Bought a bad car...

Mark Donnelly

hi i purchased a 2017 car in February and it has been nothing but grief, has been back to the main dealer 6 times all for electrical issues and now today the clutch pedal fell to the floor and the car will not start.. just wondering if anybody has any experience dealing with a situation like this.. car has 41000 miles on it and was registered in may 2017,

ill also add that i only got the car back from main dealer 2 days ago after them having it for more than 10 days..

Doff

Is it still under warranty?

Car99

What model?

Mark Donnelly

yes car is still under warranty, it is a 2017 astra 1.4 turbo petrol

Cee-Jay-Cee

Personally i'd bring it back and get a refund.

Mark Donnelly

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Personally i'd bring it back and get a refund.

do they have to offer me a refund or a replacement or is it up to garage?

Del2005

Mark Donnelly wrote: »

do they have to offer me a refund or a replacement or is it up to garage?

Any repair should be permanent and the fact it has been back so many times would imply they haven't been permanent. They still have the other 2 R's which is replace or refund. Read the consumer advice website and the sales of goods and supply of services act, then calmy explain why you want a refund not a replacement. But it is still a negotiation.

colm_mcm

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Personally i'd bring it back and get a refund.

Easy as that.

Mark Donnelly

i would happily take a different car to the same value as i payed for the astra, still waiting since 9:30 this morning for him to contact me, i have tried ringing him several times.

.......

Mark Donnelly wrote: »

i would happily take a different car to the same value as i payed for the astra, still waiting since 9:30 this morning for him to contact me, i have tried ringing him several times.

Main dealer?

Turn up, in the showroom, wait until there are potential buyers there if you can.

And make your feelings known, loudly.

Toyotafanboi

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Personally i'd bring it back and get a refund.

Same as a tub of egg mayo that smells a bit funny after you get it home.

Del2005 wrote: »

Any repair should be permanent and the fact it has been back so many times would imply they haven't been permanent. They still have the other 2 R's which is replace or refund. Read the consumer advice website and the sales of goods and supply of services act, then calmy explain why you want a refund not a replacement. But it is still a negotiation.

I don't think we've enough fact's to say that anything is implied.

To give a better answer, we'd need a much more in depth description of the faults that just "electrical issues".

It's possibly one too many faults, regardless of whether they are repeat repairs or not. Give us a bit more info OP.

Mark Donnelly

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Same as a tub of egg mayo that smells a bit funny after you get it home.



I don't think we've enough fact's to say that anything is implied.

To give a better answer, we'd need a much more in depth description of the faults that just "electrical issues".

It's possibly one too many faults, regardless of whether they are repeat repairs or not. Give us a bit more info OP.

first the back left light cluster stopped working, found to be a bad earth then 3 days after getting it back the right hand side back light cluster stopped also found to be a bad earth then both sides went at once and they said it was something to do with a control body modular (whatever that is), the car then has a screen for radio nav media etc: both picture and sound would go and then return after 50-60 seconds and all data stored on the unit would be lost( paired phone, saved radio stations). interior lights would randomly come on while driving and then not work while the doors are open (yes the switch is set to come on when the doors open). the central locking would only work at times more often then not the key would need to be inserted into car to open or lock.. today the clutch pedal fell straight to the floor while driving and the whole car died.. absolutely nothing working no lights, radio and car will not start... yes the car was purchased from a main dealer

Car99

Tell em you want to trade it back in for another. Same year , same spec.

Shefwedfan

....... wrote: »

Main dealer?

Turn up, in the showroom, wait until there are potential buyers there if you can.

And make your feelings known, loudly.

What exactly will that do? a couple of buyer walk out and the OP ends up with nothing apart from maybe the Garda arriving for disturbing the peace



30 mins later the dealer will be full of other buyers and they will continue on

bucketybuck

....... wrote: »

Main dealer?

Turn up, in the showroom, wait until there are potential buyers there if you can.

And make your feelings known, loudly.

And ring Joe Duffy while you're there.

Technique

Sounds like there may have been water damage in a previous life.

Nikki Sixx

I’ve heard Opels can be a nightmare

Henry Ford III

Document everything. Write to the dealer detailing all the faults and times and dates.

Say that if it fails again you reserve your right to "reject" the car as it's not of merchantable quality.

Mention that whilst you appreciate their efforts to repair the car there is clearly something fundamentally wrong with it that doesn't appear to be fixable.

Nikki Sixx

Reading this thread I’m wondering is there any advantage to buying from a garage. If you buy privately you pay less at least, same risk as buying from garage.

Toyotafanboi

Nikki Sixx wrote: »

I’ve heard Opels can be a nightmare

Definitely a contributory factor here IMO, new Opels are lacking in quality.

Nikki Sixx wrote: »

Reading this thread I’m wondering is there any advantage to buying from a garage. If you buy privately you pay less at least, same risk as buying from garage.

That's not really accurate though. If OP bought that car privately, he'd be on his own now, paying for repair after repair himself and if he got sick of paying for repair after repair, there's nothing he can do.

He's bought from a garage and although the car is failing. The warranty is paying for repair after repair and if the OP feels like it needs to many repairs relative to its age/ price then they have avenues they can pursue to get some kind of satisfaction.

It's much much safer than a private sale and that is particularly obvious when you do end up with a troublesome car.

Damo 2k9

My Mam had the very same problem with a 2016 Nissan Pulsar, had specifically said she didnt want an ex-rental (later found a sticker mark for 'Diesel' you would see on rentals) when buying the car (cash) and one which would be reliable, she had nothing but trouble with oil leaks, electrics etc the list goes on. The garage in question is very well known and although they tried everything to fix the car to a reliable standard, the faults were too much and they ended up replacing it with a slightly better spec.

Hopefully you get sorted OP, some solid advice above.

Shefwedfan

Damo 2k9 wrote: »

My Mam had the very same problem with a 2016 Nissan Pulsar, had specifically said she didnt want an ex-rental (later found a sticker mark for 'Diesel' you would see on rentals) when buying the car (cash) and one which would be reliable, she had nothing but trouble with oil leaks, electrics etc the list goes on. The garage in question is very well known and although they tried everything to fix the car to a reliable standard, the faults were too much and they ended up replacing it with a slightly better spec.

Hopefully you get sorted OP, some solid advice above.

A lot of cars now have that sticker, doesn't have to be a rental

DelBoy Trotter

Technique wrote: »

Sounds like there may have been water damage in a previous life.

That was my first thought also

Mark Donnelly

trying to ring the dealer this morning, but the owner isn't taking phone calls he is in meetings all day even doe he said he would make contact first thing this morning... getting really pissed off now with it...

.......

Shefwedfan wrote: »

What exactly will that do? a couple of buyer walk out and the OP ends up with nothing apart from maybe the Garda arriving for disturbing the peace



30 mins later the dealer will be full of other buyers and they will continue on

The creaky wheel gets the oil.

Perhaps you dont have experience of how to effectively complain?

The OP has tried to phone and is being ignored. He cannot be ignored in person.

You think that making a complaint equates to the criminal act of disturbing the peace!!!??! Seems a bit of a leap to make!

I can guarantee you the OP will get more satisfaction out of a direct face to face confrontation rather than being fobbed off by phone every day.

I dunno when the last time you were in a car dealership was but in my experience they are rarely "full" of customers and are usually desperate for a sale.

grogi

Nikki Sixx wrote: »

Reading this thread I’m wondering is there any advantage to buying from a garage. If you buy privately you pay less at least, same risk as buying from garage.

Very little advantage, especially while buying from an independent garage. The only thing that comes to my mind is financing.

The money is way better spent on buying privately and scrutinising the car at trusted garage.

grogi

Nikki Sixx wrote: »

I’ve heard Opels can be a nightmare

As with any other car brand.

.......

grogi wrote: »

Very little advantage, especially while buying from an independent garage. The only thing that comes to my mind is financing.

The money is way better spent on buying privately and scrutinising the car at trusted garage.

Eh, warranty, financing, you are covered by consumer law and not caveat emptor.

Its MUCH safer to buy from a decent garage.

grogi

....... wrote: »

Eh, warranty, financing, you are covered by consumer law and not caveat emptor.

Its MUCH safer to buy from a decent garage.

That's the difference between theory and practice. Should it all be Hunky dory, we wouldn't get the constant ingress of threads here...

U_Fig

grogi wrote: »

That's the difference between theory and practice. Should it all be Hunky dory, we wouldn't get the constant ingress of threads here...

It won't stop these things from happening but the difference is that you have legal comeback if it's a garage as they have to abide by the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services act.

The consumer protection agency could be contacted if need be to assist in a case and if failing that legal action could be sought against the company.

Buying privately limits this and you rarely have a leg to stand on.

.......

grogi wrote: »

That's the difference between theory and practice. Should it all be Hunky dory, we wouldn't get the constant ingress of threads here...

Yes but you at least have an avenue to follow up as opposed to caveat emptor.

percysugden

All nissans have sticker on inside of fuel filler door stating DIESEL or UNLEADED. IF the sticker is on outside of fuel filler then it is a rental

Shefwedfan

....... wrote: »

The creaky wheel gets the oil.

Perhaps you dont have experience of how to effectively complain?

The OP has tried to phone and is being ignored. He cannot be ignored in person.

You think that making a complaint equates to the criminal act of disturbing the peace!!!??! Seems a bit of a leap to make!

I can guarantee you the OP will get more satisfaction out of a direct face to face confrontation rather than being fobbed off by phone every day.

I dunno when the last time you were in a car dealership was but in my experience they are rarely "full" of customers and are usually desperate for a sale.

I guess you don't live in Dublin so :P


Shouting and roaring like an idiot will get you nowhere. You only look like an idiot and lose all chance of actually working with the dealer. Also you do that you have lost the high ground, now you are just a ranting and raving idiot. You try to escalate and the garage just points out that you started roaring and shouting in the middle of a showroom.



What satisfaction are you going to get from face to face? if they wont answer on the phone they are hardly going to hand him/her a free car because they walk in the door and start shouting.



If it was me I would go direct to Opel Ireland and find out what they say. Also put a call in SIMI Ireland and find out what they say?


Give my solicitor a call, get him to write a letter, also explaining that any further legal costs will have to be paid by the garage.

.......

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Shouting and roaring like an idiot will get you nowhere. You only look like an idiot and lose all chance of actually working with the dealer. Also you do that you have lost the high ground, now you are just a ranting and raving idiot. You try to escalate and the garage just points out that you started roaring and shouting in the middle of a showroom.

Its gas, not once have I suggested shouting. Or roaring. Or ranting. Or raving. Or behaving like an idiot. I challenge you to point out where I advised that in my previous posts? You wont be able to because these are all words you have used to "redescribe" my suggestion of making an complaint in person. Perhaps thats how you are used to behaving when you complain?

You dont seem to understand that a complaint can be made without someone (a) shouting and roaring or (b) causing a criminal disturbance or (c) ranting and raving.

I genuinely dont know what kind of a world you live in that these are the conclusions you jump to when you see someone advise a complaint in person. I live in a civilised one myself, and find your associations very amusing.

bucketybuck

....... wrote: »

Its gas, not once have I suggested shouting.

....... wrote: »

And make your feelings known, loudly.

We get people like you in from time to time. You get treated accordingly.

Shefwedfan

....... wrote: »

Its gas, not once have I suggested shouting. Or roaring. Or ranting. Or raving. Or behaving like an idiot. I challenge you to point out where I advised that in my previous posts? You wont be able to because these are all words you have used to "redescribe" my suggestion of making an complaint in person. Perhaps thats how you are used to behaving when you complain?

You dont seem to understand that a complaint can be made without someone (a) shouting and roaring or (b) causing a criminal disturbance or (c) ranting and raving.

I genuinely dont know what kind of a world you live in that these are the conclusions you jump to when you see someone advise a complaint in person. I live in a civilised one myself, and find your associations very amusing.

As per you comment, I copied it below in case you forgot.....

A person ranting and raving is all the employees and customers will see....

I already gave my advice to the OP, none of those suggestions required talking loud or waiting till you had a large crowd.

....... wrote: »

Main dealer?

Turn up, in the showroom, wait until there are potential buyers there if you can.

And make your feelings known, loudly.

Shefwedfan

bucketybuck wrote: »

We get people like you in from time to time. You get treated accordingly.

Rightly so, at the end of the day it's a job for the employees. Why should they go to work and expect to get shouted at.....


Some people just are incapable of having an adult conversation and come to an agreement

.......

Shefwedfan wrote: »

As per you comment, I copied it below in case you forgot.....

A person ranting and raving is all the employees and customers will see....

I already gave my advice to the OP, none of those suggestions required talking loud or waiting till you had a large crowd.

Yes - you complain in a nice clear carrying voice. Dont whisper. That is NOT ranting and raving - not in any sense at all. Think of it as you would an instructor addressing a group of people, an air hostess addressing people on a flight, someone addressing you down the telephone from a help line. Any of these situations = ranting and raving? Not at all. Honestly, if you think making a nice clear complaint = ranting and raving I dont know how else to explain to you why its not. But maybe you need to educate yourself on how to behave respectfully, yet with confidence and authority. You seem to think complaining in person means shouting. I suppose if thats how you learned to complain then its not your fault. Its not how I learned to.

Bonus points if there are other people around as that will assist the person you are addressing the complaint to to act - no one wants potential new customers to overhear the complaints of a previous customer.

Shefwedfan

....... wrote: »

Yes - you complain in a nice clear carrying voice. Dont whisper. That is NOT ranting and raving - not in any sense at all. Think of it as you would an instructor addressing a group of people, an air hostess addressing people on a flight, someone addressing you down the telephone from a help line. Any of these situations = ranting and raving? Not at all. Honestly, if you think making a nice clear complaint = ranting and raving I dont know how else to explain to you why its not. But maybe you need to educate yourself on how to behave respectfully, yet with confidence and authority. You seem to think complaining in person means shouting. I suppose if thats how you learned to complain then its not your fault. Its not how I learned to.

Bonus points if there are other people around as that will assist the person you are addressing the complaint to to act - no one wants potential new customers to overhear the complaints of a previous customer.

If you back track any faster you are going to trip over.....:p


It's up to the OP but at the end of the day the manufacturer will need to be involved so I would make a direct line to them. As per my comments above

dmcsweeney

Mark Donnelly wrote: »

first the back left light cluster stopped working, found to be a bad earth then 3 days after getting it back the right hand side back light cluster stopped also found to be a bad earth then both sides went at once and they said it was something to do with a control body modular (whatever that is), the car then has a screen for radio nav media etc: both picture and sound would go and then return after 50-60 seconds and all data stored on the unit would be lost( paired phone, saved radio stations). interior lights would randomly come on while driving and then not work while the doors are open (yes the switch is set to come on when the doors open). the central locking would only work at times more often then not the key would need to be inserted into car to open or lock.. today the clutch pedal fell straight to the floor while driving and the whole car died.. absolutely nothing working no lights, radio and car will not start... yes the car was purchased from a main dealer

Not to be an alarmist, but did you get a history check with the car. If I was having electrical issues, especially with earth problems, I'd be checking to see if the car had been flooded at some point. Find any silt anywhere?

Panic Stations

Bought a 07 bmw two years ago from a dealership.

Caused nothing but hassle. Went back to the dealership 3 times in the first month with problems.

After the 3rd time I said to them if I had to send it back again they can keep it and I want a full refund.

Needless to say it went back a few days later and stayed there. Got my money back no problem.

If it's causing you that many problems already I'd send it back. Not worth the hassle and worry.

BarryD2

Mark Donnelly wrote: »

hi i purchased a 2017 car in February and it has been nothing but grief,,,.. car has 41000 miles on it and was registered in may 2017.

Are you happy that the mileage and year of registration add up? Other wear & tear? Service history?

Mark Donnelly

dmcsweeney wrote: »

Not to be an alarmist, but did you get a history check with the car. If I was having electrical issues, especially with earth problems, I'd be checking to see if the car had been flooded at some point. Find any silt anywhere?

Hi I done a full history check before I purchased the car everything came back clear... no found no silt anywhere in car..

The dealer has offered me a car as a replacement to the same value

Mark Donnelly

BarryD2 wrote: »

Are you happy that the mileage and year of registration add up? Other wear & tear? Service history?

About 30000 miles in the car which seems to be ok? And a full main dealer service history. Dealer has taken the car back and offered me a replacement to the same value I paid for the astra in February

Shefwedfan

Mark Donnelly wrote: »

Hi I done a full history check before I purchased the car everything came back clear... no found no silt anywhere in car..

The dealer has offered me a car as a replacement to the same value

Fair play to the dealer.....

Terrontress

Mark Donnelly wrote: »

About 30000 miles in the car which seems to be ok? And a full main dealer service history. Dealer has taken the car back and offered me a replacement to the same value I paid for the astra in February

You should call out the dealer name for good service.

Mark Donnelly

this is the 4th car i purchased of this dealer and his after sales service has always been top notch, but never had a car with as many issues as the astra, but he has offered me a car to the same value. the car i choose will be ready this week he is just getting it serviced and valeted for me.. i will name the dealer if it is allowed on this site..

my3cents

Mark Donnelly wrote: »

this is the 4th car i purchased of this dealer and his after sales service has always been top notch, but never had a car with as many issues as the astra, but he has offered me a car to the same value. the car i choose will be ready this week he is just getting it serviced and valeted for me.. i will name the dealer if it is allowed on this site..

Here Your best and worst customer service experiences [rant & praise]?