Fixing a car - what is reasonable?

bigjl

A couple of small scratches are fairly common in a used car. Even one as new as 6/7months. Though if they agreed in writing to repair them then so would expect them to do so.

The electrical issue is a simple warranty repair get it done where you want or give the supplying dealer the job as it will cost them nothing anyway.

[Deleted User]

bazster wrote: »

If you have their agreement in writing to fix the bodywork issues then you may have to resort to sending them a Letter Before Claim i.e. a formal warning that you will bring a case against them in the County Court if they don't honour this.

As for the electrical issue, do you have it in writing that they said the car would be as new? What about a warranty? If this is a main dealer it would be normal for used cars to come with some kind of warranty. If so then, again, you might have to threaten them with court to get them to honour it.

Although, come to think of it, if the car is only 6 months' old it's still under the manufacturer's warranty. Have you asked Ford to fix the electrical problem?

It's in writing that the vehicle will be as new. There are smaller scratches on the bodywork at various places but that's not a problem.

The warranty claim is the biggest puzzle - when I raised this the service staff just looked at me like I'd asked them to fund the repair from their own pockets. I will contact a different garage and ask if they can take a look.

bigjl

If they have said the car will be as new rather than agree to fix the scratches then they might have some wriggle room.

As more often than might be expected new cars have scratches on them.

The simple fact is they will have their usual SMART repairer in site all the time sorting out small scuffs and scratches.

Though as quality can vary from operator to operator It might be preferable to live with the scratches.

It will only get scratched again, no consolation I know but true.

The first couple of scratches always hurt the most.

scotsbob

urbankoala wrote: »

They agreed to fix the bodywork problems, in writing, before the vehicle was paid for. The electrical issue was only found afterwards.

People buy new cars all the time without viewing them first. Do you set up camp at the factory to follow yours as it's being built?!

I assumed from your original post that you were referring to a used car.


To answer your question, I have never bought a new car without having a 24 hour test drive.

Biketrials08

parking_question_chap wrote: »

You buy a car without seeing it and then complain it isnt what you were expecting, after putting your faith in a salesperson....

I have no sympathy whatsover.

Maybe next time you considering buying a new car, you might to choose one you can physically look at!??

Good grief!

Real nice!

To the original poster was this a Ford Direct car? If it was then there was no way they (the buyer) could see the vehicle before they purchased it or at least put down a deposit. Ford direct cars are advertised by dealers but are physically in Essex. BigJL is correct, if they said they would fix the scratches then they should (a Ford direct car should have no visible bodywork damage) and the electrical issue is a warranty issue (manufacturer warranty in the first year, dealer backed for the next 2).

macman

If they said that they'd fix the scratches, why did you accept and pay for the car at collection time? It appears that you bought the car unseen, and then picked it up and accepted with the faults present.
As above, the electrical fault is a warranty issue, so if this dealer won't resolve it, take your business elsewhere to another Ford dealer who will.

Hoof_Hearted

parking_question_chap wrote: »

You buy a car without seeing it and then complain it isnt what you were expecting, after putting your faith in a salesperson....

I have no sympathy whatsover.

Maybe next time you considering buying a new car, you might to choose one you can physically look at!??

Good grief!

What do you get out of telling people where they went wrong? I think the OP wants to know where he goes from here.

[Deleted User]

macman wrote: »

If they said that they'd fix the scratches, why did you accept and pay for the car at collection time? It appears that you bought the car unseen, and then picked it up and accepted with the faults present.

If I'd started a thread asking whether I could reject a used car solely because there were scratches that the dealer had agreed to fix, what do you think the replies would have said?

The dealership said they would fix the scratches and put it in writing before I paid the balance. On what basis should I have rejected the entire car? Would that have been reasonable??

You can see some of the responses above, one of which says they have no sympathy with me. Can't win on this forum.

roonaldo

Electrical problems - get fixed on warranty
Bodywork - this one is tough luck, it is a 2nd hand used car