Bought a death trap.

pinkichiban

Bought a second hand car from a local trader,it appeared fine, had service history and 9 months MOT. As no expert on car booked it for a service and they have said it's not roadworthy, it has break and steering issues alongside other issues such as leaks, I haven't read the report this is just from a quick phonecall. We were sold this as 'it just needed a service'. We should be able to get a refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Any tips on how we go about this if the trader doesn't agree or just ignores us. My understanding is that selling an unroadworthy car is illegal, how do we prove this? Car was bought 2 weeks ago. I am glad we found out before any kind of accident occurred but furious that someone would sell such a dangerous car.

jimjames

Where did you get the service done? Was it KwikFit?

How old is the car and how much did you pay? What has broken? "Issues" doesn't mean it is automatically unroadworthy. Lots of questions before anyone will be able to give accurate advice. 

AdrianC

What car, age, price? CRA15 tempers your rights according to reasonable expectations.

What are the issues?

If you really think that it does not fit reasonable expectations, then within 30 days of purchase you have an absolute right to a refund. Take the car back to the vendor, along with any paperwork and keys. Leave it with them. If they do not refund your money, you launch a claim against them for the money. If it's <£10k, it's a small claim - very cheap and simple.

Mickey666

I've always thought that a long MoT on a used car is pretty much worthless. 

I tend to buy my used cars from main agents and they've always carried out a new MoT regardless of how long was remaining on the old one.   Last time I bought a car this way, it failed the MoT on a few points (UJ and suspension bushes) and the garage had them fixed before I bought the vehicle.  Yes, I probably pay a bit more this way but then I've never bought a 'lemon' either, so probably money well spent.

If I were buying privately and had agreed a price in principle, I would insist on a new MoT before shaking hands on the deal.  I'd offer to pay for the MoT and if it passed I'd buy it, if it failed I'd walk away.  £40 well spent I'd say.

Not an infallible test of a vehicle of course, but at least I'd be reassured that it's roadworthy.

pinkichiban

I'm waiting to find out in more detail. According to the garage that looked at it today, they've advised it is unsafe to drive. It was an older car but an older car still needs to be roadworthy, it was sold as being in good order and all it needed was a service, oil change. I wish I knew more about cars so I could avoid getting burned. Perhaps we should've got a mechanic to  check before we bought, but we needed a car quick for a new job, so frustrating. 

AdrianC

I repeat...

What age, car, price?
What issues?

These are probably the single most relevant details to giving you a sensible answer.

"Older", "brake, steering, leaks" is not enough.

A 15yo £500 car in need of pads and discs, maybe a ball joint, and a little bit oily-spotty? Perfectly reasonable.

pinkichiban

13 yo £3,000 Audi serviced at audi centre, not kwik-fit! It was sold as being great for getting to work, told us it was solid...
Report: This vehicle should not be driven as front brakes are on metal, oil level indicator not working, coolant leak, intake flap plug removed, possible mapped out, top rear suspension arm bushes split, bottom suspension arms worn, rear break pads and discs need replacing, air on service due brake fluid change, rear side light bulbs dim, codes in ecu.
9 faults found:
Fuel rail/system pressure - too low
System voltage - too low
Cylinder 1+2+3+4+5+6 glow plug circuit - electrical fault
ECM Power relay load circuit - opens too early.
The quote to repair £2,039.50.
I hope this is the information you all need to help us sort this out.

Mickey666

Sounds like AdrianC has already answered your question.
It's less than 30 days since you bought the car so you have a right to a refund.  Return the vehicle, give them a copy of the Audi centre report, leave the car with them and demand a refund.

pinkichiban

I'm glad we found out within the 30 days. The seller must have known what a 'solid' piece of crap he was selling us. Buying a car under time pressure and in a lockdown, not recommended.

AdrianC

You took a 2007/8 car to a main dealer, and are surprised it has a long list of jobs?
Two grand may well be main dealer price, but any normal garage would be a fraction of that.

Was the engine management light on? If not, they'll be historic codes. Clear them, see if they return.

Set of discs and pads all round. 
Six pot Audi - petrol? A6? So a high-performance car, and a fairly heavy one, which'll get through friction material on the brakes in fairly short order.
Were the brakes squeeling? Were the brakes actually slowing the car? Then the front pads weren't "on metal". They might have been close, but that's a different question - and one any decent service would address.

Some bushes at some point in the future.

A good service would include brake fluid, if there's no evidence of it having been done in the last couple of years.

Remember, average age of a car at scrapping in the UK is just under 14yrs.

pinkichiban

It was not what was sold to us, maybe we should have been more savvy about what we were sold, however it is not as described.