HELP! Bought a car 4 weeks ago - snapped clutch cable

Babybear83

Thank you for so many viewpoints.

I got the year wrong for the car - it's 17 years old and cost me £950. (I have been told numerous times I was an idiot to pay that much, but still learning!)

The dealer has offered to collect the car from me, fix the problem and return the car for £60.

I'm in way over my head here, when I queried why it wasn't picked up on the MOT which was done 5 days prior to being bought he explained it isn't required for an MOT. He then became a little shirty with me and said he was a good guy doing me a favour and I should appreciate that. I just want to know the car is (and will be) safe to drive when he's fixed it.

After going through my paperwork at home I have no copy of the warranty and nor is it on the website and I have no MOT cert for June... but it has been done.

He now wants me to leave the keys somewhere safe and he will collect my car when i'm at work tomorrow.

I don't know if this is normal or not... obviously I will not be leaving my keys lying around for him.

Herzlos

Babybear83 wrote: »

fered to collect the car from me, fix the problem and return the car for £60.

I'd take the offer, you're not going to get it done that cheaply anywhere else.

Where's the dealership? Can you get someone to drop off the keys or leave them with someone?

You can look up the MOT online, I'm sure google will give you the link (I don't know it offhand).

facade

The easiest option is to pay the £60, the cable is £30, and he is coming to fetch the car- or more likely fit the cable on your drive.
He will obviously need the keys to get into/collect the car, I suppose you could go and take them to him if you don't want to leave them around.

Why didn't the nice AA man get you a new cable and put it on? (for about £100 mind- they always charge retail for any parts)

Apodemus

With the exception of the purchase price, it all sounds normal and above-board to me. I'd leave him the key, pay him the £60 and put the whole thing down as part of the process of learning to drive.

Apodemus

facade wrote: »

Why didn't the nice AA man get you a new cable and put it on? (for about £100 mind- they always charge retail for any parts)

For a suspiciously accurate figure of exactly £100 if my experience of an AA repair is anything to go by!

parking_question_chap

Its a twenty year old car.

Of course things are going to break, neither you or the dealer could predict a clutch cable breaking.

£60 sounds like a decent goodwill price.

If you want a car in mint condition go out and buy a new one.

Nobody should be expecting the dealer to put things like this right for free on a car this old, if their stock is mostly old vehicles they would be forever doing freebies. This bloke is trying to make a living.

Strider590

Babybear83 wrote: »

(1997 polo, 55,000 miles, one owner).

I think your going to have nothing but trouble with this car, not using a car is worse than ragging it around McDs carpark on a thursday night.

Low mileage often means it hasn't been serviced, because people tend to ignore the "12000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first" part of the service schedule.

Servicing low mileage cars on schedule is vital, because oil does actually go off, it turns acidic and starts damaging seals/etc.
Brake fluid same thing, master cylinder seals usually require a full new master cylinder.

Fuel goes off too, which means sludge in the fuel tank, maybe even water, which is going to stop the car dead when it decides to make it's way up the fuel lines.

Just using a car is vital for stopping rust, storing under covers or in a poorly ventilated garage will attract humidity to the car and it'll fall apart.

I could go on all day..... If it's been serviced properly and on time, then that will help a great deal, but if not then it could get expensive very fast.

ohreally

Has the cable definitely failed, I may be wrong but I seem to recall there may have been an issue where the cable enters the bulkhead which was resolved be fitting a large washer to allow for the bulkhead damage.

I'm sure someone with a better memory can comment/ advise.

System

Babybear83 wrote: »

I'm in way over my head here, when I queried why it wasn't picked up on the MOT which was done 5 days prior to being bought he explained it isn't required for an MOT. .

He is correct. There are many things that aren't tested for MOT. Basically the MOT is a test of the servicability of brakes, suspension, steering tyres, lights, washers, front windscreen wipers, rear view mirrors, seat belts, switches for lights and indicators and horn, making sure there are no rust holes near structural components and that the exhaust emissions are below legal limits.

Things like clutch wear, clutch cables, the ability to select gear, engine rattling, air conditioning or heater not working, central locking, sunroofs and a whole list of other things are not tested at all.

Also a MOT is only an indication of the state of the testable items AT THE TIME OF THE TEST. It is not a guarantee they're even servicable once it has driven out of the test center and a MOT should never be used as an indication of the condition of the vehicle.

Strider590

^^ It's also not a substitute for a service.