Dodgy Used Car Salesman...

Netwizard

Fluffball wrote: »

Thanks for the replies...the list of stuff wrong isn't exhaustive but long enough - front pads & discs need replace, rear caliper seizing, clutch worn, washers not working (broken motor), something wrong with the air pump, fuses that needed replaced, rusted and loose heatshield and engine lights on (think this is related to the air pump).

Discs and pads aren't expensive so I could handle that but surely to god you would notice rest of that stuff on the test drive? Especially the engine light glaring away?

Fluffball

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

If he is systematically and deliberately mis-describing cars then it can be reported to trading standards, but that will only get him into trouble rather than be of any benefit to you. I'm not saying don't report him, just that you won't personally gain by reporting him.

If you don't want to take it to court and don't want your old car back anyway then it's about finding a comprimise between you and the garage that benefits you both.
Note that businesses have costs and need to make a profit. It you've only paid £300 in cash the chances are you have ended up with a car that is worth less than the one you gave him.

How much are you looking at for the repairs to get it back to MOT standard?

Thanks and I accept what you are saying...if we got the the work done ourselves, probably in the region of £200-£300 (depending on what's causing the EML to be on)...if we were to go to a garage, it would be that plus labour, so possibly double.

LandyAndy

OddballJamie wrote: »

Sounds like a decent bloke offering a refund, many would just avoid you.

What are the actual faults with the car and the age and mileage?

What was wrong with your previous car for you to need to get rid so quickly and what was the trade value?

BTW there's no such thing as a 'private dealer', either private or trader.

Or he's realised the OP has palmed him a dog and he'd rather have the other car back.

spacey2012

I bet the dealer can not believe his luck, you traded him a car that needs the thick end of a grand and you want him to refund because the new one needs some pads.
He will have your arm off, I bet he thinks what a lucky escape, he is not going to repair your car, he is going to throw the £300 back, swap back over and crack open the champaign.

OddballJamie

LandyAndy wrote: »

Or he's realised the OP has palmed him a dog and he'd rather have the other car back.

I know, I'm wondering if the trader is currently posting about this somewhere too.

albionrovers

For a £300 difference, I'd think your old car was actually worth more than your new car?

OddballJamie

Fluffball wrote: »

Thanks and I accept what you are saying...if we got the the work done ourselves, probably in the region of £200-£300 (depending on what's causing the EML to be on)...if we were to go to a garage, it would be that plus labour, so possibly double.

As you can do the work yourselves why didn't you fix the previous car or at least check the new car out properly before you bought it?

Fluffball

Netwizard - the engine light wasn't on when we did the test drive or else, of course we would have noticed it.
It was Halfords who gave us the list of things wrong, so I don't believe that it is all as severe as they tried to make out...plus it's an extensive check they do, so no - without a mechanic looking at it as well, test driving it isn't going to bring all these issues to light
The thing on the list we concede we should have noticed was the washers - it is a no-brainer to check these things and we accept that.

ILW - it was £300 plus a car valued at £1200

fivetide - we didn't know for sure any issues with the other car, except the exhaust which he mentioned to us as soon as he had looked at the car (while we were checking out the other one)
We didn't find out until having a conversation with a mechanic after trading it in about the likelihood of the clutch slipping and how urgent that was.

Fluffball

OddballJamie wrote: »

I know, I'm wondering if the trader is currently posting about this somewhere too.

If he is, he's one of the people suggesting I take the refund.....

We didn't know the extent of what work needed done on the old one at the time (and if we had known, we wouldn't have had the finances to get it done as urgently as is apparently necessary) plus there were other reasons for my partner wanting to trade the car in.
We are not mechanics, ourselves, so didn't have the means to fully check the car ourselves before we bought it.

OddballJamie

Strange, it's not like Halfords to fabricate work, maybe you should try KwikFit for a second opinion.