Used Car Woes - Advice Needed

d1bram

Hi all, potentially a lengthy one so I'll stick to the facts and be as brief as possible, please ask if you need anymore information.

I bought a used car, early 2008 registered with 91,000 miles on the clock, mid September.

Cosmetically the car is excellent and it has a full main dealer history, it drove well at test drive and I bought it subject to a whirring grating noise behind the dash being rectified; Which it never truly was but that is another issue and I am less concerned with this than what follows.

I've only really started using the car this past week as my company car has gone back, and I noticed a knock on the steering at low speeed. I called him at the earliest opportunity and basically was fobbed off! He told me I 'can't keep coming to him everytime there's a bit of a noise'.

On my next long drive I noticed a low whine which seemed to be coming from the front left - knowing I'd get nowhere with this guy again I sought advice from a marque specialist - he reckons it sounds like a bearing in either the gearbox or diff (expensive).

Knowing the reaction I'd have I sought advice from CAB - as I predicted they basically said his 28 day warranty was largely irrelevant and the SOGA 1979 stated the goods needed to be free of defects (taking into account reasonable wear and tear) and that for a fault arising in the first 6months the responsibility lay with the trader to show the defect was not present at time of sale.

Armed with this I called him. He basically flattly refused to entertain rectifying the gearbox, as in his words it was wear and tear and not a 'major breakdown' which is all his warranty would cover. Regarding the steering he said he would take a look to check it wasn't dangerous, but called me an idiot when I said I had spoken to CAB and said in that case he wouldnt 'help' with the steering either, I should take him to court as he has won in these situation many times before and would again. I told him to be sensible about it and we agreed he would take a look the next day.

The knock had become worse though, so I took it to my local Halfords; the lads there put it on the ramps and showed me the problem - excessive play in the steering arm between the rack and the ball joint, where the play was coming from the car would need stripping to ascertain, but in that condition it is extremely dangerous as if I came away completely I'd lose steering.

I relayed this to my friendly dealer and all of a sudden he becomes concerned - he will sort it he says.

Car went back to him to sort the issue with the steering rack on Thursday, he couldn't find anything wrong with it and swore blind there was no play anywhere. He did then though tell me that the car was traded in to him with steering issues and that he had fitted a recon rack, power steering pump and a new power steering reservoir.

He said they found a cracked spring and replaced that (to be fair some of the noises I was hearing did sound spring like).

I picked it up yesterday and it does drive ok, but when I did a tight turn on to my drive it still felt like it was groaning, so this morning I nipped to my local Kwik Fit (who I trust before anyone start with the Kwik Fit bashing). They said exactly the same as Halfords, but elaborated that the whole rack was moving.

Next I called the RAC, they sent a patrol out who confirmed the same, he has given me a report and ticked the box saying; 'this vehicle is not considered safe to drive'.

I called the guy I bought the car from in between Kwik Fit and the RAC, he eventually returned my call while the RAC guy was finishing off his report.

Guy I bought it from started as usual, wouldn't let me finish before he's in with his arguments trying to put the responsibility with me (he interjects with irrational and irrelevant points, it's clear he doesn't care less); Eventually we agreed I return with the car tomorrow AM (RAC are recovering it there for me. His guy will inspect it again and then we will take it to an MOT station, I have said I will not accept one of his choosing.

Fortunately there is a council one very close to him (the car is OK to drive at the moment, just not a good idea to take more than a couple of miles according to RAC) which I think would be completely fair and impartial either way.

I'm utterly fed up, having to take more time off tomorrow morning and I'll be out of pocket now for a hire car.

Apparently the movement is quite pronounced (certainly what Halfords showed me was) so either his mechanic is not very competent or he is straight trying to have one over on me.

bigjl

Personally i would get it fixed by a known local mechanic not Kwik Fit of Halfords Autocentres or stuff like that.

Ask a local private hire driver where he gets his car done as they tend to know the cheapest in the area.

It may help if you say what vehicle it is and the condition and rough purchase price.

I assume these noises where not noticed on your test drive?

And don't forget this is a used car with nearly 100k on it owned previously by somebody that traded it in rather than fix a problem so it may have been treated harshly.

Our Zafira and Astra RRVs back in my NHS days used to make all kinds of creaks, groans and knocks but they were perfectly safe, just no longer new.

It isn't unusual to notice lots of noises etc when moving from a nice newish lease car to s 5yr old vehicle that likely started out as one snd have unrealistic expectations of whst is an isn't an issue.

Hopefully and MOT at a VOSA MOT station will put your mind at rest.

d1bram

Hi thanks for the response. It's an Alfa 159, I paid £6200.

I certainly don't expect 'as new' but I do expect safe to drive. While I realise Halfords/Kwik Fit are perhaps not impartial, the RAC guy pretty much is.

My concern is whether or not a MOT would cover inspection of this?

I think my lesson learnt is not to be so tight when buying in future and go new or nearly new. But this car looks so good

I didn't notice this knock during the test drive, but then it has got worse in the short time I've owned the car.

I suspect they simply have not fitted this rack correctly and it is gradually working itself looser and looser.

bigjl

Alfas don't tend to be the best built.

You may be right in that something is working loose.

A VOSA MOT centre will give a report on anything safety related and will definately show up loose or badly worn suspension and steering components.

And the dealer will be unable to say the garage was trying to get extra work.

Any info on the MOT will be good evidence if you getting the issues fixed yourself snd then taking the desler to small claims.

One reason why i use somewhere like CarGiant as they are too big now to get up to these kind of antics, they have their own workshops anyway.

But that is info for next time.

For example they have a 2010/10 plate 159 2.0 JTDm 170 Turismo Sport estats for £6999+£99 indemnity with 87k on the clock.

A bit more £8999+£99 woukd get you a 2010/10 159 2.0 JTDm 170 TI saloon with leather and 69k miles.

I am a big fan of ex fleet motors and have bought many from CarGiant aswell as auctions. I have also gone doen with family and friends to look over cars at CG.

There may be issues but they get solved, i bought a 3 yr old Renault 25 many years ago and the heater matrix started lesking a week later, CG stripped out the dash snd replsced it free of charge as you would expect. No courtesy car back then but there is now i believe.

When the wifes car need to go it will be back to CG where we bought it for another ex fleeter.

d1bram

What I fell for was this dealers, 'if there's any problems we'll sort it' attitude. Once I'd bought the car it became a case of anything and everything is 'wear and tear'.

I truly wish I'd just spent more and gone with a main dealer, or one of the big supermarkets as you suggest.

motorguy

d1bram wrote: »

What I fell for was this dealers, 'if there's any problems we'll sort it' attitude. Once I'd bought the car it became a case of anything and everything is 'wear and tear'.

I truly wish I'd just spent more and gone with a main dealer, or one of the big supermarkets as you suggest.

It will be of no consolation but i bought a 3 year old alfa 156 v6 off our local Alfa main dealer with a "platinum" comprehensive 6 month warranty.

Firstly the car was two different shades under orange street lights. It took them FOUR full front end resprays for the Alfa dealer to spray an Alfa Romeo Alfa red properly!

They told me when i booked my car in they would give me and i quote "a loan car in keeping with my expectations in life". I was expecting maybe a then new model 159 or a GT - they lent me a bright green 1.2 Punto!

Also when it was in for the service i instructed them not to wash the car as i had just had it buffed and i hand washed it myself with wax not detergents. They ran it through an old brush wash that they had installed around the back leaving loads of scratches up and over the car.

The final straw was when the electric window switch went on the passenger side. £15 for the part and two mins to fix. The warranty company wouldnt cover it, "dont worry we're going to fight your case with them". I mean !!!!!!??????

d1bram

Paul, OK, I'll amend that... wish I'd gone main dealer and NOT Alfa!!!

LOL

In fairness I had a Fiat many years ago from new, I loved it, it wasn't without its foibles and it wasn't a perfect experience from the dealers but nothing I couldn't live with. So the general alfa rep didn't scare me. Maybe I was foolhardy?

bigjl

Look on the bright side.

You are now well on your way to being considered a TopGear petrol head as you have felt the pain of Alfa ownership.

On the subject of red cars. Most don't realise that a basic non metallic red is actually a nightmare to blend in unless your painter is top notch and paying attention

Had a company van many years ago when working in security and thst was several different colours. You could almost date each repair!

motorguy

bigjl wrote: »

Look on the bright side.

You are now well on your way to being considered a TopGear petrol head as you have felt the pain of Alfa ownership.

On the subject of red cars. Most don't realise that a basic non metallic red is actually a nightmare to blend in unless your painter is top notch and paying attention

Had a company van many years ago when working in security and thst was several different colours. You could almost date each repair!

Oh aye, i know it is - it 'seemed' ok on the forecourt - they'd said they had had it done due to stonechips. I know that to be true as the painters hadnt even fillered in the stonechips, so you could still see them under the fresh paint when you looked closely!

It didnt help that where i lived was directly under a streetlight, but i thought, seriously - this is an alfa romeo dealer painting an alfa romeo alfa romeo red! So i made them re-do it. I dont think it cost them anything - they'd farmed it out to a bodyshop who had done the work so they just leant on them to do it 'right'.

d1bram

LOL, I actually share a name with one of the Top Gear presenters...

Seriously though I can't believe how stressed this has got me. I know it isn't life or death, but I need a car for work, I've just started a new job and having to take time to sort this out is really adding pressure.

Plus there's the small matter of it owing me £6k!

bigjl

motorguy wrote: »

Oh aye, i know it is - it 'seemed' ok on the forecourt - they'd said they had had it done due to stonechips. I know that to be true as the painters hadnt even fillered in the stonechips, so you could still see them under the fresh paint when you looked closely!

It didnt help that where i lived was directly under a streetlight, but i thought, seriously - this is an alfa romeo dealer painting an alfa romeo alfa romeo red! So i made them re-do it. I dont think it cost them anything - they'd farmed it out to a bodyshop who had done the work so they just leant on them to do it 'right'.

Can't fault atall.

I make you right.