AutoQuake 2nd hand car sale - any one brought from?

Dan172

Hello,

Time to tell you all about my purchase from Autoquake:

I purchased a car from Leeds in October 2009 having been looking for a while. This car appealed as the price was good and the millage was low. Importantly, the car had only completed 10 miles since its last service (2 months earlier), so I figured it should be in good working order.

When I collected the car all seemed OK; (yes, the place is a dump, but you’re buying a car not a place to live). On the test drive it became apparent that the air con was not working. Slight moment of humour when the sales guy said ‘...oh look, it’s working...’ but I’d turned if off five minutes earlier!

Back at the depot they took a quick look and decided the air con needed recharging. We agreed they would do this while I went to get the tax disk. Two hours later I got back, only to be told that it was the pump that was broken. After some discussion Autoquake agreed to repair this at my local Nationwide Autocentre, and refund me the £99 admin fee for the hassle.

So off I went, a little disappointed, but generally happy with the car. As I always do when I’ve purchased a new car, I took it for a service. Rather shockingly, this found:
· Front brakes were below legal minimum
· Rear brakes were at minimum
· Front shock absorber leaking
· Rear speaker not working
· 12v socket not working
I spoke to Autoquake who agreed to inspect the car at Nationwide and were surprised at these issues as the car had just had a service.

Many phone calls and email followed... Eventually, and only after the threat of using my legal rights Autoquake agreed to pay for all these repairs. They also covered the cost of my service and paid me £250 compensation.


So how do I feel?

• Ignore their ‘141 point’ checks; they are worthless.
• Have the car independently inspected within the first 7 days. Demand they put any issues right and compensate you accordingly.

Eventually, Autoquake did deal with my issues satisfactorily; sadly I had to spend too much time arguing to make them do so.

I’ve had the car for a few months now, and beyond the initial issues I’ve had no problems.

As someone has said before, buying from them is like a safer version of an auction, beware what you go for and get it checked out carefully. I might buy again, if the right car comes along, but with a lot more suspicion.

Oh and one final point, whilst sitting around in the depot I heard three different salesmen tell customers not to worry about driving without a tax disk, as the 7 day drive away insurance would cover them “for tax and insurance”. It won’t and the police won’t be impressed if you are stopped. The ANPR cameras around you mean you do have high chance of getting caught. On my test drive we passed a police car doing number plate checks; maybe they know there are easy pickings!

If three different people are saying this have they been trained to say it?

Dan

PS – Yes I am a newbie; I have registered just to make this post. I have no connection with Autoquake, other than having bought my car from them.

allthingsmustpass

Ive come to this thread a bit late! Interesting to hear other peoples experiences tho. I bought from them around the start of last year, picked up from birmingham. You've heard how it works and how grim the car holding place is all before so here are some observations/conclusions :

Obviously go and see the car and test drive it. If their depot isn't close enough for you to do that, buy from elsewhere. They won't try and sell it to you whilst on site, mostly because the people you will see know nothing about cars, and have no interest in whether you are buying it or not. Im fine with this to be honest, sales talk just annoys me, I ignore it.

The staff you deal with at the depot haven't got a clue, they are plainly min wage guys. Youll get the occasional guy with a brain who you can tell is working their until something better comes along, and thats great, but for the most part their job is to book appointments, queue people up, go and find the cars, sit next to you on a test drive, do some paperwork. Anyone could do it, and believe me, they do just get ANYONE.

Get it inspected by an independent. Give the independent autoquakes number and let them sort out when and how they do that themselves, you don't want to get in the middle of that mess! Autoquake were very very bad at answering the phone, booking appointments, knowing who you were when you turned up etc etc. Your paying the independent to have a good look at the car, that price includes autoquake hassle in my view, they can deal with it!

Ignore all their claims of any kind of inspection, and treat any MOT done at their site themselves with a pinch of salt. Do GET IT INSPECTED BY AN INDEPEDENT!

If the inspection comes back and youre happy with it, buy the car.

When I did it I spent just under 20k on a car, I saved 3k on the price I would have paid elsewhere. What it cost me was :

- the headache of phoning them and getting an appointment, youll have to try this several times before they pick up the phone

- the cost of an inspection

- the cost and hassle of getting there for the test drive and to collect the car

- wasting some time hanging around in a cabin with a collection of miserable looking customers

- dealing with guys who you'd speak slowly to if you were ordering from them at mcdonalds


The car was fine, typical of ex fleet. Had full main dealer service history, was due a major service within 6 months of purchase, expensive tyres but on the way out, but sound. I only really knew the car was good when the specialist garage I took it to did their major service and found nothing unexpected for the age and type.

You are taking a bit of a chance buying a 2nd hand car from anywhere, get an inspection done yourself by an independent, thats all you can do when buying 2nd hand from any source.


Im happy with it all. For me, the 3k saving was worth the hassle. I think of it as being paid 3k to put up with the poor service, and to waste the time on the phone and at the depot, which to me is worth it. You take a bit of a risk, an independent inspection might miss something, but you're buying a 2nd hand car, its the nature of the beast.

Set you expectations accordingly. They aren't sales people, you need to know your onions, or get someone in that does. For a sub 10k car maybe its not worth the hassle and risk for the potential saving, but consider them if youre spending 15k+, the savings can be worthwhile.

vikingaero

allthingsmustpass wrote: »

- dealing with guys who you'd speak slowly to if you were ordering from them at mcdonalds

:rotfl::T

You're going to unearth a can of worms there. Loads of Autoquake staff are going to suddenly appear on here trying to sound intelligent.

allthingsmustpass

By the way, you can turn the staffs inexperience with a cars equipment to your advantage. Most of the time they really aren't familar enough with cars to really know what options/equipment it comes with, sometimes when they price it, that can work in your favour. If youve got an iphone search for 'option codes' in the app store, theres some stuff there that tells you what equipment/options a car has fitted.

brennan1970

Thanks to this forum I have now decided NOT to take a visit to Autoquke at Leeds. Definately not paying £100 to view a car, do I have mug written on my face?? The car is not that much cheaper than elsewhere. Prefer friendly salesmen,a nice comfy sofa and a free coffee anyday! After all I am the paying customer, keeping them in business. A lucky escape I think.

terrydactil

brennan1970 wrote: »

Prefer a free coffee anyday! After all I am the paying customer.

A slight contradiction there.

This forum is called "moneysavingexpert", and buying from a main dealer is unlikely to do that. There are a multitude of ways to save money these days, Ebay and the like. Fair play to Autoquake for offering another.

However, since I last posted on here, I found the British Car Auctions website, which allows cars to be searched for, and may be preferable.

bmwdriver

Autoquake appear to have good deals on cars.

They are meant to go through a 141 point mechanical inspection.

I bought a BMW 3 series there and within an hour of driving away, the clutch went. No power. No traction. Dead.

I couldn't pick up the apparent problem in the test drive as I was only allowed 5 minutes...

Thankfully, i took out an extended warranty which covered the repairs.

If i didn't have the warranty i would have lost the savings i would have made through going through autoquake.

Safe bet - avoid.

Risky to go with them.

Maybe i was unlucky but i personally do not think luck was involved.

Further note: the 'car care plan warranty' is misold by autoquakes salesmen, they say you can take to BMW dealer (you can't). they say you have green flag recovery (you don't).

Tread carefully with this company.

emmell

If a car develops a fault (a major one at that), you shouldn't need the extended warranty the dealer should be liable.
ML.

salika

hai all i am new for this forums but i use to read regularly i get good idea from peoples experience thanks, I just bought a car from autoquake on monday 5/04/10 toyota avensis i paid my deposit 100 pounds and i went to there base in leeds one guy called andy is very helpful he gave me the key and check the car my own i did all the check visualy thanks you guys advice in this forums.

The car is good condition what they said in their website every thing is smooth i am quite happy about the car but i dont know about the cars engine condition or brakes i was assured by any i can check the car with any garrage if u find any fault in this car simply you give a call we will sort it out and also you have 7day money back guranty his assurence make me feel good. I boutht the car i drive from leeds to london 220miles without any problems they car is good still good i am happy but as per his instruction next day i took local japanese car speclisit garage they check the car fully they found nonthing wrong the car is good except the front brake disx/pad need to change he said u have to change as soon as possible so i call autoquake on 8/04/08 the person who pick the phone is very polite first he said about his 141 check and mot then i explain every thing he agreed and advise me to take nearst nationwide auto center,

after few seconds he ask me to hold i dont know what happend suddenly he said they are not responsible for this autoquake cant pay their 141 check proved they car is ok i explained him in details still he is insist they same thing then finaly he told me to take another garage to get second opinion i just came back other mecanic also straitaway find the break disc and pad is very bad i have to change i am going send them email agin and see what they going to do because i trust their word they are i feel good and well behaved not like cargaint in white city i have very bad experience that why i try to chose autoquake even though there is lot of negative experience for some people.

still i have very good positive opinion about the auto quake and there is not !!!!! sales person i feel they are honest and also they sortout many peoples car problems after sales i hope they will contact me and sortout my break problems too. may be if the see this hope fully they will call me still i belive. i am still very happy about the car and auto quake service and also i will clear i am not their employee simply their customer i hope if the look after their customers they will be very sucess.
i bought the car from their LEEDS office on 5th april 10 i went again on 6th april for collection because the car need the road tax on 5th is easter holiday so i made two journys spend around 250 pounds for two days and two people i bought toyota avensis t3 x (kw56) so still i am waiting for their answers i will let you know the outcome soon.
msaleem

inmypocketnottheirs

salika wrote: »

hai all i am new for this forums but i use to read regularly i get good idea from peoples experience thanks, I just bought a car from autoquake on monday 5/04/10 toyota avensis i paid my deposit 100 pounds and i went to there base in leeds one guy called andy is very helpful he gave me the key and check the car my own i did all the check visualy thanks you guys advice in this forums.

The car is good condition what they said in their website every thing is smooth i am quite happy about the car but i dont know about the cars engine condition or brakes i was assured by any i can check the car with any garrage if u find any fault in this car simply you give a call we will sort it out and also you have 7day money back guranty his assurence make me feel good. I boutht the car i drive from leeds to london 220miles without any problems they car is good still good i am happy but as per his instruction next day i took local japanese car speclisit garage they check the car fully they found nonthing wrong the car is good except the front brake disx/pad need to change he said u have to change as soon as possible so i call autoquake on 8/04/08 the person who pick the phone is very polite first he said about his 141 check and mot then i explain every thing he agreed and advise me to take nearst nationwide auto center,

after few seconds he ask me to hold i dont know what happend suddenly he said they are not responsible for this autoquake cant pay their 141 check proved they car is ok i explained him in details still he is insist they same thing then finaly he told me to take another garage to get second opinion i just came back other mecanic also straitaway find the break disc and pad is very bad i have to change i am going send them email agin and see what they going to do because i trust their word they are i feel good and well behaved not like cargaint in white city i have very bad experience that why i try to chose autoquake even though there is lot of negative experience for some people.

still i have very good positive opinion about the auto quake and there is not !!!!! sales person i feel they are honest and also they sortout many peoples car problems after sales i hope they will contact me and sortout my break problems too. may be if the see this hope fully they will call me still i belive. i am still very happy about the car and auto quake service and also i will clear i am not their employee simply their customer i hope if the look after their customers they will be very sucess.
i bought the car from their LEEDS office on 5th april 10 i went again on 6th april for collection because the car need the road tax on 5th is easter holiday so i made two journys spend around 250 pounds for two days and two people i bought toyota avensis t3 x (kw56) so still i am waiting for their answers i will let you know the outcome soon.
msaleem

Try punctuating and capitalising your paragraphs, it will make it easier to read and understand. Therefore people will be more likely to help you.