Quicks sold us Focus but loads of issues HELP Please!?

brunettegirl

The short version of this annoying tale we bought a ford focus 2005 model from Quicks in york. We asked that as part of the deal to us buying the car they changed the cam beld (it was up too 92,000 mile son the clock and its normal to change at 100,000) fix the handbrake button as half is cracked off and missing.
MOt and Service

The fact that it took over 10 days to sort the vehicle and finally get them to give us a date and time to collect. We were in the garage 3 hours before we got to drive away.

During that time it became apparent:-

No cam belt fixed
No handrake button fixed as promised. They booked us in for today to service to get these items sorted.

Due to the fact we had been in there for such a long time i jumped in and drove home.

On driving home i found the brakes were still as slow to react as they were on my test drive, which i was told would be sorted had not been.

The windcreen wipers are squeaking and not clearing the windscreen properly at the front or the back. (not being a great car person i am not convinced that in the fact the wipers should of been changed but not sure how you can tell this?)

The handbrake that is left on overnight sticks in a morning when you take it off and it makes some strange clunking noise when it does finally release.

No valid MOT certificate in our pack given, but the sales guy did show us something on the computer (the mot that you can check online still shows the one done on the car under is previous private reg plate.....)

So I would love to know what are my rights here?

I have in writing about the cam belt, mot and service.

the handbrake button and brakes were verbal.

the windscreen wipers and brakes and handrake sticking not noticed till i drove home.

Also the fact that they agreed to change cam belt and didn't does that mean I can claim compensation as in petrol costs for bringing the car itn?? we live 15 miles away from the garage?

Any advice would be really nice please as never really had this many issues with a garage before and feel like there must be something that can be done

[Deleted User]

Why did you even buy that car. Sounds like it has too many problems and not been looked after by the last owner.

Isn't Quicks part of Halshaws? I was looking at their cars once and they all looked like they had problems.

gilbert_and_sullivan

In a way you're better to have had the car for a few days to see what faults it has and hopefully notice any others, have a poke nose underneath to see if anything else needs looking at, check all electrics, lights etc.

Simply write them a list of faults including the ones agreed in writing but failed to fix, highlight this on the letter.

Return car to them for fixing and leave it with them, don't wait with it or you'll feel under pressure to get away again with it only half fixed.

Brakes probably need a strip clean and lubricate, possibly new friction materials (cheap as chips), and i daresay the wipers have simply gained a 'lean' whilst parked for long periods and don't flip over on return, new blades will fix this, hopefully they'll oblige.

Nothing to worry about there far as i can see, other than its another unspectacular car dealer with a smooth talking sales bod who told you what you wanted to hear to seal the deal, which is par for the course.

forgotmyname

The MOT certificate is like a scrap of paper now. Looks like something some kids made up.

Its all online now anyway so no need for one really.

As mentioned above why buy a car thats obviously been neglected? So many of them out there you can afford to be fussy.

I wouldnt have driven it with a belt that close to its change time. I would prefer to buy a car thats been looked after.

Belt change at 75,000 at most. And not run to the very last mile before its service date. The book says 12,000 miles. But the car will last a LOT longer with servicing more often. My current car was serviced every 8000 miles not 12,000. So now with 160,000 on the clock you wouldnt know by looking or listening. Runs sweeetly.

2004 Mondeo diesel, Paid just over £2000 for it 3 years ago. Servicing, MOT's, brakes and tyres and a few upgrades around £600 over the 3 years.

Cheap motoring.

brunettegirl

this was a main dealer garage so I assumed that the cars would be preped and all ready to go.
As rfegards a neglected car??? most are these days. this was the cheapest focus I could find in a 50 mile radius and i had a tight budget to stick too. (although really not sure how that is relevant), i found a car i liked and bought it with certain conditions attached those conditions were not met....

Sadly they have still not fixed everything today and we have been given more of a runaround.

Heres hoping they get it right on monday!

artbaron

brunettegirl wrote: »

this was a main dealer garage so I assumed that the cars would be preped and all ready to go.

:rotfl:Good that you can retain a sense of humour.

brunettegirl

Hmm.... not really sure how some of these comments are meant to help.

Martyn_H

Re- post #4. Focus belt change is as OP stated, 100K or 10 years old, whichever comes first. Chances are the clutch will need replacing before too long.

mattyprice4004

brunettegirl wrote: »

Hmm.... not really sure how some of these comments are meant to help.

It's not all necessarily help, just people's thoughts. Which ones were unhelpful?

I think you've been a little naive expecting a dealer to get things 100% perfect - in an ideal world yes, but in the tough motoring industry these days probably not.

You chose the cheapest Focus on the market, yet seem surprised it has issues... there's a reason it was cheap

forgotmyname

Most cars are not neglected. The ones I buy certainly are not. High mileage yes. Because thats what I look for. A well cared for and perfect example of the car i want. With above average miles and a below average price.

Just over £2000 for a 2004 mondeo diesel in 2009. Its cost me around £600 for the MOT's brakes and tyres in the 3 years i have owned it. And i have pushed the mileage past 160k now. I dont normally do this many miles but family issues lately have piled the miles on.

If you were on a tight budget why buy from a main dealer? Surprised a dealer had a 2005 car in the forecourt.

Its not a main dealer is it? Just looks like a 2nd hand car dealership. 51 plate focus for £1855?

If the cars run to its limits for servicing and repairs not done then you really should not have bought it.

There is no shortage of well looked after Focus's.

610 2004 models on ebay alone.

Compensation. Your unlikely to get anything. You should not have taken delivery of the car without the work being done.

Cars are not prepared until they are sold. No point in spending money on preparing a car that may not sell for several weeks and need doing again.

Spend hours valeting it ready to go then 20 odd buyers crawl over it with wet muddy shoes. It will need doing again.
Clean the brakes and it sits there for 3 weeks and they need freeing again.

Usually a good drive clears the rust off the brakes.

brunettegirl

well it would seem that constant complaining pays off.

new brakes fitted, cam belt fitted, new handbrake fitted, new battery fitted, cleaned, valeted, filled to the brim with petrol and £200 compensation recieved.