suspected head gasket blown on used car brought less than 2 weeks ago....

securityguy

Foxy-Stoat wrote: »

This is more like 10 year old car that has done 4,400 miles a year with very little maintenance is not as reliable as a 100,000 mile car with good maintenance and well used.

Anyone who's ever gone car shopping with a friend who doesn't know much about cars will know that "low mileage" is about the only thing they know about. Apparently, miles are bad, and low mileage is good.

Sadly for the OP, 4K miles in more than ten years is a death warrant for a car, and stands a good chances of being a disaster. But equally sadly for the OP, "low mileage! must be good!".

Tilt

Foxy-Stoat wrote: »

Alas 2002 Punto has a digital mileage display - no drills required.

There's lots of low mileage Puntos for sale with 50K for £500-£1000. It really isn't worth clocking cars now due to the information data base and mileage registers. OP if you have the last mot handy you can check the last 6/7 years online to see the mileage every year.

This is more like 10 year old car that has done 4,400 miles a year with very little maintenance is not as reliable as a 100,000 mile car with good maintenance and well used.

Which can be replaced giving a false mileage reading so your suggestion to check MOT history is a good one.

But having said that, the OP should still have the SOGA to fall back on.

edwardw

Im only mentioning this becuase its relevant to the miliage,
however
my motorbike was a track bike, when it was converted to a road bike, it had a set of clocks put on it, completely off a different bike so that had no relevance, the clocks had i think 40k on them.
I took the clocks off while doing some work on the bike, and ended up blowing them, i had to get some more on ebay, 25k they had.
I took it for the MOT and asked the guy what would happen with the difference in the millage, and he said nothing, all they do is record what is displayed..
So there could well be a reasonable explanation for something like that!

Tilt

Yes but you will eventually see a descrepancy in the mileage is anything had been 'changed' by going through the MOT history. So although 'nothing will happen', it will give a clue to whether the mileage is accurate or not.

sarahj1986

Hi guys

just to update you all....

MOT certificates all ok with mileage. There has been work done to it in recent years so its been well looked after, the previous driver had it for about 7 years I think so cant have used it much.

The garage is now saying power steering is going, all in all to fix the faults they have found so far (they havent done much digging on the car) will cost about £1000, more than the cars worth.

I finally managed to get some kind of response off the dealer. I rang him, emailed him and left several voicemails. I had to ring him on a different number to get him to respond! Hes completely had me. I told him I wanted the car to use, how it was priced indicated to me it could be used and he assured me it was fine to drive, had MOT etc. When I spoke him on the phone on monday he was saying it was sold as "spares/repairs" only, I never agreed to this! and the !!!!!! has put it on the receipt which Ive signed, I never "agreed" to this. Why would I pay nearly £900 for a "spare/Repair" only when they are easily available on ebay for about £100? I was looking into the trading standards guidance to second hand dealers and it appears to me hes broke alot of this. I shall explain -

The dealer must carry out sufficient safety, road worthy tests NOT rely on MOT. So hes either done this, seen the faults and not made me aware, or hes not carried it out and allowed me to drive a possible death trap.

Any faults on the car I have to be notified in writing (in the form of a mechanics safety report or other) so I can make an informed decision on buying the car. General wear and tear is "allowed" however I find it difficult to believe these faults have all started less than 2 weeks after buying, they must have been there before.

I emailed the dealer with my side of the story, on the phone he kept going on and wouldnt let me speak so I put the phone down and decided to email him instead. I outlined my issues and the fact the failed to follow guidance and that it was mis sold to me. I also advised I would report them to trading standards, which I have. I just want my money back, I have the right to reject a car within a reasonable amount of time, I think the time frame is reasonable, and that it was mis sold to me. No reply back as yet. Anybody had dealing similar to this before? just wondered what happens next?

Tilt

Well for a start, the garage is telling you porkies I think. The 'power steering' on a Punto is actually electrically assisted and either works or it dosn't. I don't think you have mentioned a problem with the steering previously so I fail to see who they can say the 'power steering is going'. If it fails, the red steering warning light will come on.

It is unlawful for a dealer to sell a car to a member of the public as 'spares or repair' and allow it to be driven away. It also unlawful for a dealer (or trader) to attempt to reduce or remove your statutory rights by writing such things on the invoice like 'sold as seen' etc. So basically he cannot rely on what he has written on the invoice as a defence, even though you have singed it.

For the sake of around £30, I would take formally reject the car and take him to court.

sarahj1986

Tilt wrote: »

Well for a start, the garage is telling you porkies I think. The 'power steering' on a Punto is actually electrically assisted and either works or it dosn't. I don't think you have mentioned a problem with the steering previously so I fail to see who they can say the 'power steering is going'. If it fails, the red steering warning light will come on.

It is unlawful for a dealer to sell a car to a member of the public as 'spares or repair' and allow it to be driven away. It also unlawful for a dealer (or trader) to attempt to reduce or remove your statutory rights by writing such things on the invoice like 'sold as seen' etc. So basically he cannot rely on what he has written on the invoice as a defence, even though you have singed it.

For the sake of around £30, I would take formally reject the car and take him to court.

Hello Tilt,

thank you for replying. You have several times and been of great help!

I havent had any issues with power steering before, the garage said they noticed it "going" as they drove it in and out of the workshop area. So I cannot comment until I can get the car home.

I didnt realise a dealer was no allowed to let somebody drive a "spare/repair" off the forecourt I shall use that again should the dealer reply. Either way its looking pretty bad on him and SOGA does state somewhere that putting on receipt "spares/repairs" does not affect my rights when it comes to fit for purpose etc (Im sure you are more clued up on it than I am!)

I have emailed the dealer and told him I am formally rejecting the car (as well as reeled off the trading standards guidance, SOGA etc) so I await his response, and I hope to hear back from trading standards aswell.


Thanks once again. I will keep you updated.

If anybody else has anything they wish to chip in please do!

motorguy

You need to go down the legal route and reject the car.

Speak to Citizens Advice about EXACTLY how to do that. Follow their instructions ONLY, ie not what you might think to do OR what you might read on here.

By virtue of the fact he let you drive the car off his forecourt this means any chance of him making 'spares or repairs' stick is nullified. That is key.

However, it sounds like you are going to have a long a difficult road ahead to get your money back.... sorry.

motorguy

sarahj1986 wrote: »

I didnt realise a dealer was no allowed to let somebody drive a "spare/repair" off the forecourt I shall use that again should the dealer reply. Either way its looking pretty bad on him and SOGA does state somewhere that putting on receipt "spares/repairs" does not affect my rights when it comes to fit for purpose etc (Im sure you are more clued up on it than I am!)

I have emailed the dealer and told him I am formally rejecting the car (as well as reeled off the trading standards guidance, SOGA etc) so I await his response, and I hope to hear back from trading standards aswell.

How can you have rejected the car if you still have it???

Please please please ring Citizens Advice and use their EXACT process to reject the car.

A low life trader like that wont be remotely concerned about the odd phone call or email being sent to him, so you need to persist and with the direction of Citizens Advice.

Tilt

Basically you write to the seller informing him that you are rejecting the car under the SOGA 1979, (giving the reasons why) and then inviting them to come and recover the car and at the same time, giving a full refund. If the car is drive-able, you can return the car and handing the keys to the seller. (Obviously, it is unlikely any refund would be forthcoming at that point, so you would make a claim in the small claims court in an attempt to recover your money). Once the letter is posted, the car must not be touched further.

But as pointed out, be prepared for a long drawn out process.