Value of features question

richard734

First off, not a rant about dealers!

Bought a car advertised as having a DAB stereo and Stop/Start tech, amongst the 101 other things it has - trust me, compared to my old Astra its like the blooming starship Enterprise!

Happy with the car, not looking to return it, but these 2 features are not actually on the car. TBH I think they lifted the spec sheet from the makers website without checking.

What would be a fair request to make to the dealer to recover the cost/value of the missing items?

car is an Insignia Elite Ecoflex ('59 plate)

Please, no rants about used dealers or extreme responses.. I am not going to firebomb the forecourt or report them to the police I think it was a genuine mistake, not a deliberate dodgy sales tactic!

OddballJamie

Start/Stop didn't come in until late 2011, the main loss on that would be the car tax, £70-£80 a year saving and some fuel.

I am surprised about the DAB stereo, my Dad had the same spec car on a 10 plate as a previous company car and that had the DAB radio in it.

richard734

apparently on the 09/59 it was a £150 extra at ordering - went standard in 2010 - thanks

Tiddlywinks

I can understand not noticing that the radio was not DAB but... wasn't the lack of stop / start technology obvious on the test drive?

Does the spec sheet give the get out clause saying that the purchaser needs to check details for accuracy or whatever?

What does the sales invoice say about the equipment included?

TradePro

I don't think there would be any difference in value at 4 years old.

When buying a used car, the onus is on you to check it has the features that are important to you.

richard734

Ahh, see now I do hold my hands up that one - bought this as a motorway cruiser, and the test drive was exactly that Didn't even think about it at the time, and the traffic was very light on the way so even if it had been fitted, it most likely wouldn't have kicked in.

Like I said at the start, I am not having a strop, just wanted opinions on a value I could legitimately place on these things.

I will then go and have a civilized conversation with a long established local independent dealer, and come up with a compromise Most likely in the form of next service for free or something similar.

These guys have been around for >15 years (same 2 gents run the place) have an excellent reputation and I am more than happy it was a genuine mistake.

richard734

And just to update everyone - spoke to the dealer, all very amicable, £500 cheque written out there and then to apologise - which makes me think my haggling skills are not as good as I thought, but hey ho

No shouting, no arguing, just a civilized conversation... and I think that the knowledge that I put the deposit on my CC for s75 protection, and I know how to use it may have helped.

System

get yourself a decent DAB radio for £500 notes!!

OddballJamie

Speaking of DAB, Vauxhall sent me a flyer last month offering an upgrade for my car radio to DAB. So it can be done, think it was £150-£200.

richard734

I may well do, the one VX are offering is a stand alone tuner similar to the old Ipod FM transmitters.
I have been on the VX forums and there is a VX mechanic who can retro fit the factory DAB and integrate it with all the controls and bits for less than that

OddballJamie

richard734 wrote: »

I may well do, the one VX are offering is a stand alone tuner similar to the old Ipod FM transmitters.
I have been on the VX forums and there is a VX mechanic who can retro fit the factory DAB and integrate it with all the controls and bits for less than that

Would you mind dropping me a PM with the details, I'm a member of a couple of VX forums already.

Think this is the one Vauxhall sent me details about
http://www.car-vision.co.uk/add-digital-radio-to-your-vauxhall/12870-autodab-vauxhall-insignia-2009-onwards-dab-radio-upgrade-kit-1212121212.html