Live with it, or should I do anything about it?

olibrofiz

In a nutshell, end of April I bought a 2004 Citroen Xsara Picasso Desire 2 specifically to tow a caravan, salesman assured me it would be great for that. Just got back from a 500 mile round trip holiday and doubt whether it's actually up to the job as our uphill speed was minus 30mph, 48 average, and we hit 60mph twice (downhill with the wind behind us wahay!) - or is this the norm? Caravan is under cars 900kg max towing weight.

While on hols, the rear brakes were crunching so badly i took it to be checked, and ended up having the rear brakes done (out of necessity as they were leaking and had had it) and the front ones (by choice as they were so unevenly worn I didn't want to risk killing us all on the way home)

And, ain't hindsight a wonderful thing - during the test drive the brakes 'crunched', the salesman said they were 'bedding' in - he lied to me didn't he?

The other thing I'm puzzled about is my insurance co and the vehicle check say it's 16V, the place I took it to for the brakes say it's 4 cylinder, the garage told me it's 8V. The insurance co won't have it that the car's an 8V, they say cars produced in the year it was registered were 16V. V5 says it's 1587cc

Am just sat scratching my head over all of this. Help! Would really appreciate thoughts & helpful advise.

Should I go and talk to the garage? Or is there no point

Taadaa

Did the vehicle come with a new MOT provided by the garage or an existing one? Could the mileage you have done between April and now have caused wear and tear to the brake cyclinders as you have described? IE if it came with a new MOT and you could not have caused the damage, you may have a claim there as they should not have passed it.

As for it not towing, tbh never trust what a salesman says, do your own research. You could argue that he has sold you something not fit for purpose, but as presumably the information was provided verbally, I don't think there is much you can do about that.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Are we talking about a 1600cc petrol?

phill99

I doubt if there is a single second hand car salesman in the country that would know whether a car is capable of towing a caravan.

Sgt_Pepper_2

phill99 wrote: »

I doubt if there is a single second hand car salesman in the country that would know whether a car is capable of towing a caravan.

Some are obvious tow cars. Disco for example.

If the ops car is a petrol common sense should tell you its not suitable.

olibrofiz

Yep, it's a 1600 petrol, but being new to caravan towing, I wouldn't know any different - they're not good then?

As for the MOT, yes, new one when I bought the car. I'm not sure how many miles I've done since I got it, it's done 89000 now - the receipt says the car had done 86000, this is crossed out and 83000 handwritten in - but then again the receipt also has the wrong reg no on it, which is crossed out etc.

I went to the garage yesterday and said how disappointed I was with the brakes etc - specifically as I've been a regular customer for the last 10 years - and in fact if I'd bought a car elsewhere I'd have taken it there for them to check it was ok. The salesman is no longer there apparently. Someone is going to ring me on Monday - just don't know what line to take really. Like the car, but it's pulling power is sh*te.

And baffled by the 16V, 8V, 4 cylinder thingy as well

Sgt_Pepper_2

Four months on what you want from the garage?

Tilt

Unless you have proof that the car was recommended for towing a caravan, i'm not sure what recourse you have.

However, you can possibly ask the seller to contribute to the repair cost in respect of the brakes.

Joe_Horner

Does the engine number match with what's on the V5? If it "can't be" an 8V but is then it's probably had an engine swap. That's a modification, and should be declared to your insurers.

It also means that the car wasn't what you bought it as in a pretty substantial way. A garage should reasonably be expected to spot the difference and "different engine" is certainly within the stuff that a trade seller should be telling you without being asked.

Add that to the (verbal) assurance that it would be fine for towing, and possible MOT questions, I'd be talking to the garage with your local Trading Standards' phone number clearly showing on my phone ready to press dial

thefishdude

regarding the engine. the desire 2 according to parkers car reviews was only avaible as 1.6 8v. the 4 cylinder thing is irrelevant as nearly all acrs unless performanace are 4 cylinder but you can get 16v and 8 valve versions.

the review on parkers also states the 1.6 is very under powered

Strider590

You've just learnt that a car salesman has only one task, to tell you what you need to hear to buy the car he wants you to buy. In psychology terms they use the halo effect to gain your trust. The same character trait that gets stupid people into over paid jobs.

Some people see a snake like salesman with a fake tan, others see a nice chatty bloke who knows what he's talking about....... Unfortunately I don't see anything you can do.