Want to get rid of my current Abarth that's on PCP.
Discussion
I currently have an Abarth 500 which is on a PCP deal. I've had nothing but issues with it since I bought it, it's been into the dealer circa 20 times in the 26 months I've owned it for issues. It's had countless parts changed under warranty and has also been in a 6 month dispute with The Motoring Ombudsman who basically said they cannot do anything to help me except speak to the dealer and to be back in touch with them if my dealer fails to rectify problems, which surprise surprise, they have. My car has been in a further 5 times since the dispute ended and The Motoring Ombudsman are about as helpful as my dealer, they fail to respond to emails, make 'fake' promises over the phone and never return calls.
This car is putting unnecessary stress on my life and has started to impact my health. I'm wanting to get rid of it but i'm unsure of the best way to do it. Do I sell private now and loose money or do I VT part way though next year? I'm worried about handing the car back at the end of my PCP and then them trying to blame me for faults that have been there since day one (radio still doesn't work and there's a load of rattles/squeaks).
Any help appreciated
This car is putting unnecessary stress on my life and has started to impact my health. I'm wanting to get rid of it but i'm unsure of the best way to do it. Do I sell private now and loose money or do I VT part way though next year? I'm worried about handing the car back at the end of my PCP and then them trying to blame me for faults that have been there since day one (radio still doesn't work and there's a load of rattles/squeaks).
Any help appreciated
Mandat said:
I presume that rejecting the car is not an option, after having it for so long?
It seems that the other available options are to sell it, part-ex it or VT.
Thanks, I presumed these were the only options. Suppose I'll just have to bite the bullet and do it before something else goes wrong. It seems that the other available options are to sell it, part-ex it or VT.
rich12 said:
P4D said:
I've spoken to Abarth, my finance company, head office of the dealer and also The Motoring Ombudsman. No luck.
Don't take this the wrong way but it sounds like you're not fighting enough.If all the above is true and you can prove it's a 4:59pm Friday car then you should really be getting help from the manufacturer.
Social media is always a good place apparently.
charltjr said:
Has the car ever actually broken down? IIRC you’ve had it for years and had what is to be fair a pretty ridiculous list of faults with it, but they all seemed relatively minor in terms of having a car that got you from a to b and nothing you could reject it for.
What’s wrong with it at the moment that’s causing you so much stress?
In terms of getting rid of it there’s no “best” way really, it just depends how the maths work out and we don’t know the particulars of your finance deal. Personally I’d not feel entirely comfortable selling a lemon of a car privately, so maybe VT is the right route.
It's never actually broken down but it's had some pretty dangerous faults i.e the exterior and interior handle coming off the driver side door. There was no way to exit the car other than jumping over to the passenger door. Imagine if I had been involved in an accident? I wouldn't of been able to get out. What’s wrong with it at the moment that’s causing you so much stress?
In terms of getting rid of it there’s no “best” way really, it just depends how the maths work out and we don’t know the particulars of your finance deal. Personally I’d not feel entirely comfortable selling a lemon of a car privately, so maybe VT is the right route.
Well I'm paying X amount per month for a car that's still faulty, that's what's stressful. My radio hasn't worked since day one and now the dealer, Arnold Clark are claiming a radio isn't covered under warranty?
WaferThinHam said:
Smash window, get cut out by fire crew?
Imagine what would happen in a side impact that buckled the door and prevented it from opening? Any other faults apart from a handle falling off?
Yep, true. Here:Imagine what would happen in a side impact that buckled the door and prevented it from opening? Any other faults apart from a handle falling off?
Broken alloy centre caps.
The front headlamp units have been replaced as the wiring harness melted.
The daytime running light unit was rewired as the wires disconnected from the unit.
The rear light units have been changed once and still fill up with condensation.
The exhaust was resealed. This has been fitted incorrectly by Arnold Clark and now rattles when the car is cold. The tips are also uneven which is noticeable.
Loud squeak from the passenger side when driving over a hard/rough surface. Arnold Clark have failed to find the issue and this noise is still happening and has now turned into a loud vibrating noise.
Top mount has been replaced on the passenger side.
Passenger side shock has been replaced.
Passenger side arm has been replaced.
There was no top mount cover on the passenger side top mount when I purchased the vehicle. I had to ask Arnold Clark three times for this to be fitted.
Exterior door handle hinge replaced on the driver side.
Interior driver side handle came off which prevented me from exiting the vehicle.
The radio has never worked. The aerial base has been replaced twice and so has the aerial itself and still no reception. Arnold Clark claim they’re waiting for a physical radio to be delivered to them. I’ve been waiting over a month for an update on this and heard nothing.
My steering column was also not aligned properly, this had to be amended.
Scuttle panel has also been replaced as the clips were snapped by Arnold Clark.
SydneyBridge said:
How long has it been off the road for?
As above, i would get legal advice, to try and get the garage to buy the car and get you out of the pcp, or something like thst.
I’ve already tried getting legal advice through the Motoring Ombudsman who were absolutely useless. Took them 8 weeks ish to come up with an outcome which was “Arnold Clark will fix it” which was the whole reason I went through the ombudsman. As above, i would get legal advice, to try and get the garage to buy the car and get you out of the pcp, or something like thst.
I’ve been passed the details of the top man at Abarth UK so I’ve sent him an email in the hope something happens for once.
charltjr said:
The OP has had the car for years so I’m assuming (maybe wrongly OP?) that these issues have been spread out over that time.
It is crap, and it isn’t anything anyone should expect from a new car, but I can’t see recurring faults in there that warrant rejection. None of it on it’s own is rejection grade stuff and unless I’m wrong all of it apart from the rattle has already been fixed under warranty apart from the radio which sounds like they’re just waiting for an out of stock part.
Maybe if all those things had gone wrong over a relatively short and recent period of time then you could make a case, but if that’s not the case then I just can’t see it.
Please don’t feel I’m having a dig at you OP, I’m genuinely not, you’ve had a really crappy experience with the car and in your shoes I’d be fed up with it. I’m just not sure you realistically have any recourse other than goodwill unless these problems have been recent and over a relatively short period of time.
The radio is getting beyond a joke, I’ve been waiting over a month for it now and I’ve not had one email update. The ombudsman have been emailed to make them aware that I’m waiting for a radio and them too don’t reply. It is crap, and it isn’t anything anyone should expect from a new car, but I can’t see recurring faults in there that warrant rejection. None of it on it’s own is rejection grade stuff and unless I’m wrong all of it apart from the rattle has already been fixed under warranty apart from the radio which sounds like they’re just waiting for an out of stock part.
Maybe if all those things had gone wrong over a relatively short and recent period of time then you could make a case, but if that’s not the case then I just can’t see it.
Please don’t feel I’m having a dig at you OP, I’m genuinely not, you’ve had a really crappy experience with the car and in your shoes I’d be fed up with it. I’m just not sure you realistically have any recourse other than goodwill unless these problems have been recent and over a relatively short period of time.
It’s the constant taking time off work, adding miles to my car and wasting money on petrol every other week when something goes wrong.
Edit: I also don’t want to get the blame for the radio not working if I end up having to stick it out till the end of my contract.
Edited by P4D on Monday 15th January 17:25
charltjr said:
Completely understand where you're coming from, it must be frustrating as hell, but a broken radio is not a rejection issue.
How far along the Ombudsman complaints process are you, have they done the adjudication and if so what was the result?
Personally I'd be dumping the car with the dealer and driving their courtesy car until it was fixed. Is that an option for you?
Not just a broken radio though, my rear shocks have now gone. How far along the Ombudsman complaints process are you, have they done the adjudication and if so what was the result?
Personally I'd be dumping the car with the dealer and driving their courtesy car until it was fixed. Is that an option for you?
The outcome from the ombudsman was to give the dealer, Arnold Clark, one more chance. It's been in three times since the final decision and will now need booking in AGAIN for the shocks.
The thing is, they give me a Fiat 500 for a courtesy car, expect me to pay £12 a day for it on top of the £XXX I pay for my broken Abarth per month. That's the reason I hate leaving it at the dealers, paying for two cars isn't fair.
charltjr said:
Christ, what a lemon of a car. 
So now this new fault has turned up can't you phone the ombudsman and explain they've had their chance, things are still going wrong, what's next?
I know you said they're not responding to emails, so I'd be on the phone.
No idea what the next step is, I’ve got a feeling the woman I’m dealing with at the ombudsman doesn’t know either which is why she’s ignoring all of my emails.So now this new fault has turned up can't you phone the ombudsman and explain they've had their chance, things are still going wrong, what's next?
I know you said they're not responding to emails, so I'd be on the phone.
I’ll be giving them a call on Monday, hopefully things will start looking up soon.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff