Brand new car failed within days, what is reasonable compensation

lil8

Hi I brought a brand new Dacia and within the first week (100miles on the clock) the clutch and breaks failed. Luckily I was driving very slowly so no one was hurt and nothing damaged externally but obviously a major failing for a new car. All has been fixed and I have my car back and working but I did miss out on over a weeks work as there was no courtesy car available straight away and I rely on my car to get to and from every job (self employed). 

I am in talks with Dacia uk regarding compensation (or there words “a gesture of good will”) 
What would you say is sufficient compensation? They have offered to extend manufacturers warranted for an extra year to 4 but I don’t think this is sufficient. 

Herzlos

I'm surprised they didn't pay for a hire car, but it's maybe something you need to ask for.

What is your actual financial loss? Did you do anything to mitigate it?

ontheroad1970

If you had hired a car, it would have been a reasonable claim.  You can't really claim for loss of earnings when claiming for a hire car would have been cheaper.  You can't simply claim for the most expensive way.

Sure, you can ask, but a court would have a problem with it when there are cheaper claims to make.  To get the most out of them, you have to be realistic.  Also the business you didn't do is it completely lost, or deferred to another time?  If so, then you will have not suffered loss at all. You can't claim for loss of opportunity for work you might have got at a later date when doing the deferred work.

sheramber

How much do you think is a reasonable claim?

WellKnownSid

sheramber said:

How much do you think is a reasonable claim?

Exactly as per @ontheroad1970 says.  How much is pretty self-explanatory.

It is reasonable for the OP to claim for loss which were unavoidable.

Hiring a small car at £50 a day to fulfil self-employed work would be reasonable.

Hiring a bigger car at £80 a day because essential trade tools needed to be carried would be reasonable.

Hiring a supercar at £300 a day because you always fancied driving one would be unreasonable.

Claiming for £20,000 in lost work for the want of hiring a car for £50 a day would be unreasonable.

Grumpy_chap

lil8 said:

Hi I brought a brand new Dacia and within the first week (100miles on the clock) the clutch and breaks failed. Luckily I was driving very slowly so no one was hurt and nothing damaged externally but obviously a major failing for a new car. All has been fixed and I have my car back and working but I did miss out on over a weeks work as there was no courtesy car available straight away and I rely on my car to get to and from every job (self employed). 

I am in talks with Dacia uk regarding compensation (or there words “a gesture of good will”) 
What would you say is sufficient compensation? They have offered to extend manufacturers warranted for an extra year to 4 but I don’t think this is sufficient. 

Did you ask for a hire car when the said no courtesy car was available?
Or suggest you would hire a car and for them to cover the costs?

Could you have got to work by public transport?
UBER?