Car bought from garage miles away. SOGA enquiry.

Ludlum_2

Hi.
I recently purchased a used car from a garage some 85 miles from my home address. Within a couple of weeks I noticed a knocking and some steering issues.

It's a Volvo v70 d5 2005 with 220,000 on the clock.

I had the car inspected by an independent garage and also tasked a main dealer specific to the vehicle to carry or a full check.

They confirmed the following.
NSF lower ball joint incorrectly fitted and stub axle damaged in process
Failing lower gearbox engine mount (causing knocking)
PAS fluid leaking severely from steering rack
Air con condenser corroded and damaged.
Brake fluid thick and black
Left and right CV boot leaking.

The mot does state play in steering rack inner joints but does not mention a massive leak it also states NSF suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated.

Am on a losing streak as a result of what is mentioned on the mot or does the fact that they faults have been subject to professional scrutiny enable to me to make a claim against garage as they are blatantly a fault with the car. The main dealer stated that the NSF ball joint issue makes the car unsafe to drive and with he PAS leak, I have to keep topping up the PAS fluid once a week.

I wrote to the garage under SOGA and received a fairly polite reply, he stated he was not there to "maintain my car". I have pointed out that I just want the car to be roadworthy and asks him at minimum to finance the repair costs for steering rack, the ball joint and the engine mount.

He wrote back and said that under SOGA he is entitled to first inspect the car. However, he is miles away so do I have to travel to him or can he be compelled to attend to the car where it is. Especially as a main dealer has said it is unsafe to drive as a result of the ball joint and I have sent him close up photographs too.

Can I push for costs based upon the evidence I already have and the safety issues surrounding these faults or am I going to have to drive the car all the way back to him.

Am I able to be told who it is that will be inspecting the car if I end up taking it there.

Your collective advice would be much appreciated.

Ludlum

Caz3121

what warranty was given with the car when you bought it?
If none, did you have the car inspected before you bought it or only later?
how old is the MOT? note: MOTs are a report on a car on that day so they could argue the leak and other issues were not there when the vehicle was MOT'd

CKhalvashi

Caz3121 wrote: »

what warranty was given with the car when you bought it?
If none, did you have the car inspected before you bought it or only later?
how old is the MOT? note: MOTs are a report on a car on that day so they could argue the leak and other issues were not there when the vehicle was MOT'd

Correct answer

On a car with 220k miles, unless it's been impeccably looked after, there are going to be some things that could be in better condition.

There are potentially dangerous issues here, and the first thing from what I've read is that the car has probably been used as a taxi, as a couple of the faults sound like short start/stop journeys, with heavy gearbox use.

CK

ludlum

Mot was done on the morning of purchase. And I reported to the seller the knocking and steering concerns within less than a month of purchase.

I surely can't be expected to fund repair costs of over £1000 on a car that I only paid £2100.

I have been fair in my letter to the dealer and have not asked him to pay for all the faults, just the ones that contribute to dangerous steering and driving as detailed.

I am concerned about driving the long distance to where I bought it for him to "inspect" the car as once I am there I'm kinda of on his ground and may get bullied into a less than ideal solution. Plus a main dealer has said the ca is not safe to drive !!!!!

What should I do next.

Hintza

ludlum wrote: »

What should I do next.

Take the car back to him.

dalesrider

ludlum wrote: »

Mot was done on the morning of purchase. And I reported to the seller the knocking and steering concerns within less than a month of purchase.

So how many miles have you done in this period?
As has been stated a "MOTs are a report on a car on that day" So how much you have used the car is going to make a difference.

ludlum wrote: »

I surely can't be expected to fund repair costs of over £1000 on a car that I only paid £2100.

Why not.

ludlum wrote: »

What should I do next.

Well either you drive the car back for them (suggest you get some breakdown cover) to have a look at or you get it transported back.
You have to give them chance to have a look and resolve the issues.

Average usage over the 8 years is 512 miles a week.