Bought a Bad one

Timooo_23

Bit of an essay here, so please bare with me!

I recently bought a car and am in a bit of trouble with it. I bought it back at the end of september from a reputable dealer in Dublin. I researched the type of car it was, read it's reviews, it's problems, basically everything to look out for in it. I test drove it and found no real issues besides worn tyres, but that was ok with me. I put a deposit down on it and came back a week later and paid the rest, buying the car for €6650 all in, including a twelve month mapfre warranty, supposedly covering everything, or so I was lead to believe. I did read the fine print, but as the car seemed straight I found no issues.

About three weeks after buying the car a whine started up in the engine bay, after a week of self diagnosis I found it to be a problem with the power steering reservoir. I called mapfre, the put me through to a local (to me) mechanics, who sorted the issue, which was a €35 part and a bit of fluid. Mapfre wouldn't cover it and I was hit with a €105 bill 60 of which was labour on a ten minute job.

On driving home from the garage, the battery light came on, I left it until I got home, to look up what it was. Then discovered it was an alternator failure. I limped the car back to the garage where they replaced the alternator. Mapfre did cover this. (€260)

All seemed well for about a week when it started to get cold. I quickly realised that the car will not remote unlock when it's cold outside, the replacement part would cost upwards of €500 to replace, Mapfre won't cover it.

Around the same time, gearbox started to make a bit of noise, got progressively worse over the following weeks, got it diagnosed, gearbox is wrecked, needs to be replaced. Mapfre will cover this but only up to €1200 I've to cover anything after that myself. Waiting for some time with the approved mechanics for the gearbox to be done, was told in the new year, but they're fairly well booked, and it's a big job.

Yesterday on the way home from work the VDC light came on, showing a computer failure somewhere. Computers are not covered. hate to think of cost of fixing that.

Overall I believe I've been screwed by this "reputable" SIMI approved dealer, who told me when I wanted my money back for the car after the first two problems, to "get a good barrister".

Is there anything I can do? I am really sickened that I put that much money into a piece of crap, and being told I've no comeback. Has anybody any advice for me? Some would really be appreciated right about now.

I'm not willing to mention the dealer name or car type, to avoid the thread going astray.

Thanks for reading.

NobodyImportant

My guess would be that you would have a legal standing. Also, all garages must offer a warranty with a sale? Why isnt it covered by the garages warranty? Perhaps it doesnt matter that they sold you MAPFRE Cover, thats just passing the blame.

If there is enough faults, you should be entitled to return the car for a refund. Small claims court or any judge would side with you on that one.

The garage is just doing their best to hope you will go away.

mickdw

If you are not happy to continue with this car, the easy way out is to get it running and flog it. You will lose some money though.
Alternatively get legal advice and see where that can go. THe issue with this route is that is will wreck your head and will also cost money.

Personally, I would cut my loses.

In relation to the gearbox, I would be interested to know what the legal standing re warranty on this. Typically, on a car worth 7k, a 6 month engine and gearbox would be expected. Irrespective of mapfre warranty, would the selling dealer not be bound to repair the gearbox of meet the additional costs not covered by mapfre for this?

goochy

Is this garage located in Dublin 3 ?

ION08

What car is it?

pcardin

ION08 wrote: »

What car is it?

VDC light in Google confirms to be Nissan. Nissan with many problems = Nissan Primera I guess.

Timooo_23

Incorrect as to the car type, and please remain on topic for advice. If I do disclose name of dealer and car type, It'll turn into a general discussion on the badness of car and/ or the dealership. Once I've gotten enough information I'll release the names, but until then solid advice only please. And Thanks for the replies so far!

looters

Stick to the main dealers, avoid the dealers with no car make to their name found down a back alley somewhere.

Timooo_23

looters wrote: »

Stick to the main dealers, avoid the dealers with no car make to their name found down a back alley somewhere.

This wasn't a main dealer, but they're big, and reputable! Not some Joe Soap job, they've a large official set up.

Tea 1000

Why not contact a solicitor? A letter at least might be some use. Then threaten bad publicity if getting nowhere, but follow up with a solicitor though.

pcardin

don't worry. As said I was just guessing because somebody asked a pretty obvious question. VDC light is on nissans, subaru and Alfa Romeo (but not 100% sure). Anyhow, never mind!

goochy

Don't know why you expected a refund after 1st two problems though don't blame dealer they are now dealing in older cheaper cars than in past and are using a warranty company when they were dealing in newer and high end cars they were giving their own warranty and said to me that warranties from I insurance companies werent the paper they are written on !

goz83

mickdw wrote: »

the easy way out is to get it running and flog it. You will lose some money though.

Personally, I would cut my loses.

That's terrible advice and the OP would be no better than the garage for doing it. He should deal with the garage if he can, offering fair warning and seeking a full refund. The alternative is the legal route, which would seem to be a good option if he is taking on a "reputable" and "SIMI" registered garage. I would inform SIMI about the problem too if I were the OP.

MugMugs

Being honest OP, the dealer gave you the best advice you could get. Maybe not a barrister but get a good Solicitor.

George Dalton

NobodyImportant wrote: »

My guess would be that you would have a legal standing. Also, all garages must offer a warranty with a sale? Why isnt it covered by the garages warranty? Perhaps it doesnt matter that they sold you MAPFRE Cover, thats just passing the blame.

This.

The third party warranty doesn't mean they don't have to stand over the car. IMO if MAPFRE won't cover the issue it is the garage's problem not yours.

I have a fair idea what kind of car it is, will be interesting to see if I am right.

goz83

George Dalton wrote: »

This.

I have a fair idea what kind of car it is, will be interesting to see if I am right.

Did you sell it? :pac:

Timooo_23

George Dalton wrote: »

This.

The third party warranty doesn't mean they don't have to stand over the car. IMO if MAPFRE won't cover the issue it is the garage's problem not yours.

I have a fair idea what kind of car it is, will be interesting to see if I am right.

Thank you, If you can keep it to yourself, feel free to PM me.

George Dalton

goz83 wrote: »

Did you sell it? :pac:

:pac:

We are old school, if a car we sell develops problems inside warranty we suck it up and fix them. We don't deal with any of those third party warranty companies, they are the lowest form of life IMO, even worse than insurance companies.

ION08

I bet you its an Alfa :P

George Dalton

George Dalton wrote: »

... they are the lowest form of life IMO, even worse than insurance companies.

True, true. Third party warranties are a mugs game unfortunately, conceptually they could be decent.

mullingar

@OP,

You have legal rights here, its called the "sale of goods act"

Under the act, all good purchased (inc second hand cars) must be as described, fit for purpose and be of reasonable quality.

This car is not "fit for purpose" and its "not of reasonable quality".

The garage you bought the car of has a legal obligation to fix, replace or refund if it failed in such a short time.

I would go straight down to the garage and give them the opportunity to fix it and if they dont, get in touch with a solicitor.

MugMugs

George Dalton wrote: »

they are the lowest form of life IMO, even worse than insurance companies.

Independent Dealers / mechanics don't exactly have great reps either but who's going to stereotype on these things...

MugMugs

MugMugs wrote: »

Independent Dealers / mechanics don't exactly have great reps either but who's going to stereotype on these things...

The majority of them have quite decent reputations among the non f tards of society

goochy

This dealer use to have good rep when they were dealing in high end stuff were they made big money because it's hard for used dealers to compete with main dealers they are going for the buy em sell em cheap route nowadays they were bothered about customer service when they were making the big profits on High end stuff

alexnapier101

This story makes me sick, had a similar experience. I now only buy cars private and never more than 1000€, it's just not worth the hassle.

I use an independent mechanic with loads of experience with cars and working with dealers, the horror stories he has told me about what gets done just to sell the car is mind blowing. Makes me sick

JohnBoy26

goz83 wrote: »

I would inform SIMI about the problem too if I were the OP.

Simi are there to represent the dealers and not to protect the consumer. They won't do a thing about the op's problem.

L-M

Timooo_23 wrote: »

Incorrect as to the car type, and please remain on topic for advice. If I do disclose name of dealer and car type, It'll turn into a general discussion on the badness of car and/ or the dealership. Once I've gotten enough information I'll release the names, but until then solid advice only please. And Thanks for the replies so far!

I'd just like to step in here, there will be no "Naming and Shaming" in Motors.

You can tell us all you like but you are not to post the name of the Dealer.

Now, back to the topic at hand. Please don't quote this post questioning it.

Timooo_23

Limerick man wrote: »

I'd just like to step in here, there will be no "Naming and Shaming" in Motors.

You can tell us all you like but you are not to post the name of the Dealer.

Now, back to the topic at hand. Please don't quote this post questioning it.

No problem, will leave the dealer name anonymous.

Stheno

It would help if you told us the car make/model to be honest.

visual

few years back I bought a Mazda 626 from a small garage on way into Lucan village. had it a couple of weeks and notice it burned oil from start up I phone them and complained they lent me a 1 liter old car had a look and said it was uneconomical to repair my face dropped as I had only got a verbal 3 months warranty and was thinking I will get rightly screwed on this.

Anyway I was offered my money back or a cracking Honda accord (worth more than I paid for the Mazda) I took the Honda and I have to say that this little garage met and exceeded my expectations

I would recommend going back to the garage and explain your issues and concerns and ask them what they can do for you.

Stheno

Stheno wrote: »

It would help if you told us the car make/model to be honest.

It wouldn't really, gearbox failure on a €6k car within 6 months of sale should be covered by the dealers warranty regardless of make and model

The OP is just trying to find out where they stand, make and model has nothing to do with

looters

Op pm me me the dealer, I had a friend have issues with a dealer that sounds very similar.

Timooo_23

Thanks for your responses everyone, taking legal advice now, will be looking for my money back, will let ye know how it pans out!

luketitz

Horrible tale, hope it works out well for you whichever route you choose.