Offer by a Garage, fair or not? Opinions please

Tygermoth

Hi all,

Just checking i have a case and the right end of the stick where the SOGA is concerned.

We bought a car from a reputable retailer/brand, new, 3 years ago. The vehicle is used pretty much daily (commuting 45mins each way part back roads part motorway). The car has been maintained at the same retailer with servicing, recommended works (winter and summer reviews) and MOTs done there. Has very average mileage and driven in a reasonable way (not driving Miss Daisy but not a boy racer either)

This last service the car goes in and comes out with just shy of 2ks worth of works:

Engine oil leak from intake manifold
O/S/F lower arm, rear bush worn
Both rear suspension bushes worn – rear tie arms
Oil leak from turbo pipe seals
Air Conditioning inoperative. Found leak from condenser & pressure switch

(To make sure we were not being taken for a ride the above works were confirmed as needing done by an independent mechanic – he feels it relates to poor build quality of the vehicle) – He however refused to put it in a report for us.

Even the garage conceded on handing the bill over the car was absolutely immaculate and has been well taken care of so could not understand the sudden need for all these works.

They seemed very embarrassed and without prompting immediately agreed to consider a reduction on the bill. They contacted me a few days later and advised they could reduce the bill by 20 percent.

Now this seems great but in a chat with the manager on the day we got the estimate he had advised that they would normally agree 50% off in light of the vehicles service history with them and our repeat custom. (I bought and take my car there too)

After discussing the original offer with the manger advised he could not allow any further reduction and he has now passed me over to the manufacturer’s complaints team.... who have been pleasant but are sticking to the hard line of 20 per cent.

I will admit I am not 100 per cent sure of my rights in this case as the vehicle has been used and reasonable wear and tear could be a factor in the need for the works so I did not want to throw about the ‘SOGA’ and ‘6 Years’ and ‘fit for purpose’ if it did not apply.

However I would much rather pay the £1000 mentioned by the manger rather than £1600. (Especially now as I have just been made unexpectedly unemployed)

Today I get an email from the MDs office of the manufacturer asking me to prove my brand loyalty before they will consider any further reductions. I am to list all the models I, and my extended family, have had in the past with registrations including where and when purchased.

This irritated me somewhat. It does not relate to the original issue and any rights I have under the SOGA are not negated by whether I have 1 or 111 of their vehicles.

So keep pushing for 50% or don’t look a gift horse in the mouth and take the 20%?

Kind regards,

Tygermoth

s_b

sounds about right for a mazda?

fivetide

It's a three year old car. Stuff like suspension bushes wear out so that's hardly a cause for SOGA.

The oil leaks are a bit more serious. They could be very little at this stage but need the labour. I'd say, you need to find out what a independent would fix it for and see if that is better than the garage have offered.

Ask them to beat it by 10% as your goodwill if it is cheaper than the current offer.

5t.

Tygermoth

Nope, not a Mazda.


I don’t want to 'name and shame' only because everyone is being very professional, polite, replying swifty to my correspondence and keeping their promises to come back to me.

These days someone promising to call you back and them actually doing it is a modern miracle so I am not going to upset them by giving bad press............just yet.[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

slyracoon

3 years old, still under warranty? If not then its wear and tear, take it to a local garage, they will easily beat the £1600 quoted by the dealer.

diable

Sounds like warranty issues to me and not wear and tear, name and shame them and ask them to prove their loyalty to you the customer.

Check also on any forums dealing with the make and model of your car as others may have had similar issues that have been dealt with.

neilmcl

OP, can you confirm whether you are indeed outside the warranty period or not as this will be relevant.

diable

neilmcl wrote: »

OP, can you confirm whether you are indeed outside the warranty period or not as this will be relevant.

If the car has been fully maintained and serviced as per schedule and is out of the warranty period then I'd be annoyed and expect it to be fixed.

fivetide

neilmcl wrote: »

OP, can you confirm whether you are indeed outside the warranty period or not as this will be relevant.

True. This might cover the oil leaks. I would doubt the suspension bushes though as that could be down to driving on cobbles or somethig. Easier to put those down to wear and tear.

On the plus side, should be the easier/cheaper fix if you are left to sort those yourself.

5t.

JimmyTheWig

Tygermoth wrote: »

Today I get an email from the MDs office of the manufacturer asking me to prove my brand loyalty before they will consider any further reductions. I am to list all the models I, and my extended family, have had in the past with registrations including where and when purchased.

Did you mention to them about you and your extended family having bought their brand many times in the past?
Even so, this seems rather rude and shows no respect to their customers.

Tygermoth

Thank you for your replies.

We are a little under year out of the warenty

I did not mention prev ownership of this model of car its somthing they have brought up on their own.