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

werskine

I purchased a car from this company on Friday. On returning home (200 miles) I noticed a whine coming from the engine. It seems the dual mass flywheel is on it's way out- meaning the clutch could go at any moment. Autoquake haven't been too keen to take the car back, even trying to imply that I have been mesing them around by buying the car and wanting to return it under their 7-day return policy. I had asked them to collect the car (which I would have paid for), to be told this was not possible. I now face having to drive 200 miles tomorrow to return it, taking a day off work, in a car that could lose drive anytime.
It does beggar belief that a supposedly reputable company would sell something with such a fault (repair would cost £1000-2000 ). So much for their 141 point check!

San1

My first car was a 2003 BMW 520i SE 46k paid approx £9000. Looked like a good deal. Later a found all 4 tyres were not the approved type which should be extra load to take the weight of such a heavy car. Took out £700 warranty which I did not use it in the year. Sold the car for £7500 after 9 months with 56k.
Got my 2nd M sport 530D 2006 with 75k under £15000. The chap there tried to sell me GAP insurance which was shocking since I was paying using debit card. Gap insurance is ok if you are getting finance, say if you pay £15000 for a car with say 5 years finance. To clear the balance you may have to pay out £20000. Gap insurance will cover the £5000 if for example you car gets written of the next day or way before the finance ends.
Anyway had the car inspected by BMW and was told the front pads and discs were on the way out. One pad had less than 2mm on pad left and the warning light came on. Autoquake agreed to replace the pads but not the discs. The discs were not that worn in my opinion. Took it to National auto centre. Left the car with them twice. They wouldn't change the pads without changing the discs and wanted over £300 for the work. I gave up on these con men. I also found they didn't even check the thickness of the discs which said they would do. Autoquake insisted they will do it. Went back same old crap. Went to another branch. Same fools there, one said did you know what happened to the formula one car, the brakes exploded... blah blah. What an idiot. Changed the pads myself for under £20 and 1 year later all is still fine and discs within the legal thickness. Around 3 months after purchasing the car I noticed oil on my drive way. Turns out these 3.0D have a common problem of the intake manifold swirl flap seals leaking which cannot be purchased- the whole manifolds needs changing, part over £600. This wasn't covered by warranty since it an oil leak. National car centres wanted 2.5 hours labour to strip it down to check. They also told me that the warranty people will do anything to get out of paying for anything. Anything over £200 they will send out a inspector. In the end gave up on them idiots and replaced the swirl flap with blanking plates for £36, approx 2 hours labour myself. These swirl flaps are prone to breaking and going into the engine blowing it. BMW removed them on cars made after 2007, a known design flaw.

From experience I believe they do not carry out any checks, I looked at other cars too which were in a bad state.

maximillion.1

I was searching for a RAV4 and had a budget of 12000... I found a nice looking one on their site, the photo's made it look fantastic. I reserved it @ £99 and could not get down within 3 days so they told me I had to pay a 10% deposit. So after spending over £1000 I took a train to leeds and a taxi to the site. Getting their early for my 12 midday slot as I was told if I missed the slot I would loose my £99. When I got their the staff are not helpful and not organised I waited until 12.30 before any one actually came to see me. The car was out the back and I could see the cleaning staff shining and touching up the car for my viewing. I was shown the car in the storage area.... MAKE SURE YOU ASK TO SEE IT IN DAY LIGHT! I found the car had been repaired and panels painted... the car looked tired and nothing like the photo's or description. The salesman I was dealing with knew nothing about cars. So I walked away, got a taxi and train back home. It took over a week to get my cash back!
DONT USE THEM! If you don't know much about cars go there with someone who does!!

trl002

Im looking at buying my Audi this week, but looking at the neg feedback and the positive im very much on the fence now! jeez!!!!!

Can someone tell me how the warranty works, do i need to call them if there is an issue or do you just bring it to a Audi dealership?

Also the £100 deposit how does the days work, if i put a deposit down today (sat) does it start today or is it - Sun-Tues?

Thanks. :money:

fatface40

At the moment I have a Honda Jazz reserved the only one reserved at the moment. They phoned up last week and were ready to deliver it, but I told them I was waiting for them to get back to me re finance. In the meantime I asked for the check list of checks that were made on the car to be emailed to me and also asked if the car was supplied with two keys as it stated two but the picture was of one.

I received an email with the check list attached, a blank check list not filled in not signed basically just a print out with the car reg on top. All the bits that should have been filled in basically blank. I was also told there was only one key even though it stated two and that was taken into account when pricing.

I sent them an email back yesterday asking them if the car had been checked as the check list was not complete and also told them if it stated the car came with two keys it had not been priced on having one key (it's about £170 +vat for a new Honda key). I am quite disappointed and feel like even though I like the car I will have to ask for my deposit back as I have still not received any reply to my email. The price of the service £180 and a new key £170 and delivery £192 will completely wipe out the saving. If you also consider they were ready to deliver it to me last week when it appears no checks have been made, makes me wonder about the company. The person I am dealing with is very polite but to send out a blank check list!!!!! I work in customer service and I would be running around trying to get someone to check the car before sending it out, very embarrassing and after reading the comments on this forum, it does appear not all cars are checked. I will keep you updated. But if you are buying from them, get a check list and take a close look at the pictures and description to see if it matches.

Errata

There are a lot of pros and cons to buying a car. A pro is being able to see it, test drive it and have any questions and queries answered before deciding to buy it.
Autoquake sells itself by not having fancy showrooms and giving a people a chance to look only at a picture of a car before they decide to put a holding deposit on it.
Suits some, doesn't suit others.

fatface40

I got an email back from autoquake (about an hour after posting on this site) saying a new key would be supplied with the car. Happy days two keys!!! I was also told I was sent a generic checklist which was not filled in, if I wanted to see the one for the car he would have to have it faxed over and then scan it to me. I told him I would send back the finance papers once I saw the checklist as the car has done nearly 10,000 miles since it's last service. I am still waiting for the checklist and I only have five days to return the finance papers. I re emailed him this morning but still no reply. Hmmmm I don't know what to say!!! Am I asking too much to see the checklist?

christheteacher

My son bought a BMW for £14,000 there a month a ago and everything was fine. He's extremely happy with his purchase. But the process isn't like going to a dealer. It's basically just like buying a car in an auction with a reserve price - like I've done twice - except in this case, it's online. Don't expect coffee, biscuits, and a smart suited salesman chatting you into making the deal. In fact don't expect anyone to make you a deal - the price is the price, as seen online - more like a dutch auction if you are watching the price drop until someone buys. It's a low overhead process and as such none of the smart things you get in a BMW or Mercedes showroom exist - so nobody has to pay for them. (You did't think BMW paid the £million for that big glass showroom with the spot lights did you. Customers paid for it.)

Trying to compare Autoquake with a main franchised showroom is flawed and much of the comments here are unrealistic. If you've been to the car auctions and bought; you'll be comfortable with the process. If you'd never go to a car auction and never will, I'd suggest you buy your next car from a good friend or a main dealer. After sales service and a smart expensive processes isn't what Autoquake do - it's about the price and a no frills process. If you are not comfortable with that, just don't buy in that way.

Errata

I think ^ is a pretty fair summing up. Buying a car from Autoquake isn't like buying from a dealership, it isn't even like buying a car at your local used car lot.

christheteacher

Errata wrote: »

I think ^ is a pretty fair summing up. Buying a car from Autoquake isn't like buying from a dealership, it isn't even like buying a car at your local used car lot.

I absolutely agree. As I said - just like going to a car auction, except this one a dutch auction where the price drops until it's sold. Just like the auction you're on your own - probably alongside dealers who know stuff about cars that you don't. If you are not happy with that - don't buy this way, go to a dealer showroom.