Trying to buy a Renault Scenic

clongal

Hi all

any advice or help very much appreciated. I'm a car buying novice.

I'm upgrading a 2002 OPel Zafira.

Went up to Cork to a "reputable" - they have 4 big showrooms and seemed very professional - dealer on Thursday Feb 4th and test drove a 2012 Renault Scenic Tom Tom. It was on sale at 15,950. Liked the car and they said they'd give me 750 against the Zafira and book NCT etc which had just come due on the Renault in January. Told me I'd be able to pick it up following week once it had had 120 point check etc. I agreed and gave 500 deposit against the final price of 15,250. I left the Zafira there as it was just coming out of NCT and I didn't want to have to test it. Expected to be picking up Renault early teh following week and could cope ok until then.

Phoned on Monday 8th to find out what the expected pick up date was and when the NCT was booked for. Salesman couldn't tell me so I phoned direct to the woman who was supposed to be looking after NCT. She hadn't heard anything about it and hadn't started any booking. I was annoyed at this as I need the car and I felt they weren't moving it through so I phoned the section manager to find out what was happening. He had salesman call me back to say they were fastracking into NCT and I should be able to pick up on Tuesday or latest Wednesday.

I phone on Tuesday at 2.30 to find out whether it'll be ready that day or the next. Salesman tells me he doesn't know yet. When asked when he will know he says 11am Wednesday (HUH??!)

Phone on Wednesday and tell him I can't come to cork anyway til Friday so can we agree everything will be ready by 12 noon Friday. He says that's fine.

I don't hear anything so phone at 5pm Thursday just to confirm pickup on Friday at 12pm (as I need to arrange lift to Cork etc) but no it won't be ready now as it's failed NCT due to wheel alignment problem so needs adjustment and retest. They might be able to have ready for me by 5pm Friday but then I'll have to bring it for NCT retest myself.

I really don't want to have to bring a car I've just bought for NCT retest, I want to pick up a fully NCT passed car so I tell them that and ask when it'll be done and ready for me to pick up. They can't say.

Now it's Monday morning, a full 11 days after I put the deposit on the car and I still have no car and no idea when I will be able to pick it up. They said they'd phone me this morning with an update but no word yet so I suspect it will be me ringing them again and doing all the running.

Am I right in thinking this unreasonable? What should I do now? I've left my old car there but I'm wondering if I should just tell them I'm going to look elsewhere and go pick it up.

I'm getting nervous about the car anyway as I was surprised a 4 year old car coming from a major dealership who say they check it thoroughly would fail the NCT in the first place - should I be worried?

Any help or advice very welcome - I'm getting really tired of not having a car and constantly chasing these guys now

Thanks!

kerten

You can always contact sales manager and tell him that you will be there 3 days later sharp to either collect the your own car and deposit or the car they are trying to sell with a valid NCT certificate.

As long as you play nice, you will need to chase them.

clongal

Thanks Kerten - At the moment I am planning to ring later today and tell them the deal is off or we need to renegotiate price and agree fixed date for collection. I'll also look to see who the general manager is as we asked the sales manager to call us this morning even if no update just to keep us posted but he hasn't bothered so might be getting time to escalate again as this can't be seen as acceptable service

kerten

With their track record of failing to deliver on agreed dates, I wouldn't discuss a date again unless you really need to buy this particular car.

Such approach means ou are actually just pushing for delivery not thinking of walking away.

You can always discuss a new date later if you see some progress.

clongal

thanks, that's useful too. You are right I suppose.and I don't absolutely need this car at all. I can go up tomorrow or Wednesday to get the other car back if necessary. I'm away after that (had hoped to be driving the new car away but I suspect
that won't be the case now)