Renault sold me a display car without telling me! Help!

neilmcl

No, as he's already explained, it seems his expectations of what constitutes brand new in terms of car delivery is somewhat different from reality. He hasn't mentioned anything about "getting out of the deal" as you put it.

However that still doesn't take away that he's got pretty poor service from a main dealer on the purchase and delivery of a new car.

Herzlos

I don't see any mention of being unhappy with the car or wanting to get out of the deal. Just confusion over whether it was actually new.

I also don't why you can't poke around a demo version and still expect the new car to be untouched. It's what demo cars are for and demo models are prevalent throughout retail, you can usually buy the demo if it's all that's left but you'll often get a discount for it.

colino

I'd be concerned that the trader hasn't even been average at the basics. New cars come off the transporter with all sorts of plastic and deflectors stuck to them as well as the transit wax. They then get immaculated in the valet bay and are sparkling and new. This has been on the forecourt as a display (not necessarily demo) and they haven't had the wit to do an extra good job in buffing up the shine.
Go back and tell them you are unhappy, if they make a mess of it again, escalate the complaint. Some traders put stock like this straight to auction, red Vauxhalls used to be the favourites, as just a few weeks with stickers on showed how quickly the new paint faded.
The trader just sounds lazy with poor quality checks in place, just like you wouldn't be happy getting on a flight and finding coffee rings on your drop down tray. If they can't do the basics, who's looking after the mechanics?

poppasmurf_bewdley

A car that's been sitting in a field for 12 months, covered in bird sh*t, and driven 200 miles from the factory to the showroom can still be a brand new car. Even if the delivery driver has tuned the radio to Heart FM.

keith1950

Hi, as already stated, new cars are often sat in a field at the factory for months, they can then spend time sat in a dealers compound , when sold they have a predelivery inspection done which includes tuning in the radio, this is often accomplished automatically with one press of the "A.S." button.

During this time they can get damaged and chipped.

Sometimes if you need a particular model it might be driven from another local dealership.

The only time you will get a car straight off the production line is when you have specific requirement and they put on a "factory order" However there is little chance of discounts on these orders.

Sometimes car are damaged on the transporters. They are not returned to the manufacturer but the transport company pays the dealerships bodyshop to carry out the repairs......its then sold as new.

A mileage of 39 miles is not a demo car although it could have been on display in a nice warm showroom ( better than a field or compound).

lincroft1710

Back in the late 1950s my uncle worked for a Ford dealer in Cumbria. When a customer ordered a new Ford, uncle would get the train down to Dagenham and drive the car back up to Cumbria.

The customer would then get a "brand new" car with 300 miles already on the clock.

makeyourdaddyproud

sg1066 wrote: »

I have bought 1 new car & it had 1 mile on the clock.

It was what I expected from a new car, it was built, transported, parked then sold to me. It had not been used for anything else.

I'm with the OP, it would have bothered me if my new car showed signs of being used.

Time to take the magnet off your odometer I think.

hieveryone

Oh my goodness, folks really need to find something better on a bank holiday Monday than slag others off!

All these responses of 'so just clean it then' - erm, no!! Buying a brand new car is a huge commitment and at times with a huge outlay so I'd be expecting a SPOTLESS, CLEAN car delivered to me.

If you went into a shop, bought a t-shirt/jacket/shoes etc and then discovered dirty marks on it, I bet you'd take it back instead of just thinking 'oh I'll wash it myself'!!

OP, go back to the dealership and let them know it is unacceptable to sell a car on with sticky residue and scratches on it. I wouldn't even accept that from a second hand car never mind brand new! Mileage I wouldn't be fussed about as 39 is nothing really.

Hope you get it sorted.

morrisoscar

Mattielovesmusicals wrote: »

Bought a Clio Dynamique MediaNav. Actually really like the car, just disappointing experience for a new car. Maybe my expectations were too high!

Delivery mileage of 39 miles isn't unusual, sometimes they do a dealer swop one colour car for another so could be that. More likely came to dealer with around 8 to14 miles and was taken to another site to have stickers fitted. At least they didn't do what our local Renault dealer was caught doing years ago, disconnecting the speedometer.
Don't rub the paint to clean the glue off let the dealer see it and point out the paint chip,tell them to PDI the car again, be firm but polite. If you are not happy with their reply ask to make an appointment with the dealer principal and don't be put off. You won't believe how grumpy the dealer principal will get with their staff at having to deal with a customer face to face to sort a problem.

InsideInsurance

The OP didnt seem to answer the question about the lag between buying and getting the vehicle? Nor the other obv question of what the dealership said about its getting the vehicle when they were searching.

When we bought our new car it was prebuilt but still "at the factory" so took about 2 weeks to be ready for collection from the dealership with shipping from Germany, the getting through customs, registration, the rubbish the dealership does etc. We however couldnt get to the dealership for another 4 days or so.

At the dealership the car was in the middle of showroom with about 4 customers peering in through the windows etc. There was stickers on it with "sold, do not touch" but evidently that was only partially observed.

There was about 12 miles on the clock which seemed reasonable, radio was pre-tuned, there were fingerprints all over the outside of the car but the dealership gave it a quick wipe down. Did checkover the vehicle for anything obvious as inevitably things can get damaged on transporters etc but there was nothing notable.

As others have said, anything brand new can have issues, its why we have statutory rights and in particular why the onus is on the merchant for the first 6 months.

Take it back and let them sort the problems for you. Next time, if you are particularly bothered about these sorts of things then remember to ask where the car is before buying it. Certainly if you want BRAND new then go for a custom build but expect 3 months delay or such and to pay a premium for the vehicle.