Rejecting a car within 30 days

viviette

Thanks - sorry, the car seat issue is a side issue (adults fit in easier as they don't have to have high back boosters! Trust me, I've spent too many hours in Halfords trying to ram car seats into cars not to know about this!) But anyway, it doesn't really matter in relation to this particular issue.

I did take out what I felt to be appropriate checks. I felt it was a reputable company who specialise in distance selling, the car had a full service history and MOTs, it's a reliable make of vehicle (my dad is a used car dealer and helped advise me), and I took out a full manufacturer's warranty. Test driving the car wouldn't have made much difference in this case as I have no knowledge of mechanics and it feels fine when you drive it.

HOWEVER, I absolutely take on board that it's a huge decision to have made in this way, and I won't be doing it again. I'll be taking somebody with me who knows a lot about cars.

DUTR

viviette wrote: »

Thanks - sorry, the car seat issue is a side issue (adults fit in easier as they don't have to have high back boosters! Trust me, I've spent too many hours in Halfords trying to ram car seats into cars not to know about this!) But anyway, it doesn't really matter in relation to this particular issue.

I did take out what I felt to be appropriate checks. I felt it was a reputable company who specialise in distance selling, the car had a full service history and MOTs, it's a reliable make of vehicle (my dad is a used car dealer and helped advise me), and I took out a full manufacturer's warranty. Test driving the car wouldn't have made much difference in this case as I have no knowledge of mechanics and it feels fine when you drive it.

HOWEVER, I absolutely take on board that it's a huge decision to have made in this way, and I won't be doing it again. I'll be taking somebody with me who knows a lot about cars.

My MK5 Golf was a 2005 model and had ISOfix connections for booster/childseats, I wouldn't have thought that was unique to VW cars and I don't look for that but I guess it's pretty much standard on many modern cars.

One question that wasn't answered was the handbrake fully disengaged?
If you had a new to you car then you may not have been fully familiar with certain workings, the lever may have been down enough for the handbrake light to be off, yet the brakes partially operative to put extra stress on the clutch.

DevilsAdvocate1

viviette wrote: »

Thank you for the responses.
(Not sure I get the kids reference!)

I didn't test drive the vehicle - I bought it from buyacar.co.uk, who deliver it on the day of purchase. The man who delivered it to me was running out of time to get to his next job and hadn't even had time to clean it or put any fuel in (it had about a fiver's worth), and I had to give him a lift to the train station! That was the first time I drove the car.

It's a Vauxhall Zafira Tourer. I don't have much choice about cars for particular uses because there aren't many which fit three kids in the back of the car.

I have formally rejected it via email and telephone but they are point blank refusing. And I don't know where to take it as it's an online company ....

I don't think its your clutch. Vauxhall Zafira's are known for bursting into flames. Despite a recall a few years back it is still happening. My dad's was recalled and supposedly fixed a couple of years back. It burst into flames in March of this year. The following week I saw another Zafira on the hardshoulder in flames. And 2 weeks ago I saw a transporter with 9 burnt out cars on it - all Zafiras. Think its actually something to do with the air conditioning.



Dad only usually does short journeys. His burst into flames on one of his rare long journeys. Think he'd done around 40 miles when it happened. He's actually parking at a garden centre to have a break when a message came over the tannoy asking the owner of a particular car to go to the customer service desk.



Personally, I would take the car back tomorrow. Give them the keys. If you are rejecting the car you have to prove you're not using it - and this proves it. Also speak to trading standards, they were great with my dad as he rejected his new car that he had bought to replace his Zafira.

viviette

DUTR seriously - it's very well known that only a handful of cars have three isofix/full size car seats able to take boosters! But again, a side issue ...

Thanks for all the responses. I've got a lot to think about.

DUTR

viviette wrote: »

DUTR seriously - it's very well known that only a handful of cars have three isofix/full size car seats able to take boosters! But again, a side issue ...

Thanks for all the responses. I've got a lot to think about.

It's probably also even more known that Vauxhall Zafira's are renowned for bursting into flames, I learned about this from reports on the BBC news not even forums or consumer programs, as little as I love my kids, I wouldn't want to chance transporting them in a vehicle with such a hazardous record, YMMV.

viviette

I thought having kids was irrelevant to this?

I checked the Zafira recall list - the model and year of production of mine were not on the list. But thanks for your concern!

DUTR

viviette wrote: »

I thought having kids was irrelevant to this?

I checked the Zafira recall list - the model and year of production of mine were not on the list. But thanks for your concern!

It was, it was you that mentioned the 3 isofix requirements even though the vehicle is a higher deathtrap risk, no wonder the delivery agent wanted to get away so quickly?

So yes I agree , back on topic, what ya gonna do about the David vs Goliath fight?

viviette

Stepping away now. Thanks!

a.turner

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

I don't think its your clutch. Vauxhall Zafira's are known for bursting into flames. Despite a recall a few years back it is still happening. My dad's was recalled and supposedly fixed a couple of years back. It burst into flames in March of this year. The following week I saw another Zafira on the hardshoulder in flames. And 2 weeks ago I saw a transporter with 9 burnt out cars on it - all Zafiras. Think its actually something to do with the air conditioning.



Dad only usually does short journeys. His burst into flames on one of his rare long journeys. Think he'd done around 40 miles when it happened. He's actually parking at a garden centre to have a break when a message came over the tannoy asking the owner of a particular car to go to the customer service desk.



Personally, I would take the car back tomorrow. Give them the keys. If you are rejecting the car you have to prove you're not using it - and this proves it. Also speak to trading standards, they were great with my dad as he rejected his new car that he had bought to replace his Zafira.

Good job the OP didn't buy one then.

Mrssuggitt

I hope you manage to get this resolved