Used car with undisclosed faults! How to proceed? Return & full refund vs Keep & partial refund

Pollycat

It seems that the OP asked for advice but only wanted advice that they agreed with.

I suggest the OP goes back and re-reads the advice given so far and moves forward with that advice in mind.

PTP123

How dare someone have the windscreen replaced on 100k mile 10 year old car

I think you need to have a word with yourself OP

caprikid1

"I will most likely go the return route, I just need to figure out how to proceed, my legal standing and what could happen and what not"

Reasons to reject

• Not of satisfactory quality – free from major faults and safe to drive
• Not fit for purpose – unsuitable for the intended use
• Not as described – does not match the dealer’s description or promises
  This applies to both new and used cars purchased from a dealer, including online or distance sales. 

The question will be are any of the faults 100% aligned to the above, I am not convinced to be honest.

If you reject the car I believe you need to do the following

1. Formally Reject it
2. Return it immediately or make it available for collection (not drive it)

If the dealer does not accept it / comply you have the following.

1. No money for another car
2. Prospect of hiring a car with no guaranteed route to recover the money.
3. Potential of court costs , expert witness costs to win the case if you win, consumer rights do not automatically apply you have to fight to enforce them and that can cost.

I would suggest you drive to the dealer and talk to them and come up with a plan.

What car is it ? How much did you pay ?

You are not getting £2500, get the oil leek fixed and try and get the cooling resolved and move on, alternatively take it to a decent garage and get it inspected to give further weight to your issues.

Did you do a car check ? Is there an undeclared accident ? That might help your case.

born_again

How is this not fit for purpose given OP's statement below, all in 24 days?

ave 66 miles a day, would make a car more than fit for purpose.🤷‍♀️

Since purchase I drove about 1600 miles (mainly taking it home from dealer + family holiday).

caprikid1

update op ??

Simon321

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82102665#Comment_82102665

nothing wrong with this if it is done properly

Simon321

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82107322#Comment_82107322

I got some more professional "legal" (free) advice and I formally rejected the car as the car was not of satisfactory quality/not as described, with some evidence.
Primary reasons: Oil leak (25-35cm oil patch on street within 24h), coolant leak (most likely internal), no hot air (heating system failure). Secondary reasons: undisclosed accident damage/bodyfiller/resprayed.

The dealer called me to double check if I really don't want the car and we/I agreed I drop it off the next day for a full refund. The dealer accepted my rejection and within 10min I received a full refund on the spot. To be honest I wasn't expecting this.
Now the car is advertised again with "excellent interior" and "excellent exterior" condition, the oil leak might be fixed or not. Asking price is now £200 less

@everyone how gave advice: thanks for all the given advice! especially the advice focusing on the oil leak/hot air.

also some details regarding costs:
the car purchase price was around £8.2k.
oil leak fix would be £450
either heater matrix replacement or whatever else it could be (can't remember) £850
egr cooler replacement £700
these are all separate costs, all together would save some labour and the total would be around £1600

anyway this is not my problem anymore

LightFlare

can you (is it allowed by the board?) post the car reg so if a future purchaser does a Google search of the reg, this thread may pop up