car repair/rights?

vickyfrance

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum.

We bought a 2nd hand car back in August for £800 with just over 110k miles. The following day we reported that the engine temp was running high to very high on any journey's over a couple of miles. We took it back to the garage a few times but they could'nt find out what was wrong with it. They did a few jobs on it like flushing the radiator out etc.
Anyway they have now had the car over 3 weeks and they called the other day to say its fixed but with a bill of over £600. We have never been told from day 1 there was going to be a bill at the end of it. We had to chase up the car with numerous phone calls (they never phoned us) We have explained that we are not happy with this outcome and he's agreed to go halves £325. Which we still feel we shouldn't have to pay.
Does anyone know what rights we have?
The car was taken for a test drive around the local estate (1-2 miles) but problem didn't arise then. The car is a Honda on a R plate and people who know their cars knows that Honda engines are usually ever lasting.
We contacted Consumer Direct yesterday and she said we would be entitled to a full refund, but the garage is saying we haven't got a leg to stand on.
My husband has called the police to see if they could offer any advice as the garage is not releasing the car back to us to my husband is thinking of the lines of stolen car. But as usual the police don't want to know
So, any advice would be appreciated?

Nile

Hello vickyfrance

I'll move your thread to the 'Motoring & Public Transport' board.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Regards

Nile

Conor_3

The police don't want to know as it's a civil matter. The problem is that second hand cars don't have warranties however it should still be of merchantable quality and a car that has that fault that quickly obviously had it when they sold it to you.

At £600, it suggests the headgasket was gone.

ArsenalFC

The garage sold you a car which was not in a good condition and has infringed the Sales Of Goods Act. Consumer direct are right, demand the car back or your full refund. The garage is bluffing you in the hope you have little knowledge of consumer rights. Threaten them with trading standard and small claims court if you dont get the car or full refund back.