Unrepairable car back on the road

daydreamexpert

Hi everyone,

I bought a Zafira in February 2019, it broke down (all electrics died) in beginning of March 19. It started again after 19 hours and the dealer couldn’t find what was wrong. 2 weeks later it did it again, this time it didn’t restart.

After about a month of driving a courtesy car while they looked at it, they said it was no good due to the ECU being fried and that we could exchange for another car with our car cost coming off the sticker price of another. We have 3 kids in car seats, and they had nothing we could use as a family, so we waited hoping to get something else in. 

We had a holiday booked end of May, and needed a car for the airport, so we bought another Zafira. We told the dealer we wanted our money back as the car was not fit for purpose and they said they would get back to us. After our holiday, we contacted them and they offered us £500 for the car (we paid £1599). We told them this was unacceptable as it broke down within a month of having it and that we were entitled to a full refund. We even said we would take £1300 just to be done.

The dealer was always ‘going to get back to me’ and as I suffer from severe anxiety and panic disorder, chasing them up isn’t the easiest for me. Of course they took advantage of the situation and just let it go. I constantly checked new cars they had online and on 1st December 19, I arrived and said I wanted the car I’d seen online. The intent was to sell this car to recoup some of my losses. As I had a new job, I used this car for work until end of January and at this stage have not been able to sell it.

Today, after picking my son up from school, I was passed by my old Zafira, the one that was too expensive to repair according to the dealer. Is it legal for them to say they can’t repair my car and then fix it and sell it after I have a new one? This doesn’t seem right at all, especially since if they had repaired it I wouldn’t be out and £2500 since then.

Would really appreciate any advise on whether the dealer is allowed to do this.

KimJongUn88

Yes it’s legal.

Supersonos

daydreamexpert said:

as I suffer from severe anxiety and panic disorder, chasing them up isn’t the easiest for me. 

It's not easy for you to pick up the phone?  Or send an email?

Herzlos

You're assuming he's repaired it. He could have sold it on to someone else as is.

AdrianC

daydreamexpert said:

Today, after picking my son up from school, I was passed by my old Zafira, the one that was too expensive to repair according to the dealer. Is it legal for them to say they can’t repair my car and then fix it and sell it after I have a new one?

Do you KNOW they fixed it?

Or perhaps they flogged it as a non-runner, spares or repair, and the buyer fixed it?
Perhaps it's a different car, and the plate's simply been moved?

jimbo6977

When you bought the 2nd car to get to the airport, what did the paperwork (invoice) say? 

If the 1st car was offered and accepted as part ex then it's the dealer's to do with as they see fit. I can't see how you can go back afterwards and ask for another £800 if the part ex is on the invoice. 

Uneconomical to repair (to manufacturer standards using new parts etc) is very different from irrepairable. 

fred246

It's called telling lies. Normal procedure at a garage.

daydreamexpert

Supersonos said:

daydreamexpert said:

as I suffer from severe anxiety and panic disorder, chasing them up isn’t the easiest for me. 

It's not easy for you to pick up the phone?  Or send an email?

Obviously don’t know someone with that issue. They never answered emails.

daydreamexpert

jimbo6977 said:

When you bought the 2nd car to get to the airport, what did the paperwork (invoice) say? 

If the 1st car was offered and accepted as part ex then it's the dealer's to do with as they see fit. I can't see how you can go back afterwards and ask for another £800 if the part ex is on the invoice. 

Uneconomical to repair (to manufacturer standards using new parts etc) is very different from irrepairable. 

Bought the 2nd car elsewhere. Was waiting for refund from them as they didn’t have anything suitable for exchange

daydreamexpert

AdrianC said:

daydreamexpert said:

Today, after picking my son up from school, I was passed by my old Zafira, the one that was too expensive to repair according to the dealer. Is it legal for them to say they can’t repair my car and then fix it and sell it after I have a new one?

Do you KNOW they fixed it?

Or perhaps they flogged it as a non-runner, spares or repair, and the buyer fixed it?
Perhaps it's a different car, and the plate's simply been moved?

That’s definitely a possibility and one I’ll be finding out about.

Car_54

We had a holiday booked end of May, and needed a car for the airport, so we bought another Zafira. 

Obviously no alternative. Taxi?