Buying New Car from Main Dealer

sirwolfie

In July of this year, I ordered a new VW from a main dealer. I specced the car with a few factory fit options and waited. When the car arrived last week none of the options were fitted. The dealer accepted blame and the salesmen that I dealt with no longer works with the firm. The new salesman said that they would hold the price and absorb the VAT increase when it comes. I re-ordered but will have to wait until next Feb/March before I get the car. What are my rights for what is essentially a breach of contract?

All thoughts welcome

Anihilator

If you didnt say otherwise you have accepted what they proposed and agreed a new contract hence you have no further rights.

sirwolfie

Sorry, I should have added that at the point of the new contract I stated that I wanted compensation for the delay. I also put this in writing to them the next day.

Lemonade_Pockets

None is the short answer.

Anything compensation or otherwise they decide to give will be purely down to good will.

Have a read of the terms and conditions on the order form you signed (twice now).

Crabman

sirwolfie wrote: »

Sorry, I should have added that at the point of the new contract I stated that I wanted compensation for the delay. I also put this in writing to them the next day.

And what was their response? There was no hurry to sign the contract so I presume they agreed to whatever you asked of them and you therefore went ahead and signed the new contract?

ukjoel

This is isnt that unusual a problem.
Best example I saw was a customer who ordered a 5 door fiesta and a 3 door turned up. What was funny is the salesman didnt notice, and neither did the customer who was driving it for 3 days before his wife pointed it out to him. :rolleyes: He got a full refund and replacement vehicle ordered.

The way manufacturers handle this varies depending on if your a fleet or retail customer. With fleet its fairly straightforward - contract extended on current vehicle and cost taken on chin by lease company or manufacturer depending on where mistake was made. Alternative car offering (of a higher spec) is used depending on stock availability.


With retail slightly more complex. The examples I have seen the retailer (if thats where the mistakes was made) would hold price and absorb any costs (as has been done in this case). The other critical thing is that they freeze the price on the PX as your car will be older.

This should mean your not out of pocket UNLESS you have to pay out for repairs on your ageing vehicle. If the dealer has a workshop ask them to handle any repairs for free or at cost price in the interim.

The other KEY question is what car was it. That is relevent due to supply and demand. If its a hard to get car then other dealers less lilkely to help out. If its a Passat then there may be other similar cars out there.

My guess is though if you ordered a Christmas tree then its probably a factory order. I would sit tight - follow above advice and ask for a 3 year free service plan as compensation.

xycom1

I would ask for the non-spec car that actually turned up, on loan until such time that the new factory order arrives.

Lemonade_Pockets

xycom1 wrote: »

I would ask for the non-spec car that actually turned up, on loan until such time that the new factory order arrives.

I would say its highly unlikely that they would do that.

harveybobbles

ukjoel wrote: »

My guess is though if you ordered a Christmas tree then its probably a factory order. I would sit tight - follow above advice and ask for a 3 year free service plan as compensation.

Not if you watched The Good Life last night on UK Gold where Margot ordered a 9 foot Christmass tree and the Dept store turned up with an 8ft 6 inch one.

She wasn't amused...

hollie.weimeraner

sirwolfie wrote: »

In July of this year, I ordered a new VW from a main dealer. I specced the car with a few factory fit options and waited. When the car arrived last week none of the options were fitted. The dealer accepted blame and the salesmen that I dealt with no longer works with the firm. The new salesman said that they would hold the price and absorb the VAT increase when it comes. I re-ordered but will have to wait until next Feb/March before I get the car. What are my rights for what is essentially a breach of contract?

All thoughts welcome

Scirocco by any chance?

If it is then the dealer has probably done the best he can. There's a 20 -25 week wait for thecar and if you've decided to hold out for your original spec they've done what they can. I think that you'll find tht unless you specified "time is of the essence" with your original offer they are in the hands of the manufacturer. Try ringing VW customer services and see what they can do, I am aware of some cars being diverted in favour of some customers.

Try looking on http://www.scirocconet.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=1 or http://www.sciroccocentral.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=1 for further help. (If its a scirocco of course;))