Second hand car lasted less time than expected

jonathonb

Hello,

I bought a car from a used car dealer less than a year ago (my first) for £2,500 - paid fully on a credit card. It was 8 years old with 90,000 on the clock which I'm told for a diesel car should have a lot more life to it. I was told that it had been serviced recently, passed the MOT and everything was great with it.

After 2 months the catalytic convertor needed replacing and after getting no where with the garage, I took it on the chin and replaced it with someone else. This mechanic told me that it had been repaired (badly) before and this should have been told to me.

Again, took it on the chin that it would happen with a used car.

Yesterday I broke down on the motorway and after being hauled away by the AA I'm told that I need to have the engine replaced (which will cost me about the same amount I paid originally).

The original garage appear to have upped sticks and vanished from the plot and their website replaced with a 'No longer here' page.

Can anyone tell me if this is just a risk that happens with used cars and I have to accept it or if I have some sort of protection since it was on the credit card?

I've read some articles that basically say 'A used car is a risk' but also state that you would need to go to the seller to allow them to rectify it. Since the seller appears to have vanished, I'm not really sure what I can do. It is probably the case that I can't 'reject' the car due to it being second hand but I would have expected it to last more than 11 months for the price it was.

May be just sod's luck that my first car has gone so horribly wrong but I would be really grateful if anyone with a bit more knowledge on the subject can shed some light.

Thank you,
Jonathon

vax2002

the days were diesel cars would go round the clock time and time again are over, they were naturally aspirated low powered units.
These days if you make the clock you have done well.

thegirlintheattic

It was an old car with a good few miles on it. I'd say a year, whilst short, is acceptable. You'll get some second hand cars that will run and run and others that will have constant problems. Any car that is that age has a reasonable risk of needing repairs.

fivetide

Hang on. 90k is nothing. the car should not be ready for the scrappers at that point.

OP, how many miles have you put on it? If you'd done another 20k then it might not tbe too bad but only a few thousand, that's rubbish.

What sort of car is it too and what age?

I'd certainly expect a £2,500 car to last longer than 8 or 9 months. A £500 scrapper maybe not!

What did the AA say had happened? Had you serviced it in that time?

5t.

maninthestreet

Exactly what is wrong with the engine? Did the car come with the service history?

forgotmyname

The AA guy is obviously not a money saving member.

But as asked what is actually wrong with it?

I bought a car once, Water was leaking from the engine, Similar thing the
garage guy said its not worth bothering with the engines scrap and rusted through.

Well they sold it to me for £40. I found it was a core plug rusted through.
£2.50 for a set of 6. 1 hours work. Sorted.

You have to ask what is actually wrong. And what car is it? Make/model/year?

Also Diesel cars dont need a CAT. VOSA have confirmed this. Currently diesels do not go through a full emissions test, Its a smoke test only so removing the CAT is still a pass.

It can actually clean up the smoke also. More power and less smoke. Wins all round.

colino

I think you know already what checks you should have done on this anonymous car before you bought it, but an 8 year old diesel with so few miles? Alarm bells should rightly have rung then, diesels sell new at a (now ill-deserved) premium and most company diesels would have easily cleared that mileage before their second birthday.
Find out, as long as it's not some crazy niche model, where the local taxi boys go and get a second opinion on the car from that indie.

Notmyrealname

vax2002 wrote: »

the days were diesel cars would go round the clock time and time again are over, they were naturally aspirated low powered units.

Again more utter drivel posteb by vax2002...

vax2002

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Again more utter drivel posteb by vax2002...

Yes old pre 90's diesels were all 16v DOHC turbo units ?

Why don't you have a day of trolling ? And actually post something of use to the people asking questions ?

Sgt_Pepper_2

vax2002 wrote: »

Yes old pre 90's diesels were all 16v DOHC turbo units ?

Why don't you have a day of trolling ? And actually post something of use to the people asking questions ?

But you often just make up any old crap when you answer.