Consumer Rights - Used Car Purchase

chib

Last week I purchased a car from an independent used car dealership roughly 300 miles away. It's a 12 year old car, I paid a deposit using my credit card over the phone and flew up to pick it up at the weekend (Saturday). The condition was acceptable for the age and I paid the remaining balance using my debit card. I went to drive the car away and as I did the engine management light came on - the sales rep said it was likely because the car hasn't been used for some time, cleared the code and I drove it home without issue.

Today (Tuesday) I've experienced some issues with the car, the performance isn't right and the engine management light has come on again. I do like the car but feel slightly concerned. Is it acceptable for me to take it to a local garage for thorough inspection and if faults are found to reject the car? If faults are found that the local garage can resolve, is it acceptable for me to request that the dealership fund the work?

I could have saved around £1,000 buying the car privately but specifically wanted the protection of using a dealership.

angrycrow

You either need to exercise your short term right to reject (first 30 days) or you need to allow the dealer an opertunity to try and repair it themselves. Either way you need to get the car the 300 miles back to the dealer. This is why it is never a good idea to buy a car from a long way away.

Speak to the dealer first and see if they will agree to a local garage diagnosing the fault. Don't take it to the likes of Halford or Kwikfit as on a 12 year old car they will likely say it needs new brakes and suspension all the way around. 

Herzlos

Your first port of call is to contact the dealer again and see what they want you to do, but it's likely to involve a 300 mile drive back.

Personally, if a car threw an engine management light before I'd left the dealership I'd be returning it immediately and getting something else.

What's the car?

chib

Thank you for the responses. It's an Audi S3. I'd been looking for a while for specific spec and colour in great cosmetic condition, which this car is. Just unfortunate that something appears off with the performance. If it had been a private sale where I understand I'd have zero rights I'd have done things differently. The car was paid for with cash and I'd saved up for a while for it.

I spoke with the motor trader and they agreed for me to take it to a local Audi specialist for diagnosis and would like to approve the quote before work goes ahead which seems very reasonable. My thoughts are that if the local garage raise something with me that is a concern I'm going to personally pay them for their diagnosis and return the car - the issue could be a faulty diverter valve or a split pipe from my research online but I'd like to be prepared for worse news. I trust this seems like a sound approach?

Reading up on my rights regarding returning for refund, the garage can withhold a reasonable amount based on usage. I could have potentially covered 1,000 miles on the car in the time I've had it. The mileage was 87,xxx and would be 88,xxx are there any restrictions or guidance around what they can withhold? That extra mileage wouldn't impact the sale price in my opinion and the condition would be as it was provided to me.