How to dispute with car dealer

Goatbedspread

My mother bought a car from a dealer before christmas. When she brought it home I checked the oil and water levels before she drove across the country, and all was fine. When she arrived home she found that the oil level was very low, but didn't think too much about it as she didn't realise I had already checked it, and assumed it had been low when she bought it.

When she spoke to me about it, we discovered that the car drank oil at a crazy rate, requiring her to be constantly vigilant. She spoke to the dealer about it, as the car was ensure for engine and gearbox for three months. His response was a committal, ah yes, some cars are heavy on oil, and assured her that it would have no effect on the engine. We weighed up the pros and cons, and decided to monitor oil consumption for a while longer.

But consultation with a mechanic, he told her that the engine would fail, and that it would have to be replaced in its entirety. She decided to bring it back to see what the dealer would do for her. But on her way the engine blew a gasket. The dealer is now trying to say that he will mend the gasket, but that that is all he will do, and that there is no way at all that he will take the car and return the money. We have been told by a second mechanic that the dealer could easily get the car running again for the next few months, but that if he did not correct the underlying problem, it would just break down again, after dealer guarantee had past.

What is the best way to approach this? It is still under dealer warranty. The dealer was asked was there anything wrong with the car when he sold it, and he said there was nothing. I am sure the sale of goods act protects her as well. Should we demand the money back? Should we demand that he replaced the engine (more money than we paid for the car, I'd say).

She paid €2300, the car was low enough mileage (70000m) and 7 years old with a 1.6 engine. The reasonable expectation was that there should be no more than the usual problems an older car might have, not that it was on the brink of failure. She has since taxed it for a year, and replaced two of the tyres.

Any advice would be welcome.

keithclancy

Sounds like a 1.4 liter Golf

Did you do a cartell check on it ?

For Forks Sake

keithclancy wrote: »

Sounds like a 1.4 liter Golf

Did you do a cartell check on it ?

OP:

the car was low enough mileage (70000m) and 7 years old with a 1.6 engine.

keithclancy

For Forks Sake wrote: »

OP:

Sounds like doesn't mean is

keithsfleet

How long has she had the car and how long into ownership did she notify the dealership about the oil issue?

Goatbedspread

Thanks for the replies.
The car is a Hyundai Elantra, 05 reg, 1599 CC, 2 previous owners. The ,mileage was about 70.000m/100,000 KM.

She has had the car for 2 and a half months. She notified the car dealer about the oil issue about two weeks after she had it (after the oil disappeared after 500 km). The dealer's response was that the car was thirsty for oil, that it should pose no problems, and that he had had cars like that before. He was to consult his mechanic and get back to her. He never did, but Christmas happened in between, when she sort of took her eye of the ball with it.

It had two litres of oil put in after first noticing that the oil was low, and since has had two subsequent litres put in.

We didn't do a Cartell check. Not sure what that is (naively assumed buying a car from a dealer was safe enough). Should we do it now?

Really wanted advice on whether the dealer should have known there was an engine problem, whether he should have warned us, whether being low on oil could be a sign that the engine is failing, or any ammunition we can have to go back to the dealer and ask for some sort of satisfaction.

keithclancy

Goatbedspread wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.
The car is a Hyundai Elantra, 05 reg, 1599 CC, 2 previous owners. The ,mileage was about 70.000m/100,000 KM.

She has had the car for 2 and a half months. She notified the car dealer about the oil issue about two weeks after she had it (after the oil disappeared after 500 km). The dealer's response was that the car was thirsty for oil, that it should pose no problems, and that he had had cars like that before. He was to consult his mechanic and get back to her. He never did, but Christmas happened in between, when she sort of took her eye of the ball with it.

It had two litres of oil put in after first noticing that the oil was low, and since has had two subsequent litres put in.

We didn't do a Cartell check. Not sure what that is (naively assumed buying a car from a dealer was safe enough). Should we do it now?

Really wanted advice on whether the dealer should have known there was an engine problem, whether he should have warned us, whether being low on oil could be a sign that the engine is failing, or any ammunition we can have to go back to the dealer and ask for some sort of satisfaction.

Are you sure its burning oil ?
Can you check underneath the engine cover and see if there is oil ?
2 Liters sounds more like a leak than burning it.

Goatbedspread

keithclancy wrote: »

Are you sure its burning oil ?
Can you check underneath the engine cover and see if there is oil ?
2 Liters sounds more like a leak than burning it.

No sign of oil, and no oil on the ground where it sits. We thought that too, initially, and I think she has had mechanics look at it for leaks (I will have to ask her the details).

djimi

Get someone to sit in it and give it a rev, and see if there is any black smoke from the back.

Tbh, it sounds like it is using as much (if not more) oil than my Type R, which is frankly ridiculous! Id be keen to get it looked over by a second mechanic and see what they reckon, and then go back to the dealer with their findings.

dharn

Burning oil would give you blue smoke

No Pants

Start conversing with the dealer in writing, it may come in handy later.

shamwari

Why are some questioning whether the car is faulty or not? It's blown a gasket and appears to be consuming oil excessively. That speaks for itself.

The OP wan't advice on how to pursue this the dealer, not whether the car is goosed or not.

dharn

Problem is it is a7 year old car costing 2300 so not a lot of profit for dealer, it sounds like the engine is completely knackered so probably not economoc to fix, moneyback is probably the best option but that will be difficult to achieve