Sold an old model by dealer

[Bogden]

A couple of weeks ago I bought a new, unregistered car that was in stock at a dealer. I took delivery this week and have since discovered that it is actually a 2008 model, and was manufactured over a year ago.

The salesman never said anything about this and made out that it was brand new, had only just arrived there etc. I also asked him about something earlier today, before I found out about this, and he said my car was the latest model.

I have tried to speak to the sales director but he was not in. Is there any action I can take? Can I.reject the car?

[Chippy Minton]

I take it that it's an 09 plate car, and the shape etc hasn't changed in the last year.

If so what are you gonna reject it on, you were happy to drive it away from the dealer having taken delivery of it.

[Bogden]

That's right, it was only registered last week on an 09 plate. The shape hasn't changed just some items of spec.

[Chippy Minton]

Such as? Whats changed, what hasn't your got? What car is it?

[Bogden]

The main thing that I'm interested in is that the stereo was upgraded to a newer version. The car is a VW Passat.

[brazilianwax]

Brand new cars aren't selling. They're all sitting in fields waiting to be purchased. Apparently some have been sat there for a year or more (read about it in whatcar magazine). ;)

[photome]

Brand new cars aren't selling. They're all sitting in fields waiting to be purchased. Apparently some have been sat there for a year or more (read about it in whatcar magazine). ;)

How does that help the OP.

I would b pi...d off if I was sold a car as new and it didnt have the latest spec, and was not told

Sory tho I cant help either

[brazilianwax]

How does that help the OP.

I would b pi...d off if I was sold a car as new and it didnt have the latest spec, and was not told

Sory tho I cant help either

It explains that being newly registered doesn't mean it was just built. :rolleyes:

It is a new car in the sense that it's not been owned by anyone or driven by anyone else, but it doesn't tell you how old the panels or paintwork are.

It may not help the OP directly, but it may help others. The whatcar article gave pointers of what to look for (damaged tyres, rust etc).

The spec of some VWs changed on 15th May. Did you order your car before or after that, OP?

[Bogden]

It wasn't a factory order it was listed on auto trader as dealer stock. The salesmen said they got sent them by VW on some kind of dealer incentive which was why it was discounted. Maybe i should have been more suspicious but I think they should have made it clear to me that it was last year's model.

[brazilianwax]

It wasn't a factory order it was listed on auto trader as dealer stock. The salesmen said they got sent them by VW on some kind of dealer incentive which was why it was discounted. Maybe i should have been more suspicious but I think they should have made it clear to me.

Yep - this was detailed in whatcar as well. might be worth buyng a copy and getting the facts so you can go back to the dealer. Dealer will have been paid £2-3k for getting rid of old stock - per car!

[brazilianwax]

What's the timescale, OP?

[Bogden]

Put down deposit 3 weeks ago and the car was delivered this week.

[Chippy Minton]

How much of a "deal" did you get? Now you see why, I would think you have very little come back with the dealer. The robbing so and so's will probably offer you trade in price against a 09 spec new one.:rotfl:

[brazilianwax]

Put down deposit 3 weeks ago and the car was delivered this week.

What things were listed in the advert/invoice/receipt?

I don't think you'll have any comeback, i'm afraid. hope it was a bargain :o

[jack spratt]

Yep - this was detailed in whatcar as well. might be worth buyng a copy and getting the facts so you can go back to the dealer. Dealer will have been paid £2-3k for getting rid of old stock - per car!

There was an customer incentive to clear old stock which I have posted below !

£1,500 off RRP when you purchase a Passat, Saloon, Estate or CC from selected models from stock before the 30th June 2009.
*This offer applies to vehicles sold and registered to private retail customers between 1st April 2009 to 30th June 2009. At participating retailer only. For more information on this great offer and to arrange a test drive contact your local participating Volkswagen retailer


To be honest the dealer has not done anything wrong the car was there for to look at and you had not done your homework !!but I think morally he should have made it clear to you that there is going to be a spec change and what the difference would be .It has not been advertised very much that there was a change of spec shortly

So sorry that you have been disappointed but maybe the changes in spec were pretty minor






.

[vikingaero]

A lot of offers have conditions such as: offer applies to 2008 model year cars only.

[harveybobbles]

That's the problem with buyin a new, unreg'd car that is "in stock". Did you ask how long it'd been in stock?

When I bought a brand bew car in 2000 I ordered the car with quite a few extra's, so I knew that it would be being built after I placed my order.

[Premier]

Is it just the radio unit that is incorrect?

New cars are often delivered (to dealers) without radios, and those that are with radios are often removed by dealers because of the risk of theft. Radios are then installed prior to customer delivery. Could it be that the dealer simply fitted the wrong radio?

If the vehicle itself is not as described, then you do have a case to reject it. (but did the dealer mis-describe it? Not telling you is not the same as mis-describing it)

I've had this previously when I've worked in a dealership - it was then that I discovered a registered vehicle could be de-registered and put back into stock as new but it ain't easy.
However our customer at the time realised the error within 24 hours of delivery and informed us. You seem to have had your car longer than this and presumably have used it which will make rejection difficult. Perhaps you could try and negotiate a discount from the dealer as a goodwill gesture ... but times are hard and the dealer may not agree depending on how much margin he has left to play with.

[CvPiper]

Sorry, but there is no chance DVLA wouldde-register using thst as a reason I am afraid. Just a case of check the msall print very carefully, currently facelifts etc are not being advertised and pushed as the exces old stock would be devalued too much if it was wide knowledge that there was a new model out.

Having said that, what ws the deal?

[daveyjp]

If you saved more than buying a factory order, which would take at least 12 weeks, don't worry about it. The car is still brand new, it has a three year warranty from date of registration. I once looked at a brand new car which was 18 months old, but it was £3,000 below list.

I considered a new Subaru today, when I asked about delivery I was surprised when he said a couple of weeks - Japan is at least three weeks by ship so these have been stood somewhere and that put me off.

[Bowdyjan18]

why did you not check the car before driving away ?

[jb66]

why did you not check the car before driving away ?

He never knew it was an old model untill he compared it to another.

If its just the radio its not really a big deal

[Bowdyjan18]

He never knew it was an old model untill he compared it to another.

If its just the radio its not really a big deal


If its just the radio then agreed no big deal.

[Bogden]

Sorry for the lack of updates. I have written to the dealership to complain and will report back when they reply.

The stereo is the main thing that has changed although there were a few other minor items like buttons in different places etc. Those don't matter really of course but it does show that it wasn't just that the dealer put the wrong radio in.

[LinasPilibaitisisbatman]

Its irrelevent anyway.

You got the car you paid for and purchased. You are basically saying you feel the dealer should give you a free upgrade spec wise simply because you want it.

[aqueoushumour01]

to be fair to the OP I'd be a bit annoyed too. If you buy a new car then you implictly expect it to be the latest version.And it's all very well saying the OP should have checked but why would you check to see if it's te latest version when you've just bought a brand new car? It's suposed to be the latest version. For a £20 shirt it might not matter but when you're spending thousands on a car you've got the right to be a bit peeved when you didn't buy what you expected to buy.

[Premier]

to be fair to the OP I'd be a bit annoyed too. If you buy a new car then you implictly expect it to be the latest version.And it's all very well saying the OP should have checked but why would you check to see if it's te latest version when you've just bought a brand new car? It's suposed to be the latest version. For a £20 shirt it might not matter but when you're spending thousands on a car you've got the right to be a bit peeved when you didn't buy what you expected to buy.

Exactly. When the OP comes to trade the vehicle in, they can be sure the dealer will notice it's an older model year than the registration plate implies and so offer a lower trade in value.

[Bogden]

Well, the result of my complaint was that the dealer has given me a refund and taken the car back. Although it had been a good deal, the car wasn't what I thought it was and I wasn't happy knowing that it had been in storage for that long. I could have changed it for a 2009 or 2010 model but this would have cost more and I was already at the top end of my budget. I am happy with the outcome and think that the dealer has done the right thing in the end.

[jack spratt]

I think the dealer has been very fair I do not think all dealers would have done this for you !!
Full marks to the VW dealer and I am pleased you got it sorted out !!
What will you look for now