, maybe take the car to a local bodyshop OP & get them to speak to the dealer.

[Sheepshanks]

sdh2903 said:

Also he's just dug through his paperwork and it's under vw warranty until mid August so assume its been sold approved used.

Your OP says "independent dealer". If it was a franchised VW dealer, and it is approved used, then you can return it within 30 days.