Used Car from Trader Multiple Failures - Rights

Meades123

Hi All,

Just over a week ago I bought a used car from a trader. The car cost £2800. For the deal I part-ex'd my old car which they valued at £1500.

The car was sold as "mechanically perfect" (I have a hard copy of the ad) with a the following selling points:

53 Reg
Below average miles (75k)
Full service history
All jobs done (inc Cam Belt in Jan this year)
6 months MOT.

I purchased the car from Manchester but on the way home (to London) the Engine Light came on (around 100 miles into the journey). The car became undrivable so I took the car to a specialist and they recommended the following based on the error codes and their experience:

Mass Air Flow Sensor gone (needed replacing) = £300
Inject 1 Faulty (Needs Replacing) = £50
Cam Belt timing wrongly set (Needs adjusting) = £250
Engine getting too hot when car stationary (will be a problem in summer) = No estimate
Rear Suspension bushes gone - clonking noise = £300-400

I informed the trader immediately of the issues and he tried the standard "Sold as Seen" line. I refused this and after much calling he said he would pay £100 towards the Cam Belt only.

The trader has tried to argue that there were issues with the car I part-ex'd, although it had just passed it MOT 2 weeks before and had had a Service with some work. When I part-ex'd the car they asked me to pay £200 more that we initially agreed for bit they weren't happy.

As I needed the car I agreed to have the MAF Sensor and Injector fixed (total cost of £350) to get me back on the road. Even with this, the car is not as described, especially because the belt timing is still out and will cause issues if not fixed.

Please can someone advise on how I can make my complaint more formal and what my options are with any possible outcomes. I like the car, but I think its wrong that a "mechanically perfect" car needs getting on for £1000 (a third of the initial purchase price" spending within a week.

Kind regards

arcon5

Engine getting hot? As in overheating?

Bushes = standard wear and rear. Certainly not the cause of the EML

MAF sensor = easy job, quoted price is a joke.

Based on these suggestions and quotes prices take the car elsewhere!!!!!!

Meades123

Hi,

The quoted price isn't the issue here. The car developed faults 100 miles after buying it.

A MAF sensor for the car (a genuine one that will work) cost £190 before labour is included

I never related the bushed to the engine light. I am having another specialist look over the car. If the bushes are gone then the car would fail and MOT. This again does not fit with a car sold as "mechanically perfect" or fit for purpose.

The cam belt has been fitted incorrectly by the trader (or whomever he got to do it). The work to fix it is almost the same as fitting a new one - an engine in bits job.

All prices are from reputable and reasonable dealers (the car is not a basic Fiat Panda). Official dealers would be x2 price.

BeenThroughItAll

Meades123 wrote: »

Hi,the car is not a basic Fiat Panda

What is it?

Meades123

Not that it should matter, but the car is an Alfa Romeo GTV

BeenThroughItAll

Meades123 wrote: »

Not that it should matter, but the car is an Alfa Romeo GTV

I'm not even going to bother responding with that attitude.

Meades123

Hi,

Wasn't my intention to offend and sorry if you took it that way. I just don't want to get bogged down in how someone thinks they can get something fixed somewhere else cheaper or the car model - none of which are of consequence to the fundamental issue. Once again, apologies if you think I was being arsey

colino

Frankly you've shot yourself in the foot by commencing any remedial work elsewhere. Once someone else has been let loose the original trader will simply state you've changed parts and he can't be responsible for what someone else has advised or done for you.
Realistically even FSH Alfas have the habit of quickly becoming money pits in their middle age, either move it on as is, or be prepared for more bills.

Tilt

Being an Alfa nut myself, there is no way would I buy one of that age at that distance away unless it was from a rock solid main dealer. good Alfa is a fantastic motor car (I have a v6 159) BUT a bad Alfa which hasn't been properly maintained or looked after, will be a nightmare. They are an expensive beast to put right CORRECTLY.

Your biggest problem is the distance between you and the seller. However, you have SOGA on your side in which the seller claimed the car to be "mechanically perfect" which no doubt swayed you into buying it.

Problem is enforcing your rights under the SOGA. Most rogue traders know all the tricks in the book to avoid comeback. And you need to follow a certain procedure before you can even start a court claim (me thinks this is the direction you will eventually have to take).

Firstly you need to put in writing the faults and invite the seller to inspect and rectify (he is allowed this under the SOGA) It would be for a court to decide who pays any "consequential losses" involved in you getting the car back to the seller. Unfortunately there is the possibility of the seller being allowed to mitigate his costs.

Allgotopinions

Ordinarily I don't respond but in this case I thought I'd offer an opinion.

The car does matter - especially as we now know it's an Alfa.
The warning lights on an Alfa can be activated by all sorts of common things without being at all serious (from an owner and hobbyist restorer of multiple Alfa classic to Modern).

In terms of the original garage - you'll need to get the car back if you want to reject it formally. In terms of the second they are swinging the lead more than a little.

If your MAF had gone completely kaput, you'd still be running all be it with a rich mix of petrol and removal is the quick fix to get you going.

If your injector had to be replaced - the petrol smell in the cabin would have been intolerable.

Suspension knocks fair enough.

it seems where you bought from had the cambelt incorrectly done - and the garage who done the work in Jan are who need to put it right.

I understand your frustrated but you came here for help, advice and to be pointed in the right direction.

Whatever way you cut it - you were wrong to let the second garage loose on the car without the supplier getting the car back, giving the go ahead for repairs or knowing what had to be done as opposed to what they suggested (as a profit making business be done) and it's likely when you bring it back as you'll have to, the supplying dealer will wash his hands of it.

Meades123

Thanks for all the replies.

Before I agreed to the repairs I contacted the trader by email (no reply) and by phone. He said there was nothing he would do, that I got a good deal and that the car was "sold as seen".

I was put in the position by the trader misleading me. I'm no lawyer and I am only gradually piecing together my rights and option.