Problems with VW

[dkclimb]

Hi guys, this is my first post, shame it isn't more positive.

I took delivery of my Pewter Grey 10 plate 140 diesel two weeks ago and I have to say that I am loving the car. Over the weekend I washed the car for the first time which allowed me the opportunity to get a closer look. I first noticed some over spray (and tape line) on the rubber around the rear left window. Looking closer I found a couple of small dents on the panel behind the passenger door. There is also overspray on the inside of the passenger door and a clear spray line on the sill. The passenger door also doesn't sit flush. So my conclusion from this is that there has been some kind of accident and 'repair' including a respray of the rear panel. To add insult to injury both alloy wheels on the passenger side have been refurbished!

I spoke to the salesman today and his solution was to take the car into the bodyshop and correct the correction! He wasn't going to budge on the alloys though. Apparently, even though they have been redone, they are fine. Now I was told when I bought the car, that it was in "A1 condition" which is clearly not the case. So where do I stand??? Have I got to simply accept the repair of the repair? I am also guessing that this kind of work will have an effect on the resale? I bought the car direct from VW so I didn't have the opportunity to inspect the car before purchase. Am I within my rights to hand it back?

Cheers

DK

[jammyd]

I am not a lawyer and will not profess to knowing enough about the law, but you could have a case under trade descriptions, but then the dealer could also have a case that you had seen and inspected the product. At time of purchase you signed an agreement that sold you the car in the condition that you received it,

As I said I am not a lawyer, and would never want to be, but if you feel you have been mis-sold, I think you may have right to take it back and demand it to be fixe. But the dealer may have the right to say NO!

[joegash]

Generally you would have a 14 day cooling off period with any financial agreement. go through the finance documents with a fine tooth comb as you should be within your rights to hand it back.

[dkclimb]

Thanks guys. Obviously the problem is that I don't really want to hand it back as I like the car. But I didn't pay for what I got which is frustrating when you are paying over £23k for something.

DK

[Shaun]

I assume it wasnt new , was it from a VW dealer ?

[Andy-GTI]

I assume the car is used? As you don't mention this pretty important piece of imformation. . . .

[dkclimb]

Yep, used car with about 11k on the clock. It came straight from VW but through the dealer. They hadn't seen it before I picked it up either.

DK

[Shaun]

^^ So you bought a car you had never seen ?, go back and see what they say, i wouldn't want it TBH !!

[dkclimb]

Yep, a lesson learned there! You assume that if something comes from the dealer that it is all going to be ok, clearly not. They assured me that it would be in A1 condition.

DK

[Shaun]

I am not sure if its covered by the 30 day VW approved used car guarantee but worth a try

[Chungster]

So it's a VW UK fleet car basically that they off load once 12 months/10k miles have been covered.

But yes you really should have given it a good check before handing over the readies

[discowill]

I purchased a car direct from dealer, they said 1 previous owner, I imagined a similar person to me selling the car after a year or so. When I got the V5 paperwork it turned out to be a Hertz rental car! Dealers have lots of secrets!

[dkclimb]

It would seem so. It just leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. This should be a very pleasant experience. You are buying a great car, from a 'good' manufacture. Surely they can't feel good at the end of the day??

DK

[Andy-GTI]

It would seem so. It just leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. This should be a very pleasant experience. You are buying a great car, from a 'good' manufacture. Surely they can't feel good at the end of the day??

DK

Have you never even looked at the standard of used cars on VW dealers forecourts??? They vary masively in standard, from the well looked fater, to the washed with a floor brush types.

Also, The dealer and the Manufaturer are two VERY different things, dealers are franchises, not actually VW.

[maisbitt]

Why did you pay £23k for a 2nd hand Roc (unless it's loaded with options)? You can get a new 140TDI GT in metallic for about £22k if you haggle and are prepared to wait 12-16 weeks for it.

On a second hand car, you pretty much get what you see (unless the defects are hidden). If the repair has been considered "adequate" by the VW dealer, and you can see any apparent defects, you might've been considered to have accepted them, although approved VWs rules for 30 day satisfaction will probably give you far more rights than required by law.

I'm getting a new Roc soon. My part ex appraisal of my Pewter 140 GT was a quick sweep around looking for obvious dents and scrapes (none seen), and they didn't even open the doors for a proper look at the interior. With that level of "inspection", well looked after and poorly maintained ones are equally likely.

Could've had my 09 plate (May 09) Pewter 140 GT (18k miles) with factory parking sensors for a bargain, it will be traded in for a Rising Blue 170 GT in 2 months time. Still could (and it has never been in an accident) possibly if you want to PM me?

Judging by the description of your "repairs", i'd say the the passenger side has been hit, requiring replacement rear quarter panel, and superficially damaging the alloys (had a similar incident with an old Golf of mine). That door alignment wants to be redone to ensure there was no twisting of the door hinges. At the very least you want to ensure any repair was done by a VW approved repairer to ensure your 3 year paint and 12 year anto perforation warranties are intact. Check out the repaired area for correct colour match (usually better on a slightly overcast day).

You also want those refurb alloys checked for balance - thay might have a slight impact warp. I would insist on an alignment check done free of charge too, as alloy damage and a non-unsubstantial repair could have put the alignment out (I would hope it was realigned anyway, but if they can't provide you proof that it was, you need it done again).

[dkclimb]

Thanks for the comments maibitt, very helpful. I'll let you know about your car.

Well I worked it out that I paid about £1300 under the new price.

I'm still waiting back to hear from them. The dealer asked VW for a report on the car on Tuesday, and they haven't contacted me since! I can't say I'm overly impressed with the customer service.

DK

[yellowplum]

How did you pay for the car? Was it financed? Did you pay a deposit? How did you pay for any deposit?

[dkclimb]

The car is financed with a PCP and the deposit was paid with debit card.

[atce]

I purchased a car direct from dealer, they said 1 previous owner, I imagined a similar person to me selling the car after a year or so. When I got the V5 paperwork it turned out to be a Hertz rental car! Dealers have lots of secrets!

Bought mine from a VW dealer and discovered that it too was an ex Hertz rental car when I got the V5 paperwork. Was a bit concerned at first, wondering how it had been treated as I'm sure most people who hire them like to put them through their paces (as I did when I hired one).
However as it is still under warranty, plus the fact that I would have had no idea how a private owner had treated it, I am not really concerned.

[dkclimb]

Hi guys, thanks for all the comments.

Just to let you know that I handed the car back today! They eventually offered me a swap, but I declined. It's a shame to see the car go, but I had had enough really.

There is a nice little video on buying used cars and the rights you have, I found it very useful. I found this link on the trading standards website.

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

DK