Financing a new car that's faulty.

SWGeek

Hi Everyone,

Glad to be on the forum

I wanted to gain some advice regarding my legal standing here:

I recently bought my first brand new car, the car of my dreams etc. Upon signing the finance agreement and driving the car away the gearbox felt… odd. I thought nothing of it, 'it needs to be run in' i thought, and the gearbox may loosen up.

2500 miles later its now almost impossible to get reverse or first from cold. And second gear grinds when changing up from 1st… almost every single time.

There is a lot of talk on the owners club specifically relating to the 2nd gear problem. I decided to take it into the garage for a check. The mechanics responded that the manufacturer has been notified of the problem (not sure whether the company is aware of the issue) and that there is pretty much nothing that they can do with the gearbox.

According to the agreement I'm required to keep the car in tip top mechanical and superficial condition. And that if i want to cancel the agreement i have to pay off the finance and any monies paid in relation to setting up the agreement.
Its a three year finance agreement with a guaranteed vehicle value at the end of the 3 years.

I feel that i shouldn't have to spend £400+ a month whilst it goes back and forth from the garage under warranty. A replacement car is likely to have the same issue and it can't be replaced with an equivalent model because there is no equivalent in the product line. Not forgetting that i work long hours all week and commute 350 miles Mon-Fri.

My question is, do i have any rights to simply give the car back and cancel my agreement? I don't care for any refund - i just want to forget this ever happened.

Thanks for taking the time to read my thread
Dan

forgotmyname

If the car cannot be repaired properly and fully then you can reject it.

How are you buying it? It it on a lease or something though?

I doubt every single car has a gearbox issue. How many times have you taken it back? What work was done each time?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

im taking its a manufacturers fault that is being investigated to work on a remedy?

inform the finance company there is a fault with their car and to intervien if the dealer wont refund.

SWGeek

forgotmyname wrote: »

If the car cannot be repaired properly and fully then you can reject it.

How are you buying it? It it on a lease or something though?

I doubt every single car has a gearbox issue. How many times have you taken it back? What work was done each time?

The car is on a hire agreement for 3 years with a guaranteed value at the end of the period.
I have taken it back once - i havent again because the mechanics told me there wasn't anything they could do. I believe they were in contact with the company about the issue but werent given any advice to proceed.

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

im taking its a manufacturers fault that is being investigated to work on a remedy?

inform the finance company there is a fault with their car and to intervien if the dealer wont refund.

I believe the manufacturer are aware of the issue, whether they are investigating or curing the issue, i dont know. From my previous visit there was no remedy.
The problem im concerned about is that if the car goes into a repair/diagnosis process for an issue that hasn't been investigated - the car will spend more time in the garage than in my hands. I'm not able to support this.

Hintza

I am confused as to what you are doing and how you are dealing with it.

You keep going on about not being able to support this, what does that mean?

You should be concentrating on getting the car fixed so you go back to the garage and if they can't help you then contact the manufacturer and keep on at them until you get it fixed or you reject the car if they can not fix it.

Or are you just unhappy with the car in general and looking for a way out?

SWGeek

Hintza wrote: »

I am confused as to what you are doing and how you are dealing with it.

You keep going on about not being able to support this, what does that mean?

You should be concentrating on getting the car fixed so you go back to the garage and if they can't help you then contact the manufacturer and keep on at them until you get it fixed or you reject the car if they can not fix it.

Or are you just unhappy with the car in general and looking for a way out?

Currently im trying to contact the manufacturer as to what is being done about this issue.
If my car were spending an extended period of time going back and forth for repair/diagnosis i would lose money for the time missed at work. This is not a routine service/MOT.

That seems to be the general viewpoint, if the issue doesn't have a declared fix, to then discuss with the company about returning the car.

If there is a known fix, then great. I apologise if i sound like im looking for a way out because i'm not - i love the car very much. However, so far the mecahnical fault and the lack of a fix is spoiling it.

ILW

Is it a fault are just a clunky gearchange?

SWGeek

The main problem is second gear, which feels to me like the shift ring of the syncro is grinding on the teeth of the gear. Or the syncro itself. But it may not even be an internal gearbox issue that's causing the problem.
That is what is spoiling it, spending a journey hoping that each time you change into second you dont get a loud grind. Initially, i was hoping it was a simple lubrication fix.

Hintza

If was sending a brand new car in for repair/warranty work, I would be fully expecting a decent courtesy car at minimal disruption to my day.

I would be getting worried that they might be procrastinating over this thus making it difficult to reject the car. Of course the manufacturer could be working double time to get a fix out for the problem, but who knows!

You need to keep a diary of what is happening with the car and what actions you have taken by you, the garage and the manufacturer.

maninthestreet

What make/model of car is it?
Who was the supplying dealer - have you spoken to them about this problem? You need to tell them, in writing, that you will reject the car if they cannot resolve the gearbox fault.

anotherbaldrick

What is your problem in getting your dealer to comprehend your problem ? Get into their showroom and get noisy . Tell them to sort it or replace it or you will make their eyes water. If you want any help Southampton is only just down the M3