I may have been a plum - what are my options (if any)?
Discussion
beginning of May we bought a used Skoda from a large used car supermarket type place, 3 month warranty. By and large we've not been disappointed - it is what it is in terms of 'service' etc, that is to say relatively cheap, reasonable nick, comfortable etc etc.
So why the, possible, 'buyers remorse'? Well since we bought the car there was an excessive amount of wind-noise which was an annoyance but overall 'meh', then there was the non-optional swimming pool in the rear passenger footwell sooooo a quick trip to the local garage. Turns out that the wind-noise and the swimming pool were related, somehow the previous owner had managed to breach the seal on the windscreen which lead to the wind-noise and let the recent torrential rain pouring through. Not overly concerned about that aspect (relatively) easy fix and not too painful in terms of £ - what I am concerned about is that the car was meant to come with heated front screen and looking at it closely today it would appear that said screen is actually missing, ie I can't see any elements in the screen - in all honesty I never thought to check; the heated screen button works (ie lights up) and there are no error messages on the dash so as far as I can see everything SEEMS in order.... except I can't actually make out any elements in the windscreen.
I know that to some it's no biggie but I would not have bought this particular car without the heated screen so I am a little miffed... do I have options or is is just "...tough luck buttercup, you done f*cked up..." ?
So why the, possible, 'buyers remorse'? Well since we bought the car there was an excessive amount of wind-noise which was an annoyance but overall 'meh', then there was the non-optional swimming pool in the rear passenger footwell sooooo a quick trip to the local garage. Turns out that the wind-noise and the swimming pool were related, somehow the previous owner had managed to breach the seal on the windscreen which lead to the wind-noise and let the recent torrential rain pouring through. Not overly concerned about that aspect (relatively) easy fix and not too painful in terms of £ - what I am concerned about is that the car was meant to come with heated front screen and looking at it closely today it would appear that said screen is actually missing, ie I can't see any elements in the screen - in all honesty I never thought to check; the heated screen button works (ie lights up) and there are no error messages on the dash so as far as I can see everything SEEMS in order.... except I can't actually make out any elements in the windscreen.
I know that to some it's no biggie but I would not have bought this particular car without the heated screen so I am a little miffed... do I have options or is is just "...tough luck buttercup, you done f*cked up..." ?
Three options:
Talk to the garage, and point out that the previous owner seems to have had a Chinese replacement windscreen, fitted by baboons.
Accidentally discover an insurance covered crack, though this is fraud.
Suck it up.
I'd go with option a, personally. Be nice, althouh you are put of the presumed 3 month warranty, they may help.
Talk to the garage, and point out that the previous owner seems to have had a Chinese replacement windscreen, fitted by baboons.
Accidentally discover an insurance covered crack, though this is fraud.
Suck it up.
I'd go with option a, personally. Be nice, althouh you are put of the presumed 3 month warranty, they may help.
DodgyGeezer said:
what I am concerned about is that the car was meant to come with heated front screen and looking at it closely today it would appear that said screen is actually missing, ie I can't see any elements in the screen - in all honesty I never thought to check; the heated screen button works (ie lights up) and there are no error messages on the dash so as far as I can see everything SEEMS in order.... except I can't actually make out any elements in the windscreen.
My 2017 Golf Alltrack definitely has a heated screen, but no visible elements (my Yetis had just-visible elements). Depending on the Skoda's age it may have the same heated screen technology as the Golf.Are you sure that it's supposed to have a proper heated screen? I'm pretty sure that my Superb didn't have any elements in the windscreen, the button just turned the heater fan on full blast, and directed all the air at the windscreen.
It was Skoda's top of the range model/trim level when it was built in 2016.
It was Skoda's top of the range model/trim level when it was built in 2016.
You may find this helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWCv_NwVWxw
Does it get a little warm if you switch it on and wait 10 minutes?
Does it get a little warm if you switch it on and wait 10 minutes?
well talk about being a plum - I may have gone one even better 
upon further investigation it would appear that the optional heated screen on the Superb does not have heating elements a la Ford heated screen, which is the only type I'd heard of (and why I couldn't see the elements). The newer (2017+) Skoda ones are a grey-metallic screen element which doubles as a heated screen as well as an extra bit of solar reflection to enable the car to stay cooler (not a whole lot I guess, but cooler is good).
upon further investigation it would appear that the optional heated screen on the Superb does not have heating elements a la Ford heated screen, which is the only type I'd heard of (and why I couldn't see the elements). The newer (2017+) Skoda ones are a grey-metallic screen element which doubles as a heated screen as well as an extra bit of solar reflection to enable the car to stay cooler (not a whole lot I guess, but cooler is good).
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