MPG half of that advertised! How to get out of car agreement?

Hanspence

Hello

I bought a 2013 Alfa Romeo Mito from a well known car supermarket in the north west. I originally went looking for a diesel as I do lots of motorway miles for work. However when I went to the car supermarket I saw this car for £11,000 with 11k miles and a very attractive 67mpg in the window.

4 months later and the mpg is a different story. My average is 26 and when I have tracked my 70 mile commute (95% motorway) it is coming up at 27mpg. I know everyone's driving style is different however I am no speed freak and am in 6th gear for most of the journey.

Few calls back and forth with the car supermarket have concluded that they have no liability. They say as DVLA oblige them to display the MPG that they provide. It is not their problem. I said the car is not as described and nor is it fit for purpose. They are insisting they are not responsible.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of how / who to complain to? If I knew this would be the mpg I would never have gone near the car ! I am in a mess as I am 4 months into a 5 year agreement on a car I can't afford to run (£110 per week on fuel). I asked to change the car and they said that due to depreciation I would have to pay £3500 !!!!

Any help will be really appreciated

Hannah

poppasmurf_bewdley

I don't think you've got a hope in hell of getting out of the deal.

It's a second hand car, not a new one. Most cars I've seen in car showrooms display about four different mpg figures, but these are for new cars.

Which one(s) did you see that don't appear to be matched with what you are getting?

DUTR

Hanspence wrote: »

Hello

I bought a 2013 Alfa Romeo Mito from a well known car supermarket in the north west. I originally went looking for a diesel as I do lots of motorway miles for work. However when I went to the car supermarket I saw this car for £11,000 with 11k miles and a very attractive 67mpg in the window.

4 months later and the mpg is a different story. My average is 26 and when I have tracked my 70 mile commute (95% motorway) it is coming up at 27mpg. I know everyone's driving style is different however I am no speed freak and am in 6th gear for most of the journey.

Few calls back and forth with the car supermarket have concluded that they have no liability. They say as DVLA oblige them to display the MPG that they provide. It is not their problem. I said the car is not as described and nor is it fit for purpose. They are insisting they are not responsible.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of how / who to complain to? If I knew this would be the mpg I would never have gone near the car ! I am in a mess as I am 4 months into a 5 year agreement on a car I can't afford to run (£110 per week on fuel). I asked to change the car and they said that due to depreciation I would have to pay £3500 !!!!

Any help will be really appreciated

Hannah

Did you explore the claimed MPG before you purchased though?
You don't really have a leg to stand on, (unless the car is somewhat faulty and hence the poorer than expected MPG returns), it does seem low especially for a diesel , on the whole 25-40 mpg around town and 30-50mpg on a run are realistic ranges for many cars .

torbrex

I would suggest that you invest in a service and get them to pay particular attention to the fuel system, it could be something as simple as the air or fuel filter or even a leak, also check the tyre pressure and tracking.

Hanspence

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

I don't think you've got a hope in hell of getting out of the deal.

It's a second hand car, not a new one. Most cars I've seen in car showrooms display about four different mpg figures, but these are for new cars.

Which one(s) did you see that don't appear to be matched with what you are getting?

I unfortunately think you are right.

There was an urban figure and a long run figure. 67 mpg was the combined, so basically the average that I should get.
The car supermarket confirmed that they just print out the mpg from the dvla and put it in the window of the car- they confirmed it "should be " 67 and if they had another car like mine it would get the same mpg put in the window.

Cornucopia

See if you can find an Alfa forum, or even an Alfa dealer, who can help you assess whether there is something wrong with the car. i.e. what are other people's experiences?

Alternatively, some kind of independent inspection?

What engine does it have? I assume it's the 0.9 TB Twinair? I could imagine that feeling a little under-powered, causing you to push it harder.

ballyblack

I originally went looking for a diesel as I do lots of motorway miles for work. However when I went to the car supermarket I saw this car for £11,000 with 11k miles and a very attractive 67mpg in the window.

is the car you bought a diesel?

Hanspence

DUTR wrote: »

Did you explore the claimed MPG before you purchased though?
You don't really have a leg to stand on, (unless the car is somewhat faulty and hence the poorer than expected MPG returns), it does seem low especially for a diesel , on the whole 25-40 mpg around town and 30-50mpg on a run are realistic ranges for many cars .

Thanks for your reply.

I did quickly research it and the good mpg seemed to be rather consistent.
It's actually a petrol, 0.9. So it should be incredibly efficient.
I called Alfa and there is no recalls or software updates that the car is missing, and it has been fully serviced from new.

fivetide

Looks like setting off earlier and doing 60mph is your option.


Fuel use does seem rather high though. Might be worth looking at in case a sensor is wonky and the car isn't fuelling right.


I get 40mpg from a 1.8 Avensis on a 30 mile (60 per day) commute which mixes motorway and standing in traffic.


EDIT: you issue seems to be you were sold a city car for long distance commuting. The 0.9 is likely to be thrashing itself on the motorway.


Salesman saw you coming and tucked you up I'm afraid.

fishybusiness

What engine is it?

If diesel, and your mpg is accurate it is entirely likely there is a fault. You would have to be going some to get such a low mpg out of a 1.3 or 1.6 modern diesel.

It's worth having it checked out.

fishybusiness

Ah cross posted, still, worth having it checked out - as said by others, sensors and the like do fail.