New Lease Car Problem

chris_myerz

Hi,

Just over a month ago I took delivery of my nice new shiny Audi A3 Sportback 1.9TDIe.

After I'd had it 4 days, it was towed by the RAC & spent 2 nights in the Audi workshop! Last week I had to take the car to the dealership once again for the same problem.



This is what is happening:



Every 60 miles or so (I do about 60-70 miles a week), I receive a warning light on the dash saying that the Diesel Particulate Filter is partially blocked (Audi replaced a sensor when it was towed).



The manual says I need to drive in 4th or 5th gear at around 2000 RPM (roughly 60Mph in 4th and 70Mph in 5th) for at least 10 - 15 mins without stopping. Therefore I have to go on a pointless 40 mile round trip on the motorway as this is the only road long enough with a high enough speed limit.



This is costing me in Fuel, Time, Mileage and Wear & Tear, not to mention the increased risk of accident by being on the motorway when there is no actual need.



I have reported this to the finance company, who have said that the leasing firm have misold me a vehicle on the grounds that these cars shouldn't bw sold to people only driving around town.


I am contracted to 6000 miles PA (So it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that I dont do many miles!!)



The leasing firm say theres nothing they can do


What are my rights as a consumer????


Please help as I'm gonna start losing hair very soon!!


Thanks all

JasonLVC

Interesting dilema.

If you had purchased the car, I would think there is an argument to say that the dealer had mis-sold the car (not fit for purpose) as a diesel car only becomes financially cheaper if you do very high mielages (over 20k).

In addition,particulate filters are fairly new things to acheive EU emission standards and MUST be driven for a set number of miles in orer to 'burn out' the carbon they are capturing. Not burning them out causes them to clog it up leading to the car in effect beign strangulated, hence the breakdown.

So I think the dealer would have to take the car back, although this would probably involve a legal action to prove they mis-sold it - but that is easy if you could prove you were only doing 6,000 miles a year. One problem may be that you sourced your lease car via the internet and thus by-passed the whole FAQ with the dealership, which means the onus is on you to find out if the car is suitable.

On the other hand, the lease company have (arguably) knowingly leased you a car not fit for purpose as an annual mileage of 6k equates to 500 miles per month which is clearly not enough miles to get the filters working properly - but the argument would be the lease company simply assumes your miles are all high speed ones, not tootling round country lanes.

I'd write a letter of compliant along those lines to Audi Finance (I've had dealing with them before though and they are a bit hard ball if it involves them spending or losing money) and if needs be complain to the BVRLA (leasing car trade body) and ultimately the financial ombudsman as this is a financial product you have, not a car.

But I;d stick with the not fit for purpose argument as you clearly have a car that is designed to be driven for high mileages at higher speeds in order for it to work correctly, a profile that you do not fit.

isplumm

Hi,

Would you not be better talking to Audi garage about exactly the issue is? What have they said ....???

I have a Ford Focus diesel & am not driving it much at the mo - yet it drives fine ....

Just cause the finance company say it is not fit for purpose, doesn't mean anything .... you need to get a Audi garage to say that ..

Why not post something on here .... http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=28 ???

Mark

isplumm

http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=134863

Try reading the above link ..... you may need to go to the top of page ...

Mark

chris_myerz

Hi chaps thanks for your posts..

My car has been to Audi 3 times and they said it is working perfectly normal and they even worked out my daily milage and told me i'm not even doing a half of the required milage to make the DPF work correctly and is therfore not fit for purpose!

I am refering this to th BVRLA & FOS if I don't hear anything from them soon!