Car finance dilemma

Willrdouglas1809

I purchased my VW Up last year on personal contract solution and have had a few tingling issues but they have been covered under warranty. About 8 months ago I noticed it was leaking water into the boot. So I had just used a sealent to try and stop this.
Seemed to make a difference when recently, again, I noticed water in the boot. So I rang the garage about another issue and this about 2 weeks ago and had it booked in yesterday for these to be looked at.
In the time between on 16th of this month I was rear ended at low speed. Bumper has a couple scrapes might be cracked but nothing substantial.
So when the car was in the garage yesterday the mechanics had found there was some form of crash damage to the inner metal behind the bumper. Not near where I was bumper however and it looks like it would take a lot more force to produce this damage. This car was bought 2nd hand so I believe in the circumstances that the car has been damaged in a crash with just the plastic bumper repaired as you would not be able to see the damage without properly looking for said damage.

Im in the dilemma now where it could a small fortune to repair the car which might not have happened when I owned the car, or i leave it and deal with the water ingress but means having to purchase the car at the end.
I’m in a real debate as a friend said I should just be able to return the car if the damage hasn’t happened under my ownership but I have no proof plus with the added accident the other day it doesn’t look like the best outcome for myself

If anyone has any thoughts it would be greatly appreciated

System

Doesn't take much to bend those cars and unfortunately the accident you've just had doesn't help your cause especially as when you should have taken the car back when it started leaking and any previous damage could have been found, you temporarily repaired it.

The bumper not being cracked doesn't mean much as they're only a thin bit of plastic which can easily deform and spring right back looking as good as new, it is the impact on the metal bumper bar behind that which is more important.

foxy-stoat

Wrong advice from your friend there....unless the car was a previous write off and the dealer didnt inform you of the fact before you bought it.

AdrianC

You bought a used car somewhere between 8 and 17 months ago.
8 months ago, you started slathering bodgegoop around the tailgate seal.
Somebody's now been into the back of you.

And your mate thinks you have grounds for rejection because of damage that wasn't visible until the bumper was removed, but absolutely definitely must have been pre-existing?

Good luck.