Car not as described

dini_2

Apologies, this is a bit long. Would be grateful for advice.
Have just bought a used (2020) VW TCross from a VW dealer. (a week ago on thurs)
The car was advertised as having app connect and android auto. I confirmed this with the salesman on the day of purchase. (I have screenshots of the advert)
I took the car home just as the dealership was closing, and realised in the car park that the car didn't have this at all.
(I realise this is not the biggest issue, but I would not have bought it if I had realised that it did not have this included. I'm not bothered by bells and whistles, but this was something I wanted.)
Apart from this, no other problems with the car.
Anyway, I emailed the dealer at 6am the following morning after a bit of internet searching, where it appeared that app connect is not standard on the model I had purchased.
I was phoned back that evening.
Apologies given. Mistake had been made, both salesman and manager assumed this was included on car.
Offered £250 goodwill (declined)
Offered satnav- at my expense. (Again, don't want this, wanted the app connect, and previous car had satnav sitting on dash)
Told that current radio/system could not be updated, just does not have the technology.
Told could have whole system replaced for £1400 (My expense)
Told could have different car with system for extra £1500 (my expense)
I said I'd check with the bank and get back to him. (With part exchange and deposit, my loan was £11500)
Checked with bank, (Prior to this I was approved for up to 15k loan- had part exchange and cash deposit)

Anyway spoke to bank: said that yes I could clear HP, but could not take out another loan (system doesn't allow it) within 30 days of the first. Fair enough.

I explained all to salesman on Monday last week, who  suggested getting finance through them, at a worse rate (but includes 2 services) I didn't really want this.
He said he would speak to his boss. That was a week ago, and have not heard anything.
I haven't had much in writing either. just some info on a different Tcross with app connect.

• Its covered under the 30day no quibble exchange, but I cant get another loan for the next 3 weeks.
• I am a bit peeved off that I don't have what I wanted, and really car is not as described. (And worse, I cant really use my phone and google maps as the vents are in weird spots and phone keeps falling off due to it being heavy)
• I believe I am covered under the Consumer Rights act 2015, as the car is not as described. So could hand back. (would prefer not to do this except might have to due to the car finance thing)

Would it be unreasonable to ask them to cover the cost of a new unit? It will take me a couple more months to get another £1400. 

Could you please share some words of wisdom.

k3lvc

Simple solution - if you're prepared to pay the higher cost then take out the dealer finance (with the two free services) then pay it off in full as soon as you can apply for new loan through bank - you keep the free services and get the lower bank rate

dini_2

Thanks, I never though of that.
However the bank loan is Bank of Scotland car finance, they only pay directly to dealer. (I think- I had to input the dealer details, and then the car dealers bank account)
Can someone who has done this before advise as I cant play around with it while I have an active loan.

Ganga

Will the bank allow you to take out a loan if you all ready have finance with the garage /broker ,was thinking about affordability or the bank might think this.

sheslookinhot

Take the car back and seek a replacement car elsewhere.

dini_2

Good point.
I haven't really had much in the way of credit since I cleared my debt a few years back. Have recently taken out a 0% card to clear a small cc balance and remove interest. But they kindly gave me a 4700 limit.  Aagh.

root

i'd be tasking it back and buying from elsewhere just on the principle of they way they have treated you - trying to get you to spend more!

It's not as described, simple as!

Herzlos

root said:

i'd be tasking it back and buying from elsewhere just on the principle of they way they have treated you - trying to get you to spend more!

It's not as described, simple as!

They've treated him pretty well - they called him back the same day and they've offered him £250 back to keep the car as is.
They've also offered to let him upgrade at cost.

The dealer isn't obliged to give him a free upgrade, just return him to the position he started in, which is a full refund and no car.

They sell a lot of cars so can't be expected to know the full spec of them all - if there's a feature you really care about then you need to confirm it's there before buying it.

[Deleted User]

Herzlos said:

root said:

i'd be tasking it back and buying from elsewhere just on the principle of they way they have treated you - trying to get you to spend more!

It's not as described, simple as!

They've treated him pretty well - they called him back the same day and they've offered him £250 back to keep the car as is.
They've also offered to let him upgrade at cost.

The dealer isn't obliged to give him a free upgrade, just return him to the position he started in, which is a full refund and no car.

They sell a lot of cars so can't be expected to know the full spec of them all - if there's a feature you really care about then you need to confirm it's there before buying it.

On the other hand, if he does hand the car back then it's got an extra owner on the books. Goes from 2nd hand to 3rd hand. They stand to lose money here, and it was their mistake.

If they are charging the customer £1200 to upgrade the system it will cost them a fraction of that to fix their mistake.

I'd hand it back and tell them that the only acceptable option is to upgrade the system or provide a replacement vehicle, otherwise you need a full refund.

Herzlos

[Deleted User] said:

Herzlos said:

root said:

i'd be tasking it back and buying from elsewhere just on the principle of they way they have treated you - trying to get you to spend more!

It's not as described, simple as!

They've treated him pretty well - they called him back the same day and they've offered him £250 back to keep the car as is.
They've also offered to let him upgrade at cost.

The dealer isn't obliged to give him a free upgrade, just return him to the position he started in, which is a full refund and no car.

They sell a lot of cars so can't be expected to know the full spec of them all - if there's a feature you really care about then you need to confirm it's there before buying it.

On the other hand, if he does hand the car back then it's got an extra owner on the books. Goes from 2nd hand to 3rd hand. They stand to lose money here, and it was their mistake.

If they are charging the customer £1200 to upgrade the system it will cost them a fraction of that to fix their mistake.

I'd hand it back and tell them that the only acceptable option is to upgrade the system or provide a replacement vehicle, otherwise you need a full refund.

I *think* that if you are quick enough you can cancel the driver name change. They'd take the hit on having to re-prepare and sell the car again though, so you're right in that it might actually be cheaper for them to do the upgrade. However, we don't know if the £1200 is the reduced cost to do the upgrade.

OP could always offer to meet them in the middle

dini_2

They sell a lot of cars so can't be expected to know the full spec of them all - if there's a feature you really care about then you need to confirm it's there before buying it.

I would suggest that if your business is selling cars, then you should be expected to know the full spec before advertising it. It is a selling point after all.  I did in fact check with the salesman that it was there. He confirmed. I didn't try to connect my phone because it would not be appropriate for a 15 min test drive.

Too late to cancel the name change. I've had the V5 form back.
We are current discussing the options.
Seems like a new unit would only have satnav, and radio, not app connect. He is checking again.
I'd much prefer to have an upgraded unit , as I don't need the aggravation of swapping and messing about with the car loan.