New (second-hand) car breakdown - can you help?

sc867

Three months ago I bought a second-hand Laguna from a car dealer in Exeter. As I have had to retire on medical grounds, this was to be our last newish (9 years old) car.
I checked and it had had a replacement engine with a new cam-belt approx 20k miles before I got it. (I have a receipt from the garage that fitted it for the previous owner.) Last week the cam-belt broke and killed the engine.
I also bought a 6 month Warranty from a firm called WLS that covers mechanical bits, but have been told by a garage that although it would cover the cost of the cam-belt, it would not cover the collateral damage, i e the new engine.
Can anyone tell me if I have a claim against anybody, or do I just have to swallow the loss and do without a car?

AdrianHi

Warranties are a bit of a mine field and having examined a few before choosing was aware of this "collateral damage" (damage cause to other parts of car by failing part) and found a warranty that included this.

I cannot think who you could go to with a claim for this, try citizens advice may be.

I guess you must have paid somewhere around £1000 to £1500 for it. Harsh having it only last 3 months, my sympathy, but it's the chance taken buying cars at this age which if your prepared to put up with the extra repairs or do a low mileage works out as about the cheapest motoring you can get. What is the mileage? Most warranties get more limited in cover past 70,000.

If the car is low mileage and generally in good condition and you know a "value for money" mechanic you may be able to find a replacement engine out of another laguna for a small number of hundred pounds.... but then you can get 7+ year old cars smaller than a Laguna for a few hundred.

If you can spare £150 a month (actually a little less) plus other running costs it's enough to lease a small new car which if you do any kind of mileage could work out cheaper than a 9 year old Laguna - would need to do the sums to check. If not it will not be more expensive by much.