carshop car problem

pammyj74

I recently bought a peugeot 207 57 2008 plate from the carshop in northampton.
I had the car 6 weeks before someone hit into the side of me who didnt see me (my car is bright green!!) and the car has been in the garage for the past two weeks.
They drove the car back to me today and say the front suspension is shockingly bad and very dangerous to drive and it shouldnt have been sold to me like that.
I did not take a warranty out as I expected there to be no problems with a newish car just passed its mot a month before purchase.

Do I have a leg to stand on in getting them to fix it?
It did not occur from the accident as from the start I thought the suspension was hard and it felt every bump in the road but I am just a single mum who knows nothing about cars, I just thought it was normal to possibly be like that and had to live with it.
I only now know because the garage man drove it home and then took it back to his boss to double check who also confirmed.

I rang the carshop who say the bodyshop people are probably blowing it out of proportion and the car had a full MOT but they say take it to their garage so they can check it out. (going in morn)

Its unbelievable that I have had bangers all my driving life and never had an accident and now this all happens with this new car.

Any advice would be great

from a very upset and scared clueless about cars woman!!

asbokid

don't worry, sweetheart, the cost of a complete suspension strut - if indeed that is needed - isn't very expensive.

which side did they belt you? It's pretty normal for the shock absorber to leak after a side impact into the wheel. Often, where a car is struck on a front wheel, it is considered a write off from the concertina damage to the driveshaft and steering components.

You could point out to the bodyshop that the accident impact caused this secondary damage to the suspension since it wasn't present before the accident.

Dippypud

Very patronising asbo,

but changing the strut and associated components can be,

unless your offering to help the lady out by paying the labour charge. ;)

pammyj74

i was hit on the passenger side, back door and the bodyshop say it wasnt anywhere near the front suspension

asbokid

ouch... oh well.. if the bodyshop won't help..

did they give any more explanation of what's wrong with the suspension?

shock absorber, coil spring, wishbone bushes, lower ball joint?

if it's the nearside, then here's a new shock absorber for £25..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/genuine-peugeot-207-left-hand-front-shock-absorber-/160584496360?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item256394f4e8

if it's an offside, here's a reclaimed strut (both shock and spring) for £41..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Peugeot-207-1-6-Suspension-Strut-Drivers-Front-/170632954470?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item27ba844266

I wouldn't want to pay more than £25 for fitting.

That damage is quite bad. What's the car worth? Is it close to being an insurance write-off?

forgotmyname

Have you had the tracking checked?

Will not help with how soft/firm the suspension is but will sort out if the car pulls to one side or the other.

pammyj74

The doors are done through insurance already, the accident was 2 weeks ago, it was the garage bringing it back today from fixing that told me about the suspension but didnt say exactly what was wrong, or if he did it was like mumbo jumbo after I heard the words dangerous to drive!

It doesnt pull to one side at all

Dippypud

pammyj74 wrote: »

The doors are done through insurance already, the accident was 2 weeks ago, it was the garage bringing it back today from fixing that told me about the suspension but didnt say exactly what was wrong, or if he did it was like mumbo jumbo after I heard the words dangerous to drive!

It doesnt pull to one side at all

See if they'll put into writing what they think the problem is and what caused it.

If you are a member of the AA or RAC, see if they'll do a vehicle inspection report, in fact it's possible that they may do such reports even if your not a member. I can't remember how much they charge tho.

Good luck

bigjl

I reckon the garage driver has clumped a kerb and is trying to say the damage was there already.

If the car drove OK, then I would take everything the repair place says with a pinch of salt, unless they are willing to put it in writing.

The most it can be is a shock, spring, top mount or lower wishbone, as already mentioned.

Another good bit of advice, already given, but it is good so I will reiterate it, get an AA or RAC inspection done, worth its weight in gold.

Not sure why asbokid thinks that damage is bad, just a few days work, two door skins at most and the sill will repair easily, the wifes Clio had more damage than that when she was hit in a similar fashion, she was hit harder, the car was repaired and looks as good now as it did when we bought it, coincidentally she drove heaps for years and then bought a 3 yr Clio, she was hit about 4 or 5 weeks after she bought it, nightmare.

I know nothing about Carshop, but a three year old car with a serious safety related defect, can't see it myself, i am sure it is just a leaky shock or broken road spring, both of which are common these days.

pammyj74

thanks bigjl and everyone.
yes the car drove ok, just noisy over bumps.
Hope its nothing major and can be fixed tomorrow for minimal costs or even better free!
will post the outcome.

pammyj74

Car is not as dangerous as the man made out, i drove it like a nervous wreck this morning. It is definitely much louder now than the accident. Halfords say it could have been made worse by the accident as it hit the back of me and then I try and straighten up it could have knocked the anti roll bar.
I think I am going to have problems with getting carshop to pay and also the insurance may say it was like that before the accident.
A friend who knows about cars says it might cost me about £500 to get it fixed unless its the bushels (which means nothing to me!)