Carcraft

shopaholic2

Hi, unsure if this is in the right place, but it covers a few areas and I NEED HELP,LOL.

Hubby bought an alfa romeo car from car craft in september, it came serviced and with a 2 yr guarantee. He bought it on finance.
It went for its first service today since he bought it, and there is a problem with the cylinder head, which is covered by the guarantee, BUT, the guy who owns the garage said "this is the tip of the iceberg".
We have only had the car 6 months and its, it seems, already knackered.
I am gutted, and very scared, as I just done know what to do. I am guessing we have zero redress with carcraft, so we are gonna end up with a debt for a car thats sitting in a scrap yard (possibly, eventually).

I know I'm panicking a bit, and looking on the bleak side, but I am terrified, does anyone have any help, or advice?

I would be grateful for any words of wisdom!!

LandyAndy

Can you give us a bit of detail?

Model, Age, Mileage, What the guy at the garage says is also wrong with it and, if you're prepared to, what you paid and how much you owe.

Advice for others.

1. Don't buy from Carcraft. See other threads on here about them.
2. Don't buy an Alfa, particularly a used one, if you want a reliable vehicle.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Theres nothing wrong with buying an Alfa, they're excellent cars.

Shopaholic, get the mechanic to give a full list of the problems. And stop panicking.

LandyAndy

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Theres nothing wrong with buying an Alfa, they're excellent cars.

Shopaholic, get the mechanic to give a full list of the problems. And stop panicking.

Alfas have many excellent qualities. Unfortunately a reputation for reliability isn't among them.;)

shopaholic2

Hi, its a 51 reg, with 47000 miles, not sure of the model, but its a 2 door hatchback (!!).

I will get a comprehensive list if poss, but another freind who is a mechanic just laughed when he came round a few days after he had bought the car and said, and I quote, "nice car, looks good, and thats the best i can say about it" So even then I was scared!!!

He said parts can be expensive,and hard to get,
Thanks for your comments and help, and I have stopped panicking!! For now!!

shopaholic2

Oh by the way, he paid about 5 grand for it, and has paid about £1000 since buying it.
Not sure of exact amounts and apr as paper work is somewhere in a locked cupboard, but will get it later if i need to.

LandyAndy

Sounds like it might be a 147.

A quick look on Auto trader shows them selling at between £3,000 and £3,500 for 'y' reg to '52' reg at traders.

Looks like Carcraft's price was a little OTT. Not really a surprise.

I fear there has been, as dear old Quentin Wilson would have said, a 'taking down of the trousers'.

Inactive

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Theres nothing wrong with buying an Alfa, they're excellent cars.
.

They are excellent cars for out of work mechanics, for Joe Public they are a nightmare, head gaskets blowing are commonplace, along with numerous other common and regular faults.


The Italians should stick to making pasta and ice cream.;)

iolanthe07

My son in law had an Alpha. He loved it when it worked, but he had no end of electrical problems with it and had to sell it in the end.

mrsyorkie

My advice is to check the paperwork and see what's covered in the guarantee. Then get a full list of faults with the car and call Carcraft. You may have a fight on your hands, especially if they put the faults down to 'wear and tear' (I had this with Motor Car Credit, but got there in the end after a huge fight).

I know it's easier said than done, but please try not to worry - worrying won't make it all go away will it? You may have a long fight on your hands, but you should get there in the end (especially if you mention the words 'media' 'solicitor' 'trading standards' 'watchdog'. But see if you can sort it out with them before this.

Just get all your facts straight before calling them and when you do call them, do it in a calm manner. Shouting and screaming at them and calling them cowboys etc won't help matters.

Good luck

bartman

LandyAndy wrote: »

I fear there has been, as dear old Quentin Wilson would have said, a 'taking down of the trousers'.

You make it sound as though Count Quentula (as Clarkson used to call him) is no longer with us!
As far as I know, he's still very much undead.