Consequences of pulling out of new car deal?

Nonoperational

Appreciate opinions on this...

New car ordered November. Told would have first week of Jan once they figured out build week. January came, no word from dealer. Phoned and he phoned back saying end of week. End of week came and went. No word. Phoned start of next week, told few days. Few days came no word. Called again and dealer "busy" never returned call.


I know this sounds precious, but is it too much to expect that they'd keep you in the loop once or twice a week when you're shelling out €42k? Especially when it was promised first week of January.

On top of this, when I purchased the car and shook hands, talked the deal through with 2 people (sales and finance) and paid deposit, they phoned me and said they underestimated the monthly repayments by €120 a month. No apology, no sweetner, just take it or leave it.

To be honest I'm getting sick of them and have my eye on a 141 somewhere else. What happens if I tell them I've enough of them?

Thanks

mickdw

Nonoperational wrote: »

Appreciate opinions on this...

New car ordered November. Told would have first week of Jan once they figured out build week. January came, no word from dealer. Phoned and he phoned back saying end of week. End of week came and went. No word. Phoned start of next week, told few days. Few days came no word. Called again and dealer "busy" never returned call.


I know this sounds precious, but is it too much to expect that they'd keep you in the loop once or twice a week when you're shelling out €42k? Especially when it was promised first week of January.

On top of this, when I purchased the car and shook hands, talked the deal through with 2 people (sales and finance) and paid deposit, they phoned me and said they underestimated the monthly repayments by €120 a month. No apology, no sweetner, just take it or leave it.

To be honest I'm getting sick of them and have my eye on a 141 somewhere else. What happens if I tell them I've enough of them?

Thanks

How could anyone, never mind a professional car dealer miscalculate a monthly payment by 120 quid.
As the customer, surely that figure must have looked wrong as well?
Regards pulling out, I figure if the car is not turning up on planned date and you still have no confirmed date and they are not returning your calls, surely You can walk away and get deposit back.

Lellostag

Nonoperational wrote: »

Appreciate opinions on this...

New car ordered November. Told would have first week of Jan once they figured out build week. January came, no word from dealer. Phoned and he phoned back saying end of week. End of week came and went. No word. Phoned start of next week, told few days. Few days came no word. Called again and dealer "busy" never returned call.


I know this sounds precious, but is it too much to expect that they'd keep you in the loop once or twice a week when you're shelling out €42k? Especially when it was promised first week of January.

On top of this, when I purchased the car and shook hands, talked the deal through with 2 people (sales and finance) and paid deposit, they phoned me and said they underestimated the monthly repayments by €120 a month. No apology, no sweetner, just take it or leave it.

To be honest I'm getting sick of them and have my eye on a 141 somewhere else. What happens if I tell them I've enough of them?

Thanks

What does it say in the contract about cancelling the deal? Perhaps there are some clauses you can point to showing that they have not kept their end of the bargain?

Nonoperational

It did look cheap, but I asked them twice if the figures were ok on two separate days. It was only after I paid the deposit they phoned and basically said this is the new deal take it or leave it.

Re the delivery, I have nothing written down about the delivery date, but I was told week one Jan or middle of week 2 latest. Heard nothing since. Despite calling. I got some story about the docks in Dublin and the floods when I called after Christmas. It is possible I'll hear from them tomorrow or Thursday, but if another week passes I'm tempted to walk away.

I have no contract or order confirmation. Just the deposit receipt with the incorrect remaining balance written on it. Asked for an order spec and they emailed me "161GTD with alcantara".

To be honest I'm not impressed with the service. First new car and all that precious nonsense.

jca

Tell them to shove it, an extra €120 pm along with messing you around, they must think it's 2006 again.

Nonoperational

jca wrote: »

Tell them to shove it, an extra €120 pm along with messing you around, they must think it's 2006 again.

I'm just afraid I'll not see the deposit.

Ordered a GTD but typically of me I now think I want an A4 or A6 Sline. I know it's stupid, but this wouldn't arise if they could keep to the delivery date or even gave me a phone call once a week with a realistic ETA.

I understand it's probably outside their control, I'm not annoyed about the delay, it's the attitude and ignoring my calls.

Toyotafanboi

I don't know how anyone could expect you to swallow the story that a car ordered mid November and didn't even have a build week assigned could be ordered, built, shipped, transported, pdi'd and registered over a period of just 4 working weeks during the busiest sales period of the year and the holiday season and be waiting on the forecourt January 1st.

I could be wrong but it seems unreasonable. A car in stock at the distributors, likely, but a car not even built yet?

Bigcheeze

So in reality the car is currently 3 business days late? Sounds like you're just eager really to get it and are getting easily frustrated, which I fully understand as everyone looks forward to a new car.

Chances are there's a backlog of cars in the country waiting to be distributed to dealers. I was in Airside yesterday and the place was full of car transporters un-loading stock. Two were unloading just land rovers.

jca

Nonoperational wrote: »

I'm just afraid I'll not see the deposit.

Ordered a GTD but typically of me I now think I want an A4 or A6 Sline. I know it's stupid, but this wouldn't arise if they could keep to the delivery date or even gave me a phone call once a week with a realistic ETA.

I understand it's probably outside their control, I'm not annoyed about the delay, it's the attitude and ignoring my calls.

How much of a deposit did you give them?

Neilw

Ask the dealer for the comm number for the car, all they have to do is enter that to see what the status of the car is.

If it was ordered in November, I'd say you are looking at early next month for delivery.

Nonoperational

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I don't know how anyone could expect you to swallow the story that a car ordered mid November and didn't even have a build week assigned could be ordered, built, shipped, transported, pdi'd and registered over a period of just 4 working weeks during the busiest sales period of the year and the holiday season and be waiting on the forecourt January 1st.

I could be wrong but it seems unreasonable. A car in stock at the distributors, likely, but a car not even built yet?

Arrived in Dublin Jan 1, it was a week before that he told me end of first week or middle of this week latest. Ordered Nov 5.

Bigcheeze wrote: »

So in reality the car is currently 3 business days late? Sounds like you're just eager really to get it and are getting easily frustrated, which I fully understand as everyone looks forward to a new car.

Chances are there's a backlog of cars in the country waiting to be distributed to dealers. I was in Airside yesterday and the place was full of car transporters un-loading stock. Two were unloading just land rovers.

Yeah that's very true.

jca wrote: »

How much of a deposit did you give them?

€500

Neilw wrote: »

Ask the dealer for the comm number for the car, all they have to do is enter that to see what the status of the car is.

If it was ordered in November, I'd say you are looking at early next month for delivery.

It's in Dublin since Jan 1. Build week was 50.


To be honest I didn't expect it this soon, but he told me and I sold my own car privately as a result of what he said. Anyway, it's not the fact that it's delayed that's annoying. To be honest I fully understand it. Its the non-communication and the ignoring of calls.

JoeA3

Dealers are all the same in this regard (poor communication) in my experience, some slightly better/worse than others.

If you pull out, you do risk losing your deposit, whatever that is. The dealer could legitimately argue that you've left him with a high end car that he might struggle to shift. But seeing as it's a GTD and you haven't gone to town on optional extras, that argument from them would be weak.

VW is typically 11-12 weeks from order to delivery. If you only ordered in November, they were unrealistic telling you you would have it first week in Jan. It should certainly be in the country before the end of the month. Once it lands in, allow a few days, maybe even a week for it to arrive at dealers and then another 1-2 days until you can collect.

Of course early January is the craziest time of the year for new cars and this year it would appear the boom times are back. VW dealers use one particular distribution company (NVD) so the dealers are at the mercy of their trucks / schedules.

MuppetCheck

The delivery time seems optimistic tbh unless they had something like it ordered. I'd be inclined to agree with the above, the car could be a while away.

It's shoddy from the dealer avoiding the topic.

Nonoperational

It's in Dublin since Jan 1st... You're right, he is blaming NVD.


Thanks for the input. I'll hold off until the weekend and think again on Saturday.

As an aide, what do ye think of these....

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/audi/a4/used-2015-152-audi-a4-2-0-tdi-150hp-s-sligo-fpa-201114431766042210?SOURCE_ID=SOURCE_ID_FPA_FROM_FEAT_LIST

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/audi/a6/used-2014-141-audi-a6-2-0-tdi-s-line-limerick-fpa-200714526056596620

MarkN

I'd tell them to stick it. No room for that carry on anymore. Get another GTD from someone else. Tell them you'll take them to the small claims court if you don't get your 500 quid back. Terms of the deal have greatly changed by that increase in repayments too. Walk away.

mickdw

Nonoperational wrote: »

It's in Dublin since Jan 1st... You're right, he is blaming NVD.


Thanks for the input. I'll hold off until the weekend and think again on Saturday.

As an aide, what do ye think of these....

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/audi/a4/used-2015-152-audi-a4-2-0-tdi-150hp-s-sligo-fpa-201114431766042210?SOURCE_ID=SOURCE_ID_FPA_FROM_FEAT_LIST

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/audi/a6/used-2014-141-audi-a6-2-0-tdi-s-line-limerick-fpa-200714526056596620

Thats the outgoing A4 so I think you would be mad.
A6 is far more car for the money anyway.

carsfan

It sounds like your car is only a few days away at this stage. if you are stuck for transport as a result of selling your car, why not ring the dealer and ask for a loan car until they have yours ready? You could also explain that you are unhappy with the level of service so far and ask for a goodwill gesture to compensate also?
If you really don't want the car, however, you should say it sooner than later and walk away but I would be surprised if you got the deposit back.
I don't think they would have trouble selling your car however as it sounds desirable so they probably won't pursue you beyond the deposit but who knows until you tell them?

FrontDoor

Unless I am doing my sums wrong, this car would be home and VRTd for ~35k.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201506234573356

Considering your own is sold, I'd be off on a jaunt. Surely some manufacturer warranty on it still.

The one in Limerick for 41.5 is at a fair premium.

Either way, I'd much prefer one to a GTD or an A4.

Nonoperational

Ah ya, I mean there is the typical second guessing myself going on too, but I was genuinely disappointed with the service. A quick call or text "very busy in Dublin, may be a week or two, sorry" and I'd have no issue.

FrontDoor

FrontDoor wrote: »

Unless I am doing my sums wrong, this car would be home and VRTd for ~35k.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201506234573356

How did that get out of the factory without fog lights?! :rolleyes:

John_Rambo

Nonoperational wrote: »

Appreciate opinions on this...

New car ordered November. Told would have first week of Jan once they figured out build week. January came, no word from dealer. Phoned and he phoned back saying end of week. End of week came and went. No word. Phoned start of next week, told few days. Few days came no word. Called again and dealer "busy" never returned call.


I know this sounds precious, but is it too much to expect that they'd keep you in the loop once or twice a week when you're shelling out €42k? Especially when it was promised first week of January.

On top of this, when I purchased the car and shook hands, talked the deal through with 2 people (sales and finance) and paid deposit, they phoned me and said they underestimated the monthly repayments by €120 a month. No apology, no sweetner, just take it or leave it.

To be honest I'm getting sick of them and have my eye on a 141 somewhere else. What happens if I tell them I've enough of them?

Thanks

That's major!! Bloody hell, along with the emotional commitment (and there is buying a new car) that's a massive massive game changer. If you have documentation on the original payments and you're "manly" enough to swallow the bullet and get the 141 reg car I'd insist on the original payments and make it known to them you're willing to walk away from the new car. They might meet you half way.

Best of luck. I hope you end up with the new car and reduced payments or the 142 and a satisfied mind.

carsfan

The A4 you linked would be the older model now and was never known to be a great drive.
The A6 is a complete barge in comparison to a GTD. I don't mean that as a criticism but it would be a totally different experience. More refined but feels way bigger and less a drivers car. I think a brand new GTD will be a nicer and cheaper car to own unless you need the space/prestige.

It's unusual to get buyers remorse before you've even got the car!

JIdontknow

Can't believe they miscalculated by 120 a month, that's 1440 a year, say it's 5 years payments that's 7200, no fcuking way they got it that wrong!!! I'd be turning around and walking away,at the very worst case scenario leave them keep the deposit, yes it's 500 (only 1.23% of 40,500) but it's only 4 months of the increased payment, 120 extra every month is a big burden on the repayments, plus you seem unsure of the car you've chosen and tempted by others (as previous poster said buyers remorse before you get it), last thing you want is get it and say what if and change it in favour of something else in a few months. If you want to change your mind then I'd be trying to get out of it on the 120 extra a month aspect, AFTER everything was agreed and deposit paid.

bazz26

Deleted User wrote: »

How did that get out of the factory without fog lights?! :rolleyes:

They are built into the headlights on the S Line model.

Have to laugh at the spec on the A6 though, mid size exec car for 42k and doesn't even have heated front seats.

JIdontknow

MarkN wrote: »

I'd tell them to stick it. No room for that carry on anymore. Get another GTD from someone else. Tell them you'll take them to the small claims court if you don't get your 500 quid back. Terms of the deal have greatly changed by that increase in repayments too. Walk away.

Personally I'd have to agree here... If they are doing this before you've even gotten the car what will it be like if you've a warranty issue or problem with the car?? I'd even sacrifice the 500 in the bigger scheme of things if needs be, in fact if I was still set on that make and model i'd go to another dealer and get it there, maybe even try use that situation as some leverage.

vintagevrs

Before GTD was mentioned, I was going to ask is it a VW.

If you're no longer fussed on the car, walk and tell them they have failed to deliver and get deposit back.

It's a shame how they do things, I thought the new car buying experience would be great, it was terrible. Delays and lack of info, updates or customer service in general.

I emailed VW weeks ago asking about activating "app-connect" on my Golf. No reply for two weeks so called them. Told him I emailed two weeks prior and no response. He sounded surprised as if I was making it up. Sure enough found my email and told me all I needed to do was speak to my retailer and they would sort it. I explained why this wasn't the case as I had done that and they hadn't a clue. He then told me what he just told me was wrong and it was due for release soon. My email was with the "products team" and they would get back to me shortly. No response still and that was about 6 weeks ago.

They are piss poor. It's a shame as some of their cars are decent.

Nonoperational

Food for thought.

The gas thing is initially I got them another sale too by recommending them to a friend who was also buying a new car. Was all set to buy it up the country and I got her to change to my dealer. The salesman I had at the time was nice and excellent to reply to emails, he has since moved on.

They also around Christmas time, mistakenly sent my friend an email of all the names and addresses of everyone who bought a new car from them since October, along with what they purchased. No follow up email informing me of the data protection breach.

The thing is I really liked the GTD when I was researching it originally. I think I'm just fed up of the dealers attitude. I think I'll wait and see if they call before the weekend. When all this is done and dusted, whatever happens, I'll be sending a letter to them. They'll probably laugh and throw it in the bin, but it's worth saying. Between my friend, myself and servicing of my old car with them, I will have added around €80k to their coffers directly. I don't want a pat on the head every morning but at the same time I expected better.

John_Rambo

vintagevrs wrote: »

Before GTD was mentioned, I was going to ask is it a VW.

Ha! Not the shining example of transparency and truth in the automotive industry at the moment either! You'd imagine they'd be bending over backward to accommodate the loyal spenders!

carsfan

My experience of ordering new cars has been that once they have the order signed up they become less interested.
Stands to reason as I suppose they are intent on their next deal and you are Already in The bag.
It seems this year is turning out to be a big one in car sales and as a result I expect dealers attitudes may deteriorate back to the way they were when they were order takers as opposed to sales people.

Drummerboy08

Is it a dublin based dealer do you mind me asking?

I'd know people at management level in 3 of the dublin dealers and I know that this would be taken fairly seriously. It might be worth considering calling and speaking to the sales manager or dealer principal.

VW dealers are heavily dependant on customer satisfaction to qualify for end of year rebates so it's in their interest to get this sorted for you.

IMO the dealer should give your deposit back if that's the route you decide to take, they'll know they're at fault for not being able to supply the car at the time originally quoted.

Nonoperational

Not a Dublin dealer.

I think regardless of what I decide to do, I'll ask for a chat with the sales manager. Between the mis-calculation, the pretty serious data protection breech that was swept under the carpet, and the poor communication and missing of delivery date it's worth at least seeing what they have to say.


I'm generally very tolerant, but expect a certain level of politeness and communication when you spend a decent amount of money. As I said, if they phoned me first week of Jan and said that it could be a month coming down from Dublin at least I'd know the lie of the land.

vintagevrs

Problem is the buyers expectations, me included. You are buying a car and it is a significant purchase. 2nd biggest thing after a house for most people so you naturally expect to feel like a valued customer in some way.

Reality as mentioned above is once you're deposit is down, you're in the bag and the next sale is their focus. Which is understandable but still poor form. However, my experience from VW Ireland was that they had zero influence on when a car will be built and that they didn't even know the info themselves. Call your dealer, get an answer. Call VWCS get a different answer. Call them next day, different answer. I picture them playing minesweeper and laughing at the fools like me calling for info that they pull out their arse. One employee told me it takes 12 weeks for the car to be built, as in the production of the car itself from galvanising the shell to checking the tyre pressure when they roll off the line was 12 weeks! I queried this and said I thought it was more like 2 to 3 days and was told no, it's 12 weeks. No idea how they have people like that working for them.

Anyway, I now have the car and don't have to deal with them anymore.

Drummerboy08

To be fair, once the car lands off the ferry it would take a week to 10 working days max to reach the dealer.

I'm getting them within a week off the ferry right now, with the same transport company.

Voodoomelon

All other things aside, I don't think anywhere up to a fortnight late for a new car is unreasonable. Especially considering the comparatively low turnaround time from the start.

Nonoperational

Voodoomelon wrote: »

All other things aside, I don't think anywhere up to a fortnight late for a new car is unreasonable. Especially considering the comparatively low turnaround time from the start.

Neither do I to be honest. I suppose I'm just a bit sour over the whole sequence of events.

Micky 32

vintagevrs wrote: »

Before GTD was mentioned, I was going to ask is it a VW.

If you're no longer fussed on the car, walk and tell them they have failed to deliver and get deposit back.

It's a shame how they do things, I thought the new car buying experience would be great, it was terrible. Delays and lack of info, updates or customer service in general.

I emailed VW weeks ago asking about activating "app-connect" on my Golf. No reply for two weeks so called them. Told him I emailed two weeks prior and no response. He sounded surprised as if I was making it up. Sure enough found my email and told me all I needed to do was speak to my retailer and they would sort it. I explained why this wasn't the case as I had done that and they hadn't a clue. He then told me what he just told me was wrong and it was due for release soon. My email was with the "products team" and they would get back to me shortly. No response still and that was about 6 weeks ago.

They are piss poor. It's a shame as some of their cars are decent.

A friend bought a Golf. The bluetooth didn't have voice activation but something came up about contacting a VW dealer on the screen. Did so and they gave him the runaround, no communication etc kept having to ring. When they finally did ( after he threathened to give a bad review when VW rings him about the dealer experience) the dealer told him he had to pay something like 300 euro for a code to activate it LOL

_Kaiser_

To be honest OP it sounds to me that despite the increased repayments, the delays, the piss-poor service, and the fact that you're having second thoughts about the car itself... you're going to stick with it regardless.

I think you should walk away if for no other reason than the first and third points above but the point that you're considering something like an A6 (a completely different beast!) as an alternative is a big warning sign - what if you follow through, get the car in the end and then decide that you really should have gone for the A6?? You'll have serious buyer's remorse then!

My advice would be to cancel the deal and get your deposit back.. have another spin in all 3 cars you've mentioned and then start afresh with a new dealer once you're sure you know which one you want.. For the record I'd be taking the A6 every time myself

Rob C

Some dealers are better, BMW dealers to be fair seem good. As a Dubliner, I use a BMW dealer in the west as their customer service is outstanding. I ordered a car in October, it was a special APR deal at the time, 3.9% from BMW finance usually they're 7.9%. But I had to order the car then as the deal was expiring and meant I'd have a 152 car. No problem, it's PCP and really, model years go from summer to summer. The car was meant to be here in early December but the weeks slipped by, but I was kept fully up to date. I got the call before Christmas then that it would now be early January. The issue was the APR deal would not apply in January! So I could have been screwed, facing much higher monthly payments. There would have been holy war as no way would I accept that.

But the dealer was very good and pleaded my case to BMW finance and they agreed the deal would apply in January so in the end I collected my new 161D car last week in the Wesht. So it can depend on the dealer, forums like this can be useful as you can find out which dealers to use and which ones to avoid, they're not all the same.

carsfan

BMW are advertising 3.9 per cent apr on 161 1,3 and 5 series models on their website at the moment.
Have to agree though re. BMW dealer being good at customer service generally but then you do pay enough for it.
We bought a new BMW last year and got messages without asking for them when car was going into production, leaving the factory, arriving in Ireland etc.

Ron Burgundy II

I ordered my golf start of November for build week 51 (Christmas Week) for delivery to the dealership this week. I've been told its in Ireland and just waiting on the transporter, which takes three days from requesting delivery to arrive in the dealership. I assume this is due to shear volume NVD have to deal with, they factor in lead in times.

But OP you shouldn't be waiting till the end of the month, hopefully its only a matter of days.

I found the garage I'm dealing with to be good, gave me a call last week to inform me the car should be with them this week and explained the process involved in getting the car ready for me. They kept me up to date this week, but unfortunately no sign of the car still waiting on NVD or who ever they use to deliver. Or so they say.

Rob C

carsfan wrote: »

BMW are advertising 3.9 per cent apr on 161 1,3 and 5 series models on their website at the moment.
Have to agree though re. BMW dealer being good at customer service generally but then you do pay enough for it.
We bought a new BMW last year and got messages without asking for them when car was going into production, leaving the factory, arriving in Ireland etc.

I understand the manufacturers are now very hard on dealers. The manufacturers dictate how the dealers showroom looks, how much space they have to have how much and what kind if equipment they have etc. Some BMW dealers can't stock Mini as they simply don't have the mandated space BMW demand for the separate Mini area. A few dealers dropped Mercedes as they were issuing very strict demands, one dealer I know was told he had to buy a range of certain equipment for the service department. One unit was incredibly expensive and might have a need once a year to be used, bit there was no debate, you had to have it or no Mercedes franchise for you.

It's good for customers as they're pressing home customer service and will follow up with you after you buy a car from a licensed dealer.

I believe Toyota and Lexus are excellent in this regard. Audi/VW have always been hit and miss imho.

All customers want is to be informed when buying. It's surely not difficult. Just email them and give them updates, send them the chassis number so they can track the car themselves online. It's an exciting time, everyone loves new car day, so dealers need to appreciate that and make it special for new owners. It doesn't cost anything.

MarkN

Rob C wrote: »

But the dealer was very good and pleaded my case to BMW finance and they agreed the deal would apply in January

IMO that would've been their problem. If you signed the deal and paid a deposit or whatever when you did, it would be very bad service if they said tough, you're paying the higher repayment.

I assume by the rate running out it's a 4?!

Nonoperational

Thanks for the thoughts.

Sat into a golf again today and to be honest I really like them. I may or may not have a look at that A6 at the weekend I'll see. The ETA is now Tuesday with NVD being blamed.

I sent an email anyway with my concerns to the general manager, sales manager and VW Ireland. Although I doubt they'll care.

Nonoperational

Nonoperational wrote: »

Although I doubt they'll care.

They will if you mention that you're pulling the plug!

carsfan

Well did it arrive?
Are you taking it?