Is the car dealer in the wrong here?

Right, I think I knew that somewhere in my head. It sounds like hassle to me… but I like massive heavy old cars- can’t stand feeling like the car is driving me not the other way round.

Ah ok. The DW’s car is always brand new but makes no claims of the 0-60 variety (she is all about the size and butchness of cars and cares not for speed) so I haven’t come across it.

My car is quite new by my standards- 16 years old… first time I’ve had a less than 20 year old car so I don’t have bells or whistles (or central locking).

Take it back to the person you spoke to, ask them to show you where CC is.

I actually found CC on a car I had for 5 years on the way to part ex it ! Never used it on any car.

So you slow down by breaking?

Unless you have it in writing it's a bit he said she said.
Look up the spec of the car and it'll tell you on there

I use it on motorways so I can take my foot off the pedal.

@CantHoldMeDown lol, all my cars are cheap 2nd/3rd hand runabouts so clearly very different to ones being built and imported 😂

What is launch control?! I don’t think I’m buying the right sort of cars or driving right!

@savoycabbage @MossGrowsFat can I ask in a genuine way what you use CC for/why you like it?

I know what it does and have it but I’ve never used it because I don’t think I really understand the benefits of it?

(My car has all these bells and whistles and alerts and options but I just ignore it all and drive like I did in my first fiesta 20 odd years ago! I feel like maybe I’m missing out on something)

I would hate not to have cruise control. I use it all of the time.

I agree with people saying you need to make absolutely sure it doesn't have it.

Are you sure it doesn't have it? Have you checked the manual?

@CantHoldMeDown don't have any of those either and there's no way they'd let you take a car off for three hours either!

@DeliciousApples has suggested a perfect non confrontational approach. Cars these days have so many features, all in different places, and they don't come with handbooks any more, so it's not unusual to go back to ask where to find something.

We don't have access to a 70mph road unless we drive far too far for a test drive here! 60, yes. 70, nope!

You should try it.

Cruise control is something I also want in a car.

I used CC on motorways and 20mpg roads. In fact it is the endless, completely empty, 20mph roads near me that make it essential.

If you asked specifically and were told it did then go in and speak to the Sales Manager. The fact you purchased on finance could be in your favour as there's another level to complain to (there are legal responsibilities when a finance or credit card company are involved with a purchase). It might be worth taking someone in with you for a bit of support - not an easy situation to navigate even for someone a bit older. It doesn't matter why you want cruise control, you asked and were told it did so that constitutes miss selling - I would look closely at what you do have first to make sure it's not all that manufacturer has in terms of cruise control just in case.

I suspect this sort of thing happens all the time. I've just bought a car. The salesman was young and inexperienced. A couple of times I just wasn't happy with what he was telling me
and asked to speak to his manager, who sorted it out straight away.
When I went to pick it up one major agreed job hadn't been done and he didn't even tell me until I asked why it wasn't in the log book. Again, his manager sorted it out.
None of this was in writing but although I got the impression that they hoped I'd forget about it, there was no attempt to deny what had been said or to wriggle out of it because it wasn't written down. You haven't got anything to lose by speaking to the head of sales, explaining what's happened and asking him how he plans to fix it out. You can always raise a formal complaint if you don't get a satisfactory response.

The CC may be operated in a counterintuitive (to you) way, and you just haven't worked it out yet. New cars can take some adjusting to.

I bought one a couple of months ago, and checked with the salesman that it had a heated steering wheel, but didn't test it for myself. When I got it home, I couldn't find the control for it anywhere and was on the verge of taking it up with the dealership... until I found it hidden away in a menu somewhere, in a place that feels totally illogical to me (but clearly the engineer thought was sensible).

The salesman also told me it had contactless phone charging, which was a feature of no consequence to me. This one I can't find anywhere (I can see where the phone would go, but it definitely doesn't charge when I put it there). I couldn't be bothered to quibble that one.

I had a 'right to return' for 30 days. Didn't need to give any reason. Did you buy from a main dealership, as I'm sure they all have something similar.

(And to all those who haven't tried CC - it's really handy! I use it more for areas where the speed limit is lower than you'd like , 50 or 60 MPH dual carriageways for example. I can see why OP wanted it if she was used to it).

I'd go back, get the save guy, say 'remember you said the car had cruise control, I can't seem to get it to work could you show me please'. Sit back and wait to either have him show you or admit it's not got it.

I think you'll have it. I don't see why they'd put one in and not the other. It's the same stalk.

But if it doesn't happen be sure prior what you want to do. Return the car? If it's good in all other ways it could be better to keep it?

How often would you use cruise? (I almost never use it, maybe one a year but others could use daily in a long commute).

I use cruise control all the time, and it would be a major consideration when buying a car now. The road from my home to the nearest town. Just 7 miles. goes from 20, to 30, to 40. Then 50, then 40, then 30 then 20 then 30. The dual carriageway has a 50mph limit. Average speed cameras all the way. If I elect to go on the narrow country road, which is twisty, deep dykes on either side, the limit is 60. So, I set the cruise control at the limit, and then adjust it as I go. If I go on the nearest motorway, ther is 20 odd miles with 50mph limit and cameras. Using cruise control takes the anxiety away of my speed creeping up slightly over the limit. So if I was the OP I would be very annoyed. I would go back and complain. It may be possible to retro fit cruise control. Might not get anywhere, but car salesmen, are not known for sticking to the truth. They usually get paid a low basic topped up with commission so, for some, it is almost anything goes to get a sale. We will be buying probably our last car, in the next few months, and what should be an exciting experience we are dreading, we have just started putting our shortlist together and will check every detail, by test drive, but we know that once in a new car, with a salesman next to us, we will miss some items, and be distracted from any negatives. Good luck.