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Bought a lemon!

Hutch100uk
Posts: 609 Forumite


in Motoring
I spent £8k on a Golf from Benfield just over a year and a half ago. Since buying the car, it has never been out of the garage. It has been in for radio, aerial, air conditioning, timing belt (which garage should have changed), turbo, turbo (again) and this is just to name a few off the top of my head.
Obviously most of this was covered under the 12 month warranty apart from the last turbo repair (even though it had supposedly been fixed 4 month prior). Now the engine has blown and has a massive hole in it. Looks like it will need a whole new engine. It was towed to Benfield VW today and I await their diagnosis (although I pretty much know).
So, i called Benfield Head Office to lodge a complaint about the lemon I had bought. Really don't think its acceptable to spend £8k on a car that is pretty much useless to me a year and a half later. They have yet to respond.
My question is, do you think I have a leg to stand on? Has anyone had any positive outcomes from similar situations?
I'm well aware they could just tell me to get lost but am hoping, if they are a decent company, they will try to come to some sort of solution to help me out.
Obviously most of this was covered under the 12 month warranty apart from the last turbo repair (even though it had supposedly been fixed 4 month prior). Now the engine has blown and has a massive hole in it. Looks like it will need a whole new engine. It was towed to Benfield VW today and I await their diagnosis (although I pretty much know).
So, i called Benfield Head Office to lodge a complaint about the lemon I had bought. Really don't think its acceptable to spend £8k on a car that is pretty much useless to me a year and a half later. They have yet to respond.
My question is, do you think I have a leg to stand on? Has anyone had any positive outcomes from similar situations?
I'm well aware they could just tell me to get lost but am hoping, if they are a decent company, they will try to come to some sort of solution to help me out.
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Comments
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How old is the car?
Either way, I'd expect a £8k car to last longer than a year and a half - so the law should be on your side.
Write them a letter telling them you expect a car of this value to last longer than it has done, also look up the Sale of Goods Act (specifically referring to goods lasting a reasonable length of time).0 -
mattyprice4004 wrote: »How old is the car?
Either way, I'd expect a £8k car to last longer than a year and a half - so the law should be on your side.
Write them a letter telling them you expect a car of this value to last longer than it has done, also look up the Sale of Goods Act (specifically referring to goods lasting a reasonable length of time).
Its 5 and a half years old. It has only done 70k miles which isn't high for a diesel. Both recovery guys said that shouldn't happen in a car like that unless it hasn't been getting regular services. It has a full service history though. Benfield have supposedly fixed turbo problems twice so wouldn't surprise me if its related to that!0 -
What happened to cause a hole in the engine?
What was the issue with the turbo? Sometimes something simple like sticky variable vanes doesnt require a new turbo. Just cleaning.Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...0 -
forgotmyname wrote: »What happened to cause a hole in the engine?
What was the issue with the turbo? Sometimes something simple like sticky variable vanes doesnt require a new turbo. Just cleaning.
I don't know yet - its sitting waiting for a diagnosis. The last turbo repair was replacement of the vacuum unit. The previous turbo repair was replacement of the boost pressure control unit wiring harness. If you ask me, the couldn't pinpoint the problem so were just replacing parts. No idea if this has any bearing at all on the hole in the engine!!!0 -
Hutch100uk wrote: »I spent £8k on a Golf from Benfield just over a year and a half ago.Hutch100uk wrote: »Its 5 and a half years old. It has only done 70k miles which isn't high for a diesel.!
Was £8k a reasonable price for your diesel model?
I suppose it was circa 4 years old when you bought it. What was the mileage then?0 -
Hutch100uk wrote: »I don't know yet - its sitting waiting for a diagnosis. The last turbo repair was replacement of the vacuum unit. The previous turbo repair was replacement of the boost pressure control unit wiring harness. If you ask me, the couldn't pinpoint the problem so were just replacing parts. No idea if this has any bearing at all on the hole in the engine!!!
So really when you say the turbo failed it didnt. You appear to have been unlucky and had minor issues. Quick and fairly cheap repairs. Nothing major to warrant rejecting it.
But does the engine really have a hole in it? What happened exactly?Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...0 -
Don't some vw engines have an issue with the condrod letting go and piercing the engine wall?0
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worried_jim wrote: »Don't some vw engines have an issue with the condrod letting go and piercing the engine wall?
Yes! On searching a few forums this sounds like it might be the case. Although apparently VW deny this.0 -
forgotmyname wrote: »So really when you say the turbo failed it didnt. You appear to have been unlucky and had minor issues. Quick and fairly cheap repairs. Nothing major to warrant rejecting it.
But does the engine really have a hole in it? What happened exactly?
My partner was so I wasn't there but he said the engine made a loud 'bang' and then just cut out. Recovery guy told him there was a hole in the engine as oil was pouring out. Obviously I won't know antying for sure until VW look at it.0 -
In 2011 I bought a circa five year old Golf 1.6 petrol car in a private sale with 55k on the clock for £5.4k. I have done about 20k in it since with no problems.
Was £8k a reasonable price for your diesel model?
I suppose it was circa 4 years old when you bought it. What was the mileage then?
Hi there, yes it was probably slightly over priced as it was a large dealership but I did check what the model was going for generally before buying. Its a 1.9 TDI Match so has cruise control etc. Can't remember mileage off top of my head but I've probably only done about 6-8k. Private sales are always much less but I wanted peace of mind and a longer warranty (ha, what a joke).0
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