Purchased a car, lots of repairs done that were not initially mentioned.

Feem96

I purchased a 2012 Volkswagen Golf car from a garage in louth in October 2023.  As of April 2024 I’ve spent €2450 in serious repairs for the car that I was not made aware of before buying. The oil light kept coming on which is when I brought it into a different garage to be looked at as the place I bought it from is 2 hours away. The mechanic also made me aware that the engine is going to go next. I paid (9,000) for the car.

I did not receive a warranty document after the sale of the car either. The seatbelts are also faulty, the unbuckle with any movement made. 

Have I made the mistake of getting the car repaired in a different garage or would there be anything I can do? I trusted buying the car as it is from a garage. I have learned from this mistake unfortunately it was my first car.
can anyone give me advice or point me in the right direction?

Thank you

Kimbot

Well if you got a warranty it would only be an engine/gearbox one and for a car of that age it would have been 3 months only. Did you not get a mechanic to look over the car before purchase?

Brakes dont last forever and need to be changed so I dont really see an issue with them been replaced. Also depending on how much mileage you have done the timing belt kit could also be on you.

User1998

So it seems the mechanic you brought it to has mostly replaced wear & tear items such as timing belt, waterpump, front & rear breaks, glowplugs etc. Only a fraction of the bill seems to be for the issue you presented the car with. Did you give permission for all that work to be carried out?

Its a 12 year old car, that you bought 6 months ago. If it was sold serviced, valeted, new NCT, 3 months warranty etc theres not much else you can expect. It seems like you never actually informed them of the recent issue? But regardless the car would be out of warranty by now.

I would also like to think that any half decent dealer should change the timing belt and breaks before sale, but like I said its a 12 year old car so it probably just passed the NCT and they deemed it fit for sale.

LubaDriver

€9000 for a 12 year old Golf?!

Kimbot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122030893#Comment_122030893

Yes they are mad money the last couple of years.

prawnsambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122030897#Comment_122030897

With 200,000+ kms on it?

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122031527#Comment_122031527

Sounds about right from a dealer, considering it was 6 months ago.

Whocare

Only problem I see is garage you took it to for repairs was very expensive . You haven't leg to stand on by getting it repaired elsewhere should took car back to dealer for repairs but that life I guess went buy from dealer far away

3 Owls in a Coat

It’s not expensive - it’s the sum of the work required including the relatively expensive interval jobs of the timing belt and some sort of cooler. They used a mix of genuine and aftermarket parts which is expected (Genuine for the engine parts, spurious for the consumables) and showed a discount on the OE parts which I presume is a fairly big aftermarket VW specialist as they possibly have buying capacity. The labour rate is very average even if it is at 2 different rates and the invoice is clear and informed. This is assuming that all of the work is required. You need to find yourself a garage that you trust and keep on top of maintenance - don’t let it gang up on you. Having done all this work you may as well fix the seatbelt, go early for your NCTs and remember that VWs are thirsty for oil.

Kimbot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122031527#Comment_122031527

Yes, I was looking early last year to replace my 12 golf that I wrote off. To replace like for like (200,000 miles) was approx 9-10k, the market for second hand cars is nuts.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033323#Comment_122033323

To be fair, I sell low mileage 2012 Golfs for less than €8,000. My GF sold a low mileage 2012 for €7,000. I think OP just made the mistake of over paying from a dealer.

Kimbot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033371#Comment_122033371

I ended up getting something else because I didnt want to spend mad money, 12's that were low price when I was looking were all snapped up by the time I got to them.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033375#Comment_122033375

Yeah sorry I thought you were the OP. Edited my post but you replied too fast😂

muloc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058347323/purchased-a-car-lots-of-repairs-done-that-were-not-initially-mentioned

What garage in Louth was it so I know to avoid as I'm currently looking

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033456#Comment_122033456

I don’t think it would be fair to name them. It doesn’t seem like they’ve done an awful lot wrong? The car was faultless for 6 months and they weren’t even given a chance to rectify the recent issue.

prawnsambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033499#Comment_122033499

That's fair. I wouldn't either. But the "mechanic said the engine was going to go next" bit raised a question mark for me and looking at the invoice "car using a lot of coolant" screams head gasket to me.

Bringing to a different garage was mistake number 2 OP. Mistake number 1 was buying it without making sure either the work was done to a proper standard and in good time already.

I recently bought a car myself and made sure all this work was done before I bought it. Timing belt, oil & filters and brake discs and pads were changed last Friday before I collected Monday & it went for a major service (invoice as evidence as well as the book stamp) in October so all it needs is fuel.

I doubt you’ll get anywhere and if you were hoping to get a refund or free repairs that’s out the window going somewhere else.

also it is very naive to be annoyed the dealer didn’t “mention” that work needed doing. He was never going to tell you the €9k car you’re about to buy is due for a €3k service and repairs job imminently. Thats your own fault I’m afraid OP.

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122033567#Comment_122033567

Why is the engine going to go next? What exactly is wrong with it or are you referring to the coolant? Obviously the mechanic topped up the coolant but when was it last topped up? Was the coolant system pressure tested?

If the mechanic was aware that it was using coolant, why didn't he mention it when doing your timing belt?

prawnsambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034165#Comment_122034165

Um, I'm not the OP. I was referring to what he said the mechanic told him, plus the notation on the invoice about the car using a lot of coolant.

3 Owls in a Coat

They fixed the coolant problem as part of the big invoice. That engine has the same chance as failing as any engine does or doesn’t.

Rows Grower

It's a bit hard to fathom why you actually started this thread to be honest.

If it is genuine request for advice the only thing I could say is (if there is a) next time you go to purchase a car bring someone who knows about cars with you and do a bit of research online beforehand. There are loads of very helpful, very knowledgable posters here on Boards that are always willing to help and advise free of charge.

Offer to pay a local mechanic to come with you and look over any car before you actually pay for it, it'll be money well spent and might even save you money by giving you info to use as a bargaining tool.