Bought a lemon - HELP!

Gowrie

Bought a second hand car just a over three months ago which came with a three month warranty.

The week prior to the warranty running out the car failed to start and I called the garage by phone - the garage had no means of recovery and I had no appropriate private recovery arrangements to get vehicle to garage.

A kind spirited and technically competent local managed to get the car started a few days later and the car was taken in with the warranty having expired by one day.

After investigation the garage have informed me that the engine has gone and it will cost more to fix than the value of the vehicle.

What position do I have for refund here given a. I did notify them of fault prior to warranty running out and b. There is surely some over-riding consumer protection that would cover me in the absence of any warranty

All replies appreciated.

spiro

The first problem you may have is "technically competent local managed to get the car started ", the garage may argue that they should have looked at it in the 1st instance. They may also claim that this has caused additional damage/repairs.

If you had reported it and left it were it was then I think you would be covered on the bais that you reported it before the warranty expired and had not used it since.

Gowrie

Thanks Spiro,

The local was an old retired mechanic who managed to get the battery charged as it was obviously flat with my trying to turn the car over and clean out the spark plugs which were dowsed in petrol.

As soon as the car was running again, I took it up to the garage.

The garage have suggested they may make a contribution to a replacement car, but I truly feel that I should be due a full refund or replacement if not under warranty then under the european consumer legislation of 1999 which I understand supercedes the old Sale of Good act?

LandyAndy

If 'neighbour' got it started and it ran well enough for you to drive it to the garage what are they now saying is so wrong with it that it is fit only for scrap?

Also what make, model, age is it?

Gowrie

There is a crankshaft bearing in the sump and a new engine is required - car only worth 4k+ so in their opinion its a write off?

Don't know much about cars so just being lead by the technical advices I am getting on.

Its a 2004 nissan xtrail 2.5 v6 petrol LandyAndy.

LandyAndy

Could be worth talking to these people

http://www.247spares.co.uk/engines/nissan/x-trail

to find out what likely costs are.