Main dealer let down

Stallingrad

Went to look at a car at a SIMi main dealer as the buyer did not have the time to trawl through endless cars of dubious origin. The car looked mint for a 5 year old car, low mileage, drove well. Upon closer inspection it was obvious one side had been fully re sprayed, badly. Debris in the paint, over spray, paint drips in the engine bay, peeling lacquer, wheelarch liners sprayed, not masked. It was really bad. When I asked the salesman about this I was reassured it was cosmetic, not structural, that they had looked after the bodywork and that it was due to a scrape down the side of the car. One of the headlights was also secured by mastic and various clips were missing from the loose grill. I felt we were not being told the full story and we left.

I felt the car fell well short of what you would expect from a 'Gold Standard' car, and belonged in the trade, not a main dealer with a reputation to maintain.

Autonomous

Motor trade is con artists with suits

Kristopherus

If I were in your situation, I would first of all ask for the absolute true story on the repairs. Failing a satisfactory or no reply I would have no hesitation reporting the case to SIMI. Don't ever have the salesman of even proprietor take you for a mug.

johnayo

Kristopherus wrote: »

If I were in your situation, I would first of all ask for the absolute true story on the repairs. Failing a satisfactory or no reply I would have no hesitation reporting the case to SIMI. Don't ever have the salesman of even proprietor take you for a mug.

Most likely SIMI will look after their own and circle the wagons. Good luck.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

What car was it out of curiosity ?

Stallingrad

johnayo wrote: »

Most likely SIMI will look after their own and circle the wagons. Good luck.

I'm inclined to agree. I will consider emailing the dealer principle though with my feedback.

CJhaughey

The SIMI is nothing to do with consumer protection, despite the big logo's its a trade organisation to lobby government to do things like change registration systems and the like.
Buying from a SIMI garage offers almost nothing in the way of consumer protection.
Have a search on here and see the countless threads about SIMI dealers treating customers like dirt.

visual

Isn't 5 year old mint car if its been cheaply and badly crashed repaired. Probably at a cheaper price so it will sell than a straight car of similar age. Why even give it a 2nd thought walk away

bazz26

Autonomous wrote: »

Motor trade is con artists with suits

Need a bigger brush there for that sweeping statement? Not everyone in the motor trade is a con artist. While there are crooks in every game there are also some decent people in the motor trade too.

Stallingrad

visual wrote: »

Why even give it a 2nd thought walk away

We didn't and we did.