To think we may have been sold a dodgy car :S

[sensuallettuce]

Have brought a 2008 (1.9) Passat today from Gumtree - OH is driving DSD's home in it and has called to say its struggling at 50mph and won't go over 70.

He has texted person who sold it to us asking if there is something wrong with the engine they haven't told us about (he did take it for a brief test drive) and they have replied saying it was fine when they drove it yday and its a big car .

AIBU to think we've just piled all our savings into a heap of shit or is there something I am missing? OH getting angry at me expecting me to do something (WTF?).

AI Also BU In thinking there is not much we can do if this is the case? Having read my consumer rights .

We've got a 1.9l diesel Octavia - which is similar size and approx weight I think to a passat and that is quite happy to go up to 70 without any problem at all. Its not overly nippy at it but very respectable about it and you can easily accelerate out of potential problems if you need to.

I would say it depends upon the advert (I hope you've got a copy) as if it says something about how its running you might have some come back?

I have a 1999 Passat which does 100 comfortably - yes I think we have a copy will make sure I go and check the one on eBay now....

You can pay £60 to the AA to thoroughly check a car for you. Whether you'd have any comeback after you'd bought it I don't know. Did you test drive it at 70mph?

You could open A dispute with eBay if the ad was misleading

OH test drove it but not on the dual carriageway - I'm wondering if he's missed something to do with the cruise control.

Caveat emptor.

You can pay for a pre purchase AA check to avoid problems....hope it isn't a problem and maybe think about doing that next time.

Oooh that's interesting thanks v much :)

If it WONT go over 70, as opposed to struggling, then its in 'limp home mode', which means it has an engine fault and shouldnt be driven, other than 'limping home', or to a garage. You will need it plugged in to their computer, and the trip computer will tell the garage what if wrong with it. V.costly though Im afraid

If you can get a refund, please please buy through a garage. You may pay a few quid more, but this sort of shite really makes it worth it.

Haha FEAH, great minds

Agree about "limp home mode". Is there an engine warning light on the dashboard?

We had a Fiat that used do to this often, I remember the first time it happened I couldn't even overtake a 50cc scooter! As others have said take it to a VW garage and ask them to do a diagnostics check and it should tell you what is wrong. Fingers crossed it is only a minor adjustment that is needed.

Buy an obd2 (on board diagnostics) reader from eBay. You can find them for less than £15. Plug it into your car, usually under the steering wheel or google the location of the port then google the codes it gives you. Should save you a load of cash.

Unfortunately for you the car was sold as seen and any faults that occur after the sale or faults you failed to spot before handing over your cash are entirely your problem. If I bought a car from you, left it in first gear and drove it screaming until it blew up, you wouldn't hand me back my money.

Hope this helps

Thanks - have Googled :S Hopefully it's something small he's done 300 miles in it today (not back yet) and he said he stopped and restarted it and it seemed to be performing better.

So hoping we haven't been ripped off

prob could do with a service , esp, filters .....

To get it out of limp mode disconnect the battery for half an hour.

It does sound like limp mode if it resets after restarting. It might not be particularly expensive. When mine did that it just needed a new air filter which only cost a few quid.