Cheated by car dealer..

jk2813308004

Hello,

I bought a 57 reg Peugeot last week from a nationally recognised dealer for £6000. (Deposit £2000 + monthly payments)
They have about 40 dealerships around England, dont wish to name them.

A bit about the car...it has just done 15,000miles, engine bay looks brand new, handles and drives well, mechanically sound.

When I took it for a test drive, there was a concentrated funny smell in the cabin, as if a lot of cleaning agents had been used. The agent present said this was perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

This seemed like a brilliant deal, almost too brilliant.

After taking delivery of the car, and driving it around for a few days a "wet dog" smell started coming through as the cleaning agents were probably wearing out. It was unbearable.

I had the car valeted for £50, and the smell STILL didn't subside.

After having a closer look, I found dog hair in every possible nook and cranny (in between window glass and the door panel)..places where the hoover cant even reach.

I also used pet odor removal sprays..still the smell remained!

The same with baking soda.

So I emailed the regional director of the company and they said it was unacceptable, and say they're going to post a £50 cheque to get the car re-valeted.

...

I honestly don't think the hideous smell will subside unless the carpets and seats are changed.

They offer 3 months warranty as standard.

What are my rights?

It is impossible to drive the car without gagging now.

Any help whatsoever will be honestly appreciated.

Thanks.

welshmoneylover

jk2813308004 wrote: »

Hello,

I bought a 57 reg Peugeot last week from a nationally recognised dealer for £6000. (Deposit £2000 + monthly payments)
They have about 40 dealerships around England, dont wish to name them.

A bit about the car...it has just done 15,000miles, engine bay looks brand new, handles and drives well, mechanically sound.

When I took it for a test drive, there was a concentrated funny smell in the cabin, as if a lot of cleaning agents had been used. The agent present said this was perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

This seemed like a brilliant deal, almost too brilliant.

After taking delivery of the car, and driving it around for a few days a "wet dog" smell started coming through as the cleaning agents were probably wearing out. It was unbearable.

I had the car valeted for £50, and the smell STILL didn't subside.

After having a closer look, I found dog hair in every possible nook and cranny (in between window glass and the door panel)..places where the hoover cant even reach.

I also used pet odor removal sprays..still the smell remained!

The same with baking soda.

So I emailed the regional director of the company and they said it was unacceptable, and say they're going to post a £50 cheque to get the car re-valeted.

...

I honestly don't think the hideous smell will subside unless the carpets and seats are changed.

They offer 3 months warranty as standard.

What are my rights?

It is impossible to drive the car without gagging now.

Any help whatsoever will be honestly appreciated.

Thanks.

Dunno if this helps but there's stuff called formula h and its brill at getting smells especially pet smells out of things.

Harry_Flashman

Sounds (smells) like my motor

bravobeastie

try leaving windows open at every possible (safe) opportunity too. Must admit I was sat in my car earlier and realised it smelled very musty (windows don't work and sunroof sealed shut as it leaks lol) so smell was inevitable over the winter. Fresh air should help for the time being until you can get it re-valeted. Perhaps tell the valeter of the problem and they may be able to use something stronger. However I would not be happy with a cheque for £50 to get it re-done.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Are you sure it's normal dog smell, unless the animal(s) have messed in the car then dog smell isn't normally as unpleasant as you describe.

Assuming the company doesn't have an exchange program you can use, it might be worth trying to isolate the smell.

Try removing the back seats and boot floor coverings, see if the smell vanishes....wrap the front seats in plastic..ditto.

If the smell is still as strong, it's probably in the carpet, you'll have to try and locate the source by smell without throwing up...if you can locate the source you have a far better chance of curing it.

I wonder if it might be spilt milk in the carpet, or the redundant spare wheel well...that really is one of the worse smells imaginable and is almost impossible to eradicate without replacing the affected materials.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

jeese take it back and tell them to sort them smell why pay for it to be valeted when they already did it when it came in hence the chemical smell they tried to get rid the smell it seems the cheap way and hoped for the best it wasnt in the filter or matrix. get the to change the pollen filter, this may help if not then heater matrix.

a little trick maybe to do is take out the pollen filter, cut up some car smelly's and jam then into the ribs of the filter ofter you cleaned it out.

Kilty_2

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

I wonder if it might be spilt milk in the carpet, or the redundant spare wheel well...that really is one of the worse smells imaginable and is almost impossible to eradicate without replacing the affected materials.

+1 - spilt milk on one of the seats in my old car and it absolutely stank once it warmed up :mad:

Current owner will be wondering what the smell is no doubt

epz_2

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Are you sure it's normal dog smell, unless the animal(s) have messed in the car then dog smell isn't normally as unpleasant as you describe.

I dont know, my folks used to take their dog swiming a lot and that car stank, even a couple of years after it died you could still smell the dog. It had been valeted a few times as well, sorry probably not much help.

If it helps replacement seats are pretty cheap on ebay and thats likely where the dog spent most time.

PeterZ_2

The seats and carpet need a proper deep clean with a Vax or similiar. Most valets use those foams which push the smell deeper into the fabric. Nice smellies are just masking the problem. If you wash the seats and carpet its essential that they are dried quickly to avoid bacteria growing again.

The smell will go of its own accord in time. Open the windows as much as possible and always keep the fan on and the air con on so that it dries the air. Make sure that everything is dry.

motorguy

jk2813308004 wrote: »

Hello,

I bought a 57 reg Peugeot last week from a nationally recognised dealer for £6000. (Deposit £2000 + monthly payments)
They have about 40 dealerships around England, dont wish to name them.

A bit about the car...it has just done 15,000miles, engine bay looks brand new, handles and drives well, mechanically sound.

When I took it for a test drive, there was a concentrated funny smell in the cabin, as if a lot of cleaning agents had been used. The agent present said this was perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

This seemed like a brilliant deal, almost too brilliant.

After taking delivery of the car, and driving it around for a few days a "wet dog" smell started coming through as the cleaning agents were probably wearing out. It was unbearable.

I had the car valeted for £50, and the smell STILL didn't subside.

After having a closer look, I found dog hair in every possible nook and cranny (in between window glass and the door panel)..places where the hoover cant even reach.

I also used pet odor removal sprays..still the smell remained!

The same with baking soda.

So I emailed the regional director of the company and they said it was unacceptable, and say they're going to post a £50 cheque to get the car re-valeted.

...

I honestly don't think the hideous smell will subside unless the carpets and seats are changed.

They offer 3 months warranty as standard.

What are my rights?

It is impossible to drive the car without gagging now.

Any help whatsoever will be honestly appreciated.

Thanks.

Firstly, i dont think you've been 'cheated'. They have had the car valeted and unfortunately it hasnt removed the smell.

Personally, EMAILING them doesnt get the message across really does it? Take the car in for them to smell. Have them sit in the car. Tell them to sort it out.

anotherbaldrick

Put a bucket of manure in the boot, you will hardly notice the dog smell