Alloys as standard but no alloys

ncooper1974

Hope this is the right forum - if not please let me know and I'll [try to] move it.
We bought a car from one of those car supermarket places in Enfield a few weeks ago. On the whole, quite happy with it - window price was £6,800 and we eventually paid £4,400 for it. Its a Citroen C3 SX model - based on the model it should have Alloy wheels as standard. It doesn't. Its got hub caps.
Although the car wasn't advertised with Alloy wheels, is there anything I can do to retropestively get them to fit it with them, or compensate me for not having it? I'm going to write them a letter, but wanted to see if you guys have got any ideas.
A few years ago my brother bought a A2 advertised to have Air con. It didn't. He went back a few weeks later and they compensated him with £650 due to this.

Ivrytwr3

er....did you not notice when you picked the car up?

ncooper1974

No, I didn't notice.
But then I didn't know that the SX model should come with alloys either until someone I know pointed it out to me.

davetrousers

ncooper1974 wrote: »

No, I didn't notice.
But then I didn't know that the SX model should come with alloys either until someone I know pointed it out to me.

Do you have any more evidence other than someone pointing it out?

ncooper1974

Yes, I've subsequently spoke to a citroen dealer.
They say that based on the year and model, it should have Alloy wheels as standard.

Idiophreak

I think you'll struggle with this...You were sold the car as it is, not as it was...If you'd turned up to collect it and said "Oh, I thought it would have alloys, as they're standard", you might've got somewhere...but after the event, I'm not so sure.

Good luck, anyway.

hobo28

The car was as advertised. Legally you bought THAT car, doesn't matter what the standard spec is.

Your brother's situation was different in that his car was advertised incorrectly.

Therefore legally the dealer has done nothing wrong. Best bet is they might give you something as a gesture of goodwill.

ncooper1974

I agree with what you all say - I guess I just wanted a 2nd opinion.
I'll send them a letter and see what they have to say for themselves, but wont hold out much hope for anything in return.
I agree I bought the car 'as is' and accept full responsibility, but just thought I might have some comeback.

Thanks to all that took the time to reply. I'll update this thread if I do hear anything back....

BillScarab

You got nearly a third off the sticker price, maybe that was beacuse it didn't have the alloys and the dealer was having trouble shifting it. It won't do any harm to ask but I don't think you'll get anywhere.

ncooper1974

I got a 3rd of the sticker price cos:
a) the sticker price was priced way too high in the 1st place
b) I made them price match similar cars I found on auto trader that were a lot cheaper.
I made it clear to them if they were prepared to match the price I would buy the car. If they didn't, I'd walk away.

The fact that the car did or didn't have alloys wasn't part of the deal (at least I dont think so). I was basing the price match on year/model

BenL

The original owner probably did a no-cost option to get rid of the alloys.

Maybe cheaper tyres can be used on the steel wheels or didn't want to get them damaged and pay for repairs.

A friend of mine did the same with a Mondeo as the alloys on the model he was getting were not to his taste so downgraded to steels and trims.

I haven't used the parkers guide from the paying section but it may have the option in the customiser for removing alloys and giving a new value.

Does the rest of the spec match what Citroen have said? You may have something from the options list like Cruise Control or upgraded a/c to make up for the lack of alloys.