Approved Used Range Rover - Internet Purchase
Discussion
Seeking an opinion / consensus (pah!) here on the purchase of an Approved Used Range Rover.
Setting aside the usual LR/PHr prejudice, I’m a fan. Had 5, last one was an AUC remote purchase, 2 years ago, all dealt with as expected and I loved it.
Decided to go deeper in, deposit down on a v low mileage one owner FDSH mint looking car. The sales manager got very pushy so I backed off. Went back a month later, car was still for sale (warning sign, I know!) and we did a deal.
Picked it up yesterday. Beautiful car, all as advertised, can’t fault what they told me about it.
What they failed to tell me about it however (and I think importantly, the nub of this post) was that the one previous owner seems to have had something of a Castro-esque (in a FFRR, I know!) cigar habit. The car has clearly been valeted within an inch of its life, yet by the end of my long trip home it was truly honking of stale tobacco.
Where does PH stand on such an obvious failing? I appreciate its ultimately caveat emptor but I’d have thought there was some duty of care from the LR AUC dealer to ensure there were no surprises?
Current feedback from the dealer is they’ll pay for a ‘bomb’ but I expect that’s been tried at least twice already, it’ll only provide a temporary reprieve, and it’ll still honk. Searching PH the consensus seems to be ‘never go near a smokers car!’
Easy answer is reject the car on the grounds of material misrepresentation- if that’s even a thing in the car world. But I’m invested in the purchase, I’ve traded in, swapped number plates, insurance, tracker, etc. It’s not quite that simple.
But I’m here, I love the car, but hate the honk. Any wise PHr views on a way forward?
Setting aside the usual LR/PHr prejudice, I’m a fan. Had 5, last one was an AUC remote purchase, 2 years ago, all dealt with as expected and I loved it.
Decided to go deeper in, deposit down on a v low mileage one owner FDSH mint looking car. The sales manager got very pushy so I backed off. Went back a month later, car was still for sale (warning sign, I know!) and we did a deal.
Picked it up yesterday. Beautiful car, all as advertised, can’t fault what they told me about it.
What they failed to tell me about it however (and I think importantly, the nub of this post) was that the one previous owner seems to have had something of a Castro-esque (in a FFRR, I know!) cigar habit. The car has clearly been valeted within an inch of its life, yet by the end of my long trip home it was truly honking of stale tobacco.
Where does PH stand on such an obvious failing? I appreciate its ultimately caveat emptor but I’d have thought there was some duty of care from the LR AUC dealer to ensure there were no surprises?
Current feedback from the dealer is they’ll pay for a ‘bomb’ but I expect that’s been tried at least twice already, it’ll only provide a temporary reprieve, and it’ll still honk. Searching PH the consensus seems to be ‘never go near a smokers car!’
Easy answer is reject the car on the grounds of material misrepresentation- if that’s even a thing in the car world. But I’m invested in the purchase, I’ve traded in, swapped number plates, insurance, tracker, etc. It’s not quite that simple.
But I’m here, I love the car, but hate the honk. Any wise PHr views on a way forward?
I bought a bmw a few years ago that stunk of cigarettes.
I cleaned all hard materials inside with soap and water (+ scented zaflora)
I vaxed any soft material with washing powder in the water and it came out black, repeated until clear.
After that I used a car fogger / bomb.
Did it fully remove the smell? Not 100% and I found it didn't matter how many times I cleaned the steering wheel or gearstick they always left a slight smell.
I think it your position I'd maybe contact a local car detailing place to see if it is something they could undertake, possibly paid for by dealership?
I cleaned all hard materials inside with soap and water (+ scented zaflora)
I vaxed any soft material with washing powder in the water and it came out black, repeated until clear.
After that I used a car fogger / bomb.
Did it fully remove the smell? Not 100% and I found it didn't matter how many times I cleaned the steering wheel or gearstick they always left a slight smell.
I think it your position I'd maybe contact a local car detailing place to see if it is something they could undertake, possibly paid for by dealership?
Another option if you are happy with the car other than the smell is for the dealer to cover the cost of a detailer local to you to spend a day setting about the interior properly, not a cursory wipe down with a damp chamois by dealer valeter's.
One of these left in the car overnight afterwards should see you well.
https://airvidox.com/?ref=qej9od7dnve7
Cheers,
Chris
One of these left in the car overnight afterwards should see you well.
https://airvidox.com/?ref=qej9od7dnve7
Cheers,
Chris
Echoing the above I won't buy a car with the tobacco smell because of how difficult it is to get rid of if you're a non smoker.
I would definitely speak to the dealership and tell them your intentions but that you will give them a chance to put it right with a high end valet.
Look for a local third party company that will guarantee the smell is gone.
I know a friend who tried to PX their nice car many years ago and the Audi dealership wouldn't take it on because of the smoke smell. First time I had heard of that, was something they would have put on the forecourt too.
I would definitely speak to the dealership and tell them your intentions but that you will give them a chance to put it right with a high end valet.
Look for a local third party company that will guarantee the smell is gone.
I know a friend who tried to PX their nice car many years ago and the Audi dealership wouldn't take it on because of the smoke smell. First time I had heard of that, was something they would have put on the forecourt too.
Had a Mini that had been smoked in, found that a through clean (wiping everything down, wiping seats, etc and a lot of odour neutraliser got rid of it. Did find that on hot days would sometimes catch a whiff of it but was significantly reduced.
As RRs are meant to be rough tough outdoor type vehicles I'm sure you can be pretty aggressive in wiping everything down, steam cleaning etc. Reckon that if you do door cards, wash the floor mats, etc it'll be fine. Especially come winter when you can replace it with the wet dog smell
As RRs are meant to be rough tough outdoor type vehicles I'm sure you can be pretty aggressive in wiping everything down, steam cleaning etc. Reckon that if you do door cards, wash the floor mats, etc it'll be fine. Especially come winter when you can replace it with the wet dog smell
I had a Mk5 GTi that absoluetly stank, Air bombs etc only masked the ingrained odours for a few days. Wife hated it and eventually i gave up with the stink and sold it on to a smoker.
The only way to tackle this is to get a a qualified / expert third party to fully wet shampooing roof lining and carpets etc, plus deep cleaning on all interior surfaces and fully sanitise interior and all air/heating vents and channels for tobacco residue, bacteria & germs etc.
Even then it might not fully erradicate the odours, but might reduce it to an acceptable level.
As this could take an expert at least 1 day, possibly more depending on the level of honking and boggingess - get the dealer to pay for it.
I'd also argue to the dealer that the current state is unsanitory and full of bacteria etc. will anyone with Asthma or a low immune system be travelling in the FFRR? If they do, it might be detrimental to their health if its as bad (or worse) than already described?
- see if thats a thing that car dealers are obligated on - i.e. they are not supposed to sell vehicles that are toxic swamps?
good luck
The only way to tackle this is to get a a qualified / expert third party to fully wet shampooing roof lining and carpets etc, plus deep cleaning on all interior surfaces and fully sanitise interior and all air/heating vents and channels for tobacco residue, bacteria & germs etc.
Even then it might not fully erradicate the odours, but might reduce it to an acceptable level.
As this could take an expert at least 1 day, possibly more depending on the level of honking and boggingess - get the dealer to pay for it.
I'd also argue to the dealer that the current state is unsanitory and full of bacteria etc. will anyone with Asthma or a low immune system be travelling in the FFRR? If they do, it might be detrimental to their health if its as bad (or worse) than already described?
- see if thats a thing that car dealers are obligated on - i.e. they are not supposed to sell vehicles that are toxic swamps?
good luck
Sheepshanks said:
I'm intrigued by this - in what way was the sales manager pushy after you'd paid a deposit?
Car was advertised but wasn’t physically on site. Paid the £99 reservation fee to keep first dibs on it and then it got very pushy about it had to bought and paid for before month end (July). They still didn’t have the car on site, no photos, holiday commitments, private reg transfer, work after coming home from holiday all meant it was going to be too tight to manage which clearly didn’t suit them, I backed off. Came back from holidays, car still for sale, did the deal in August.
Anyway, been off to see a detailer, he seemed quite confident about being able to resolve it, booked in.
I've unfortunately had a couple of cars that were owned by smokers - despite detailing/bombs/etc nothing really shifts smoke damage.
Especially the steering wheel - smell your hands after a trip on a summer day! I tried leather cleaner many many times plus professional detailing but nothing shifts it.
Especially the steering wheel - smell your hands after a trip on a summer day! I tried leather cleaner many many times plus professional detailing but nothing shifts it.
I sent an 18 month old A6 back for the exact same reason. Deal was great, ordered and delivered. Was heavily doused in air freshener for the drop off. Got in it the morning after and it reeked.
I had it collected the following day and fully refunded. It was still on the market 2 months later.
I had it collected the following day and fully refunded. It was still on the market 2 months later.
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