Car leasing - vehicle not fit for purpose

lew1976

I am currently leasing a car which has not performed as it should have since I took delivery. I have raised a complaint with the lease company and the dealership. Eventually the car was taken in for diagnostic testing. However I  was not given the results despite asking. The dealership requested the vehicle go back for further testing after lockdown restrictions have been eased. In the meantime the lease company and dealership refuse to acknowledge there is an issue with the car and have closed the complaint. This has been ongoing since November 2019. Can I do anything to force the issue and have them return my calls/emails. 

Anthony147

You’ve not mentioned what you assert makes the car not fit for purpose as this information is the crux of the matter and will shape what should have happened alongside what people are likely to advise you do next.

lew1976

the vehicle is a hybrid. When fully charged the battery range should be approx 24 miles on electric. However my vehicle battery when fully charged provides a range of 11 miles. 

AdrianC

They haven't "refused to acknowledge". They have acknowledged - they've asked you to take it back in for more tests once they re-open after lockdown. Perhaps they didn't refuse to give you the results of the diagnostics - but there were no fault codes logged...? Hence wanting to spend more time on diagnosis.

You say the car "has not performed as it should" - do you mean it's just slower/thirstier than you think it should be? Or is there an actual tangible fault?

Anthony147

Good luck on that - The disclaimers on hybrid electric only range go as far as road surface, temperature and so much more so You need to find anything that shows that there are circumstances where that range is unacceptable to have a leg to stand on.
 

AdrianC

lew1976 said:

the vehicle is a hybrid. When fully charged the battery range should be approx 24 miles on electric. However my vehicle battery when fully charged provides a range of 11 miles. 

Not a hope in hell of that being grounds for rejection. If there is a fault, then it will be addressed under warranty when it's found.

The official range figures, like fuel economy figures, are derived by the manufacturer in standardised testing. They are entirely dependent on driving style. It would be illegal for the dealer to quote any figure other than that standardised figure.

lew1976

The car was bought as it should have been more economical. However this is not the case. I was told and the car would go approx 24?miles (stated on brochure) on electric. However 11 miles makes minimal if any economical savings. 

Anthony147

lew1976 said:

The car was bought as it should have been more economical. However this is not the case. I was told and the car would go approx 24?miles (stated on brochure) on electric. However 11 miles makes minimal if any economical savings. 

Under specific conditions and not guaranteed (besides which shown range is not definitive).
Give it five minutes and someone will tell you what you want to hear as opposed to what the situation is as that’s what the question was for.

bengalknights

At 27mph on a flat surface straight road free of traffic, you should get close to 90% of what they state
If that isnt the condition your driving in then you wont get anything near that level

daveyjp

bengalknights said:

At 27mph on a flat surface straight road free of traffic, you should get close to 90% of what they state
If that isnt the condition your driving in then you wont get anything near that level

And no doubt at an ambient temperature which is far higher than is typical in the UK.

24 miles isn't far, suggesting a smallish battery.  November to March are the coldest days of the year and it is darker for longer and wetter.

 All that electric to power everything but the motor needs to come from somewhere.

AdrianC

bengalknights said:

At 27mph on a flat surface straight road free of traffic, you should get close to 90% of what they state
If that isnt the condition your driving in then you wont get anything near that level

It's nowhere near that simple.

https://www.vda.de/en/topics/environment-and-climate/Global-WLTP-roll-out-for-more-realistic-results-in-fuel-consumption/WLTP-How-are-plug-in-hybrids-and-electric-cars-measured.html