Car Buying Nightmare

brettj123

Hi all
To cut a long story short... about 5 weeks ago i put a deposit on a used car, a week later the company i was buying from couldnt get finance on it because the mileage was too high. They then said they ordered in a lower mileage of the same model and said it would be in in a few days. Another week gone past, rang them and nope it hasnt arrived. I went to the garage the next day and there was another model sitting there which they offered me which i could get finance on. I accepted and went from there.
Now heres the nightmare. They got the car MOT'd and serviced, i picked it up another week after they stopped fobbing me off and literally an hour after taing it off their hands the car broke down and wouldnt start up. It went straight back for the company to basically say the engine in the car is tempremental (Car in question is a Mazda rx8) and its normal not to start up at times... To which i basically said im not having it so look at it and sort it which eventually they did. Its nearly 2 weeks after having signed the agreement and i've ha the car literally an hour! Countless calls to them on if its been done yet, to be fobbed off each time with excuses, and the last week was excuses as to why they couldnt drp the car off and take the courtesy car back with them. I've literally had it now, so i want to know, is there anyway i can demand the finance agreement to be cancelled as im not happy with any service i've had, nor am i happy having a car that has broken down within an hour that may have been repaired, but due to the nature of the engine, can easily do it again?

Thanks for any help

gilbert_and_sullivan

Whatever you do, only keep the RX8 if you are able to run it hot and drive it properly every time you start it, if you only do short runs the car will flood out and refuse to start regularly, eventually major compression problem will result, if it hasn't already.

Rest of the saga i don't have a clue, do we assume its a car supermarket or and expensive finance house that happens to supply a car of sorts with the deal..

atrixblue.-MFR-.

my advice would be to stop phoning and start writing and sending recorded delivery.

did you research the RX8 before you purchased, the engines are rotary not piston conventional type and must be catered for in every aspect to look after them, short trips ruin them.
top dollar you had this problem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n0V0MOfZ2o
youve inherited this type of drive style damage form someone else by the sounds of it. how you should start and stop it to prevent flood and wear. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Plj4DW8rT2s&feature=related

JQ.

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Whatever you do, only keep the RX8 if you are able to run it hot and drive it properly every time you start it, if you only do short runs the car will flood out and refuse to start regularly, eventually major compression problem will result, if it hasn't already.

Rest of the saga i don't have a clue, do we assume its a car supermarket or and expensive finance house that happens to supply a car of sorts with the deal..

and of course that assumes the previous owner properly ran the car, which from the sound of it they didn't.

Buying a secondhand RX8 requires a massive amount of research and complete confidence that the previous owners have treated the car carefully.

Notmyrealname

Indeed. The RX8 is one of the few models I'd actually want to buy from new or with at least the equivalent of 20-25k a year mileage on. The last thing you want to be doing is buying a 2-3 year old RX8 with under 40k on the clock.

Muscle750

The wonderful Rx 8 ive had numerous dealings with these rather shall we say tempermental cars basically one thing you should always do is let it idle for 20 secs plus before switching it off never never rev it and turn the key thats fatal plus whenever we repair one and paint it in the oven it will never start the only way is to wind it and wind it and wind it and dont under any circumstances touch the throttle
Another problem that they have which Mazda wont admit to is the CAT breaks up and the exhaust then glows red hot and as its so close to the transmission tunnel it sets the carpet on fire inside the car as the heat sheild isnt any good whatsoever ive seen this twice both times the cars been written off...............be warned

brettj123

Thanks for the replies all. To answer a few questions, i researched alot before i purchaced the car so know how the engines work and the dos and donts. It was purchased on finance by an independant car shop and although i was told it had a service history... they didnt say it was only half. I had the car for not even an hour, half of that was trying to get the thing started after i stalled it in traffic. Didnt touch the throttle whilst starting as i know what mayhem that causes. Its not only the car that let me down, but the response and lack of help and commitment ive had from the dealership too. they took it back off me when i first ought it 2 weeks ago and since theyve told me the cars fine, then it had parts replaces, then they would deliver it but every day is a new excuse why they didnt deliver it etc.

brettj123

Well i eventually had the car delivered to my door whilst i was at work and when i got home, i started it up... EXACT same problem as when i gave it back to them!

sheslookinhot

You need to return this car immediately and never drive it again. You may be stuck with the supplier, but at least get another car from them, if you can't get a full refund.

Strange that anyone buys these cars with all the problems that will undoubtedly occur.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

brettj123 wrote: »

Well i eventually had the car delivered to my door whilst i was at work and when i got home, i started it up... EXACT same problem as when i gave it back to them!

probably the reason they didnt want to deliver it was it wasnt fix and when yiu picked it up would blame your drive style. now its been delivered to your door and it wont start i would reccomend getting onto the finance comapny and tell them they have had a chance to repair now your wishing to reject it under sales of good act and you wish to have your money refunded back to you for your installments as youve had no use of it. call trader get names of who your speaking to and in wich department, instruct over the phone your rejecting the vehicle under SOGA and that its not negotiable and state the reasons why i.e no use of car all the problems faced trying to get it back, and now its still not starting and that they can come and collect it as its not driveable, upon that point follow it up in a recorded letter refure to who you spoke to on the phone by name do not drive it even if it starts after rejecting its not yours so dont drive it. also ask for costs or insurance fee's, tax if you taxed it.

almillar

RX8s are excellent cars, and need maintenance and care just like any other car. Just that no-one wants to check their oil anymore (you should ALL be doing it, except maybe Leaf owners!), and with RX8s they're DESIGNED to use some. It sounds like you've done your research before buying. If you follow through on your research, you'll remember that one of the signs of a failing engine is that it won't start when the engine is warm, or at least takes significantly longer to start warm than cold.
If you know this, you know to walk away from this car.
If you've researched further, you'll know that changing the spark plugs, ignition leads and coils can help with this. The not starting warm was either caused by these (often a coil) not being quite good enough, or the engine failing. Changing the parts can then mask the engine problem for a while.
I'd say IF the garage has told you that these parts have been changed, the engine's on the way out, and you should hand it back. If not, take the car, walk away and change the sparks, leads and coils yourself, or get a decent Mazda garage to do it. Goto rx8ownersclub.co.uk to find recommendations for local garages etc. You should be a member of that club if you intend to own one of these cars anyway.