Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New car stopped working : (

77 replies

redlondonbuses · 21/01/2018 08:41

My mum bought a second hand VW golf last weekend from a trader advertised on Autotrader, it's had two owners, all service history, seemed all above board. However she drove home yesterday and it stopped working, pulled over called RAC who plugged it in to electrical test and said it will cost over £1000 to get it fixed.

My mum was going to have it checked by RAC prior to purchase but didn't, she also didn't purchase the warranty. Why on earth she didn't do either I honestly don't know (I despair). The seller has said he will look at it tomorrow but does anyone know what her rights are, does trading standards have any guidelines as to 'cooling off periods' for car purchases? She paid by debit card (I said should have been credit).

My mum doesn't have much and has had the most unbelievably awful few years, has just left her abusive partner etc etc, I don't know how much she can cope with and I'm trying to pick up the pieces with her all the time and this is just another thing we do not need : (

OP posts:
FancyThatFenceEdge · 21/01/2018 09:38

Also, dont buy a VW.

They are shit.

MrDirtyBear · 21/01/2018 10:12

Amen to that. Really overated, trading on its reputation for 30 years.

Youngmystery · 21/01/2018 10:27

I didn't get a warranty on a car I had and it stopped working 2 miles from the garage. Turned it off and it wouldn't start again.

The garage has to fix it for free or you can demand the money back. We went back in and the garage started arguing with my dad about it, so I just went over, pointed at the manager and started saying very loudly (as there were customers in) that he was going to fix the issue, give the car another full service and fix another couple of non technical issues all for free or I wanted my money back in a week. He just nodded and took the keys.

You have to be firm with these people. If there are customers in, make your voice louder but dont shout. He has no tights and has to fix the car or give the money back. I would be getting the money back though, a golf dying like that is not right, golf's tend to be better made than that. If it's older than 2010 especially don't keep it. The engines aren't as good.

Youngmystery · 21/01/2018 10:29

Rights not tights! Grin

thenightsky · 21/01/2018 10:36

I had a very similar experience to ElsieMc. The garage took my car for 'repairs' and kept it for two weeks. every time I rang up they said they were working on it, or waiting for parts, or .waiting for the 'right' tools Hmm. It got very close to the 30 day deadline which was their plan I reckon. I also drove past (in DH's car) almost every day going to work and my car had not moved from where I'd parked in down the side of their showroom!

Don't get another VW. As a PP said, they are shite these days and have been coasting by on their good name from 30 years ago! Buy Japanese if you can. I've never had issues with Japanese cars, even my 11 year old one I drive at the moment.

FancyThatFenceEdge · 21/01/2018 10:59

Only exception to Japanese cars is Nissan, whose shitty build quality and low-rent French electrics make them as shit as pretty much every German-marque you can think of.

Far better alternatives out there if you look. Even Ford Focus' are better than a Golf! And they're shit too!

Rumbaintheraindrops · 21/01/2018 10:59

We are taking a well known dealer through the small claims at he moment as the clutch and gear box failed in our car after four months. They said is was totally driver error but have been told by a lawyer that the judge will more the judge will take in account the mileage when we got it and the mileage we have done and make the dealer pay the main bulk.

Rumbaintheraindrops · 21/01/2018 11:00

The dealer was awful and rude just didn't want to know. It's a big dealer as well. When it's all done I will be more then happy to name and shame

thenightsky · 21/01/2018 11:03

Sorry yes... what FancyThatFenceEdge says... Japanese cars are good APART from Nissan!

(Subaru driver here).

notapizzaeater · 21/01/2018 11:20

Stand your ground, I'd record it as well just in case you need it in future

FancyThatFenceEdge · 21/01/2018 11:26

thenightsky

Subaru's are brilliant too!

AllButterShortbread · 21/01/2018 12:14

You don’t have to accept the offer of a repair though, you can demand the money back.

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 21/01/2018 20:59

Just a quickie to say thanks again for all your posts, sorry to hear so many have experienced similar things but heartened to hear that it has worked out for many. My mum is feeling better although is dubious as to whether it will work out with the refund, am trying to keep her spirits up. Will update once we have been to see the dealer to let you know how we get on with the refund.

OP posts:
TrinitySquirrel · 21/01/2018 21:13

The seller will have bought it at auction and it was probably a trade-in because the original owner knew it was going to be fucked and need repairs soon. They should have also sold it with 12m MOT. Also did they say exactly what was wrong with it?

I can tell you if the repair price is accurate if you can tell us?

yerbutnobut · 21/01/2018 21:57

Speaking from experience, warranties on used cars of a 'certain age and mileage' aren't worth the paper they are written on so don't fork out extra for these!
Dealership definitely has obligation to offer repair or refund within a week of purchase as the car obviously isn't fit for purpose, at this stage it's their responsibility to prove it was fit for purpose i.e did they service it or have it MOTd upon receivership before selling on, they need to be transparent about this.

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 24/01/2018 18:12

Quick update: the car has been returned, he's signed a receipt stating he now has possession of it but is saying he has tested it and there is no fault. We have supplied proof of RAC report showing fundamental gearbox failure. He's refusing to refund. Next step threatening legal proceedings against him. All a bit grim : (

OP posts:
c3pu · 24/01/2018 18:49

Is it a DSG gearbox?

AllButterShortbread · 24/01/2018 20:14

How can he say there’s no fault when you had to get it towed?

safariboot · 24/01/2018 20:28

To be fair, I wouldn't trust the RAC report. When I had them out to jump my car because the battery was flat because idiot me left the headlights on, they tried to sell me a replacement battery for about double the normal retail price, and said that if I didn't replace the battery they wouldn't cover any future battery-related callouts. Bullcrap - I'm still using that same battery and have had no problems with it.

The car is definitely faulty and the dealer definitely has to fix it or refund though. But exactly what's wrong and how much it really costs to fix could be something quite different to what RAC man said.

It's hard to tell if the dealer honestly can't find the problem (intermittent faults are a thing and a pain in the arse) or is just being a bullshit scammer, but my hunch is it's the latter.

Remember if you get nowhere with the dealer, then if you paid even partly by credit card you can claim a full refund from them. I think I'd only take that option if the dealer vanishes or stonewalls you.

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 26/01/2018 07:32

We took the car test results to an independent garage who have said its a £3.5k gearbox failure. We also went to CAB who were very helpful and gave us a template for a letter of intent which we are posting recorded delivery today.

My mum is terrified that she will lose all the money she paid and reassuring her and keeping pursuing the refund is getting me down. I think the dealer thinks that we don't know our rights even though we have sent clear emails stating that we do. I think he thinks we will back off and go away. FFS Angry Sad

OP posts:
AllButterShortbread · 26/01/2018 10:13

What a mess. Your poor mum. Keep on at the dealer. Good luck Flowers

eleflump · 26/01/2018 21:58

That sounds so stressful - really hope you manage to get it sorted and hope your mum is ok - keep going, he shouldn't be able to get away with this.

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 29/01/2018 08:44

Morning all! Another quick update, on Friday the seller agreed to a refund of almost the total paid (less £350) my mum agreed to this providing it was paid by COB. Needless to say it wasn't paid on Friday. We have also seen that he has resisted the car at the same amount my mum paid, so he's trying to sell a car that has been proven by two sources (one RAC diagnostic, one independent garage) as having a failed gearbox, do you think I should report this to someone? Police even? It was very fortunate that my mother was able to control the vehicle on a busy roundabout when the gearbox failed, it was very dangerous and she could have been injured or even killed had it happened at high speed on a motorway for example. I am worried it will fail on someone else again when he sells it.

Grateful for all of your kind comments and support and as a result of your recommendation for Japanese cars we are now looking at Honda Civics for her and not VW's.

OP posts:
FiveGoMadInDorset · 29/01/2018 08:54

Report him to trading standards and start going through small claims court which we did against the garage that sold us our car.

eleflump · 29/01/2018 10:09

Hi - I would definitely report the car - possibly after you get your money back though? He definitely shouldn't be allowed to do this to someone else - hope you get the refund today.

Swipe left for the next trending thread