North Motors - Blackburn - Beware

bobby9205

Hi all, I've recently come back from North Motors in Blackburn and just had to share my experience!

I saw a 2001 Renault Laguna 1.9 diesel estate with 75k on clock for £2695, the car looked very well maintained. So I asked the salesman for a test drive.

During the test drive (I was on my own) I noted the following faults with the car - air con not working, traction control light on, rear wash wipe not working, tryes pressures low, service light on and a steering wobble at 50mph.

On my return I pointed these out to the saleman who then started to look through the service history - to see that it had not had a service for 2 yrs! He then showed me the pdi sheet showing all ticks!!!
I then asked what he could do for me, he explained there was no margin on the screen price and that he would service the car for an extra £99 rather than the usual £250!!!

I then said to him "so let me get this right, you want me to pay full price and an extra £99 to fix the existing faults on your car!" to which he replied "Im here to sell the car and you want to buy it!" to which I replied "and now im going to walk away!" I had envisaged the conversation should have gone along the lines of "if I get all the faults fixed and have the car serviced, will you buy the car at the screen price" which I would have probably gone for, not the crap that this guy came out with - I hope he's not on commission because I bet his family are starving if he is!!!

Im absolutely flabbergasted, I cant believe the bear faced cheek, it makes me wonder how there in business - but then it got me to thinking possibly there are some gulliable people out there that would go for such a deal?


Any thoughts?

Sssssss

a lot of cars on the forecourt have faults on them. Dealers only fix them once you've done the deal and I would expect a full service and no faults on the day I pick up the car. However judging by the attitude of the salesman you did right to walk away.

mrscb

Sssssss wrote: »

a lot of cars on the forecourt have faults on them. Dealers only fix them once you've done the deal and I would expect a full service and no faults on the day I pick up the car. However judging by the attitude of the salesman you did right to walk away.

I agree...This is the way most dealers would handle it, do deal,get deposit then sort car so it is right on collection unless otherwise agreed. Obviously if the car doesnt sell the dealer doesnt want to have spent money on it,But I would guess a lot of second hand cars have some sort of fault at some time, those things cant be helped.

plane_boy2000

As I understand it most dealers dont fix issues until its sold, as if they dont sell it and chuck it back into auction then they have wasted time and money on it.

emmell

No margin! Does he seriously think we believe he is not making a profit on this Laguna.
You can go to Auction and buy a vehicle of your choice (plenty to choose from, especially Lagunas) without a warranty, and if you have to pay to get the vehicle up to spec, you will get the garage of your choice and pay for it with the money saved.
However, my nephew bought a 2003 Laguna and has regretted it ever since (laguna diesel sport tourer with all the bells and whistles).
PS. If you do go to Auction, make sure it has come direct from a Main Agent, it should tell you on the ticket, usually tells you which main agent as well.
ML.

Snake245

bobby9205 wrote: »

Hi all, I've recently come back from North Motors in Blackburn and just had to share my experience!

I saw a 2001 Renault Laguna 1.9 diesel estate with 75k on clock for £2695, the car looked very well maintained. So I asked the salesman for a test drive.

During the test drive (I was on my own) I noted the following faults with the car - air con not working, traction control light on, rear wash wipe not working, tryes pressures low, service light on and a steering wobble at 50mph.

On my return I pointed these out to the saleman who then started to look through the service history - to see that it had not had a service for 2 yrs! He then showed me the pdi sheet showing all ticks!!!
I then asked what he could do for me, he explained there was no margin on the screen price and that he would service the car for an extra £99 rather than the usual £250!!!

I then said to him "so let me get this right, you want me to pay full price and an extra £99 to fix the existing faults on your car!" to which he replied "Im here to sell the car and you want to buy it!" to which I replied "and now im going to walk away!" I had envisaged the conversation should have gone along the lines of "if I get all the faults fixed and have the car serviced, will you buy the car at the screen price" which I would have probably gone for, not the crap that this guy came out with - I hope he's not on commission because I bet his family are starving if he is!!!

Im absolutely flabbergasted, I cant believe the bear faced cheek, it makes me wonder how there in business - but then it got me to thinking possibly there are some gulliable people out there that would go for such a deal?


Any thoughts?

Hello. I recently bought a car from North's Motors and all I can say is the writer of the above article must have been having a bad day or caught the salesman on a bad day.

I live in Bradford and was looking for a Vauxhall Astra. I looked through autotrader and saw one at Norths motors. It was listed some £900 cheaper than all the rest so I was a bit suspcious. In for a penny, in for a pound I thought.

I drove over and was greeted by a salesman called Dunc or Don, I think it was. Pleasant guy and quite knowledgable too. He showed me to the car and left me to look around but did say I was free to approach him when ready. Fantastic attitude, there's nothing worse than some aggressive salesman standing over you making chit-chat!

I asked to go for a drive and was allowed on my own. Unusual, I thought but in retro-speck, very refreshing as I could enjoy the car without feeling like I was on a driving test!

When I got back, I mentioned to the salesman that there was a knocking in the back and he went to see his boss. They both said it would be fixed. I then asked about a discount as I had no px as I was looking for this car to be a a vehicle for my wife. I was told some story about how they buy cheap and sell cheap with no margians involved. Had I not checked autotrader before hand, I would have laughed in the salesman face but they were BY FAR the cheapest I could find.

I did the deal at the screen price and having had the car around 4 weeks now must put on record that the overall service was good, no pressure and the knocking had been fixed too on collection without me having to pay extra.

Oh, and to comment on the previous remarks, the car I bought had a service missing too. No concern to me, I was offered the same service and valet for £99 but declined. Some people do make me laugh. If you want a brand new car with no problems or scratches then go and spend your £15k plus at a main dealer. Used cars are used cars, there are bound to be some issues but there are some hidden gems around and I have found one.

Thanks again to North Motors and special thanks to the guys I dealt with- John and Dunc/Don.

barneygumble

Snake245 wrote: »

Hello. I recently bought a car from North's Motors and all I can say is the writer of the above article must have been having a bad day or caught the salesman on a bad day.

I live in Bradford and was looking for a Vauxhall Astra. I looked through autotrader and saw one at Norths motors. It was listed some £900 cheaper than all the rest so I was a bit suspcious. In for a penny, in for a pound I thought.

I drove over and was greeted by a salesman called Dunc or Don, I think it was. Pleasant guy and quite knowledgable too. He showed me to the car and left me to look around but did say I was free to approach him when ready. Fantastic attitude, there's nothing worse than some aggressive salesman standing over you making chit-chat!

I asked to go for a drive and was allowed on my own. Unusual, I thought but in retro-speck, very refreshing as I could enjoy the car without feeling like I was on a driving test!

When I got back, I mentioned to the salesman that there was a knocking in the back and he went to see his boss. They both said it would be fixed. I then asked about a discount as I had no px as I was looking for this car to be a a vehicle for my wife. I was told some story about how they buy cheap and sell cheap with no margians involved. Had I not checked autotrader before hand, I would have laughed in the salesman face but they were BY FAR the cheapest I could find.

I did the deal at the screen price and having had the car around 4 weeks now must put on record that the overall service was good, no pressure and the knocking had been fixed too on collection without me having to pay extra.

Oh, and to comment on the previous remarks, the car I bought had a service missing too. No concern to me, I was offered the same service and valet for £99 but declined. Some people do make me laugh. If you want a brand new car with no problems or scratches then go and spend your £15k plus at a main dealer. Used cars are used cars, there are bound to be some issues but there are some hidden gems around and I have found one.

Thanks again to North Motors and special thanks to the guys I dealt with- John and Dunc/Don.

Where did you say you worked again?

motorguy

bobby9205 wrote: »

Hi all, I've recently come back from North Motors in Blackburn and just had to share my experience!

I saw a 2001 Renault Laguna 1.9 diesel estate with 75k on clock for £2695, the car looked very well maintained. So I asked the salesman for a test drive.

During the test drive (I was on my own) I noted the following faults with the car - air con not working, traction control light on, rear wash wipe not working, tryes pressures low, service light on and a steering wobble at 50mph.

On my return I pointed these out to the saleman who then started to look through the service history - to see that it had not had a service for 2 yrs! He then showed me the pdi sheet showing all ticks!!!
I then asked what he could do for me, he explained there was no margin on the screen price and that he would service the car for an extra £99 rather than the usual £250!!!

I then said to him "so let me get this right, you want me to pay full price and an extra £99 to fix the existing faults on your car!" to which he replied "Im here to sell the car and you want to buy it!" to which I replied "and now im going to walk away!" I had envisaged the conversation should have gone along the lines of "if I get all the faults fixed and have the car serviced, will you buy the car at the screen price" which I would have probably gone for, not the crap that this guy came out with - I hope he's not on commission because I bet his family are starving if he is!!!

Im absolutely flabbergasted, I cant believe the bear faced cheek, it makes me wonder how there in business - but then it got me to thinking possibly there are some gulliable people out there that would go for such a deal?


Any thoughts?

Oldish Laguna td's of this era are a pig of a thing. You've had a lucky escape. I suspect the dealer was trying to sell you the car 'sold as seen' as he expects it to be troublesome.

The PDI sheet - 'pre delivery inspection' would have been done by the supplying dealer when the car was new, so not sure of the relevance on an 8yo car?

Did you really expect a FSH on a £2500 though? Often as cars get older they'll just get a service done by some local mechanic who wont be stamping the book. Also whos to say the dealer didnt have any margin to play with on that car? It does happen sometimes.

There are lots of cars out there, but for your budget i'd be trying to buy privately from someone who has owned the car for a number of years - something easily checked on your initial phone call - and they'll be able to tell you when it was serviced etc.

motorguy

Snake245 wrote: »

Hello. I recently bought a car from North's Motors and all I can say is the writer of the above article must have been having a bad day or caught the salesman on a bad day.

I live in Bradford and was looking for a Vauxhall Astra. I looked through autotrader and saw one at Norths motors. It was listed some £900 cheaper than all the rest so I was a bit suspcious. In for a penny, in for a pound I thought.

I drove over and was greeted by a salesman called Dunc or Don, I think it was. Pleasant guy and quite knowledgable too. He showed me to the car and left me to look around but did say I was free to approach him when ready. Fantastic attitude, there's nothing worse than some aggressive salesman standing over you making chit-chat!

I asked to go for a drive and was allowed on my own. Unusual, I thought but in retro-speck, very refreshing as I could enjoy the car without feeling like I was on a driving test!

When I got back, I mentioned to the salesman that there was a knocking in the back and he went to see his boss. They both said it would be fixed. I then asked about a discount as I had no px as I was looking for this car to be a a vehicle for my wife. I was told some story about how they buy cheap and sell cheap with no margians involved. Had I not checked autotrader before hand, I would have laughed in the salesman face but they were BY FAR the cheapest I could find.

I did the deal at the screen price and having had the car around 4 weeks now must put on record that the overall service was good, no pressure and the knocking had been fixed too on collection without me having to pay extra.

Oh, and to comment on the previous remarks, the car I bought had a service missing too. No concern to me, I was offered the same service and valet for £99 but declined. Some people do make me laugh. If you want a brand new car with no problems or scratches then go and spend your £15k plus at a main dealer. Used cars are used cars, there are bound to be some issues but there are some hidden gems around and I have found one.

Thanks again to North Motors and special thanks to the guys I dealt with- John and Dunc/Don.

Call me an old cynic, but it never ceases to make me giggle when total newbies come on and tell of a 'really great' experience they've had to counter the bad experience of an O/P.

harveybobbles

A Laguna with problems? Never come across that before...

hewhoisnotintheknow

from my experiance dealers seem to think the general public are stupid and that you are [FONT=&quot]privileged to be dealing with them
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