New car missing standard equipment
Discussion
Hi
My father in law took delivery of an Audi A3 'First Edition' on Friday - limited edition that comes with a load of kit as standard - except his arrived without some of that kit, and for some of the things that are visible, not even the basis to allow it.
He has contacted the dealer immediately to advise them of this, initially got a brush off about Ukraine/Part Supplies/etc, but has now formally highlighted they are in breach of contract, as his paper works lists several of the things the car should have.
Has anyone any experience of this before he consults a solicitor?
He knows he can reject the car, but then he's faced with having to find a car, and not having the car he ordered. The missing elements are all reasonably superficial (ambient lighting being an example) and so just some financial compensation would be more than satisfactory.
My father in law took delivery of an Audi A3 'First Edition' on Friday - limited edition that comes with a load of kit as standard - except his arrived without some of that kit, and for some of the things that are visible, not even the basis to allow it.
He has contacted the dealer immediately to advise them of this, initially got a brush off about Ukraine/Part Supplies/etc, but has now formally highlighted they are in breach of contract, as his paper works lists several of the things the car should have.
Has anyone any experience of this before he consults a solicitor?
He knows he can reject the car, but then he's faced with having to find a car, and not having the car he ordered. The missing elements are all reasonably superficial (ambient lighting being an example) and so just some financial compensation would be more than satisfactory.
He's not been given the brush off. He's been given the facts.
Cars from almost every ,manufacturer are showing up minus "standard" fit items of kit due to chip shortages and other supply issues. It's poor show from the dealer not to have highlighted this at an earlier stage, but it's sadly a fact of car buying life just now.
If he rejects the car, they won't be able to supply him a fully kitted version for years at this rate.
Cars from almost every ,manufacturer are showing up minus "standard" fit items of kit due to chip shortages and other supply issues. It's poor show from the dealer not to have highlighted this at an earlier stage, but it's sadly a fact of car buying life just now.
If he rejects the car, they won't be able to supply him a fully kitted version for years at this rate.
It doesn't look as though he was given the facts when he took delivery of the car.
And if it's missing spec, whilst OP's dad seems to acknowledge reasons given for lack of features, the dealer should have at least highlighted it and offered a reduction in price.
I'm fairly confident Audi wouldn't have paid for parts that they didn't receive for assembly.
And if it's missing spec, whilst OP's dad seems to acknowledge reasons given for lack of features, the dealer should have at least highlighted it and offered a reduction in price.
I'm fairly confident Audi wouldn't have paid for parts that they didn't receive for assembly.
back when the Golf GTI mk 7.5 models was first shipped, the initial deliveries were missing foglights for some reason. The buyers were offered about £500 discount in lieu of the missing feature or the chance to reject the car. So Audi should at least offer some sort of recompense for the missing features rather than try to hide it or fob the customer off.
If in the future the 2nd buyer was expecting these features as part of the standard kit and they were missing they would quite rightly be knocking down the asking price.
If in the future the 2nd buyer was expecting these features as part of the standard kit and they were missing they would quite rightly be knocking down the asking price.
Dimebars said:
He's not been given the brush off. He's been given the facts.
Cars from almost every ,manufacturer are showing up minus "standard" fit items of kit due to chip shortages and other supply issues. It's poor show from the dealer not to have highlighted this at an earlier stage, but it's sadly a fact of car buying life just now.
If he rejects the car, they won't be able to supply him a fully kitted version for years at this rate.
So you ask for and pay for 60 litres of fuel, and you only get 50 litres because of supply problems. You just accept that it is a f'act of petrol buying now'?Cars from almost every ,manufacturer are showing up minus "standard" fit items of kit due to chip shortages and other supply issues. It's poor show from the dealer not to have highlighted this at an earlier stage, but it's sadly a fact of car buying life just now.
If he rejects the car, they won't be able to supply him a fully kitted version for years at this rate.
Doesn't seem right. You agree the terms of a contract, the supplier doesn't fulfil the whole contract.
andygo said:
It doesn't look as though he was given the facts when he took delivery of the car.
And if it's missing spec, whilst OP's dad seems to acknowledge reasons given for lack of features, the dealer should have at least highlighted it and offered a reduction in price.
I'm fairly confident Audi wouldn't have paid for parts that they didn't receive for assembly.
He spotted as soon as he got home, and contacted them.And if it's missing spec, whilst OP's dad seems to acknowledge reasons given for lack of features, the dealer should have at least highlighted it and offered a reduction in price.
I'm fairly confident Audi wouldn't have paid for parts that they didn't receive for assembly.
An offer of financial recompense is what he is seeking but Audi are saying it's not their issue.
Very poor show from Audi. I know quite a few of the 128ti and 135is shipped last year had smaller infotainment screens, no HK system etc and a few other omissions - but the owners were notified even before the cars were built and they had the option to cancel or offered alternative 'upgrades' on the same vehicle to make up for it.
To have a car physically delivered and then find out things were missing (even at the point of handover), there must have been a massive communication breakdown somewhere. My guess would be the UK supplying dealer not making the relevant calls to customers, probably worried they would lose the sale or have to spend time negotiating.
To have a car physically delivered and then find out things were missing (even at the point of handover), there must have been a massive communication breakdown somewhere. My guess would be the UK supplying dealer not making the relevant calls to customers, probably worried they would lose the sale or have to spend time negotiating.
MattyD803 said:
Very poor show from Audi. I know quite a few of the 128ti and 135is shipped last year had smaller infotainment screens, no HK system etc and a few other omissions - but the owners were notified even before the cars were built and they had the option to cancel or offered alternative 'upgrades' on the same vehicle to make up for it.
To have a car physically delivered and then find out things were missing (even at the point of handover), there must have been a massive communication breakdown somewhere. My guess would be the UK supplying dealer not making the relevant calls to customers, probably worried they would lose the sale or have to spend time negotiating.
Exactly, there are not many of the items he deemed essential, but he'd chosen the First Edition to get a very high spec. If they'd advised it had some spec missing, and offered a reduction (or free servicing for X years), he'd have likely taken it - but they just handed over without a word and, I suspect hoped he didn't notice or realised what should have been on the car.To have a car physically delivered and then find out things were missing (even at the point of handover), there must have been a massive communication breakdown somewhere. My guess would be the UK supplying dealer not making the relevant calls to customers, probably worried they would lose the sale or have to spend time negotiating.
Given a contract he has with the full spec on it, and therefore highlighting what isn't actually on the car, he just wants to know where he stands legally as Audi are giving him the 'head-tilt' saying "Yeah, bloody Putin".
Julian Scott said:
He spotted as soon as he got home, and contacted them.
An offer of financial recompense is what he is seeking but Audi are saying it's not their issue.
Who is "Audi" in this case - the dealer (that'll be a franchise so not Audi), or Audi UK Customer Service (that's not Audi either, they sub it out to a call centre)?An offer of financial recompense is what he is seeking but Audi are saying it's not their issue.
VAG don't give anything away to UK customers. In the US he'd probably be given a couple of $K.
Might be worth dpoing something like a letter to the Telegraph's consumer help woman.
Are they planning to supply the missing parts when they become available? Clearly if you have a spec which says X and it turns up with bits missing then either they are obliged to supply and fit the missing bits or compensate you for the value. Very poor form from Audi. If there is no change in attitude then a letter advising of their contractual obligations would be the first step, it maybe that as parts become available they are planning to fit them. If not then it would seem a very open and shut case.
Julian Scott said:
The missing elements are all reasonably superficial (ambient lighting being an example) and so just some financial compensation would be more than satisfactory.
So this car was ordered as an 'Edition 1' by your FiL - but on delivery it has no ambient lighting at all, despite the Audi website for this specific trim level describing it all in great detail.If this stuff is missing and you were not informed of this fact prior to taking delivery then it looks like a 'mis-build' car but I suspect the best you will do is to get a refund following rejection.
alscar said:
Other than the ambient lighting what else is missing ?
Also did your FIL buy the car direct from a dealer or is a lease vehicle etc /from a broker ?
Good question. And if it was purchase direct from the dealer, was the car a factory order?Also did your FIL buy the car direct from a dealer or is a lease vehicle etc /from a broker ?
Also note that LED/ambient lighting on this 'Edition 1' model consists of the 'LED light interior pack' and the 'Extended Ambient Lighting Pack'. Which (or both) are missing?
I think this edition is basically the Black edition but with electric seats and afaik the only thing that has been missing on some delivered cars is indeed the muti coloured interior lighting option.On every order form I have ever seen its well documented that any brand can change any spec without notice -and that's without Mr Putin /Covid supply issues etc.
I would imagine there is even a standard scale of compensation given this type of " omission ".
I had a new Audi SQ2 recently ( and briefly ) and whilst I temporarily enjoyed changing the colour , it would not have been a deal breaker if it didn't have it.
But that all said for the dealer ( if its a dealer direct ) not to at least mention on handover etc if not once the car was physical with them , then clearly that is appalling service and quite rightly your FIL should be speaking with the dealer accordingly.
I would imagine there is even a standard scale of compensation given this type of " omission ".
I had a new Audi SQ2 recently ( and briefly ) and whilst I temporarily enjoyed changing the colour , it would not have been a deal breaker if it didn't have it.
But that all said for the dealer ( if its a dealer direct ) not to at least mention on handover etc if not once the car was physical with them , then clearly that is appalling service and quite rightly your FIL should be speaking with the dealer accordingly.
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