To have reservations about the car I’ve bought Dd.

[CovidCorvid]

Bought Dd a 2014 Skoda Fabia from a local established dealer. Got 29,000 miles on the clock. We are meant to be picking it up tomorrow.

I’ve paid a 1k deposit, bought insurance and the insurance on her current car runs out tomorrow as I cancelled it.

I did notice the other day when I did an mot check that this car even with it’s low mileage has failed it’s mot every year which worried me. But it seems to be mainly tyres, windscreen wipers, once too much play on the handbrake and twice “pitted brake discs”. But figured this stuff is wear and tear and will have now been replaced. You can tell the things have been rectified as it fails then passes a week later.

It failed it’s mot last week which the garage was putting it through on wiper blades and got advisory about two tyres and brake discs being pitted again.

I emailed the garage and said I want the tyres replacing and I’m worried about the brake discs. They replied saying they’ll put tyres on, obviously the wiper blades and service it to look at the discs more. Now they rsng today and told Dd she can’t have the car tomorrow as it’s failed it’s mot again due to “lights on the dashboard” and they need to send it to a specialist which will take a week,. They’re going to get Dd a courtesy car.

Surely a Skoda with such low mileage shouldnt be having all these issues? If I cancel the new insurance policy now I will have to pay a penalty…but not sure for the sake of £100 I should cancel the purchase or not?

@CovidCorvid I've a Ford focus and the LEDs go on the dash in my model (common fault). Get the garage to fix that for sure. It cost me £150 to get it fixed but it's better the garage does it before you pick it up otherwise could be argued not road worthy.

Tyres definitely need doing, as do brakes.

When you pick the car up I'd check oil and coolant levels, also oil should be dark golden not black. Check tyres have been replaced and check the dash lights are working (use indicators, etc to make sure all do)

I think if you're having concerns you should pull out. However, you also have consumer rights buying it from a dealer. Within 30 days of actually having the car you can return it and request a refund. You don't have to accept their offer to repair it. I had a car totalled (cam belt snapped) 5 days after purchasing it from a dealer. It was a 'mare. However, MOT's really don't mean much as I have my car serviced a month before the MOT so it's always clear. I would pull out on the dash issues though.

@ForeverSausages

I think if you're having concerns you should pull out. However, you also have consumer rights buying it from a dealer. Within 30 days of actually having the car you can return it and request a refund. You don't have to accept their offer to repair it. I had a car totalled (cam belt snapped) 5 days after purchasing it from a dealer. It was a 'mare. However, MOT's really don't mean much as I have my car serviced a month before the MOT so it's always clear. I would pull out on the dash issues though.

Thanks. That’s useful to know about the 30 day period.

What am I hoping to achieve from this thread? Well general advice, helping me think things through I guess. Even though some people have said walk away I’m also reassured by points others have made about the discs been due to the car not being used much. The worst thing is thjs dashboard issue but if they can sort that properly then as long as it’s unlikely to happen again I’m just hoping it will be ok.

The point about a car passing every mot not meaning much is a good one….my car sails through it’s mot every year but I get it serviced on the same day so I suppose they just sort anything out beforehand!

As it stands Dd doesn’t have a car after 10am today. In an ideal world I’d have lots of others to choose from but this is genuinely the Best Buy in a 30 mile radius from a small selection. Second hand car buying is a bonkers business at the minute, prices through the roof. Apparently buyers are trying to gazump other buyers….ringing up dealers and when hearing a certain car has just been sold offering more money!

Wow! My car has done 140k and passed its Mot last week with no advisories. I'd definitely walk away.

Just out of interest, what engine is it? If it's a 1.6 diesel then avoid like the plague. Terrible and problems with the fuel and exhaust systems failing on that particular engine.

1.2 petrol

I'm probably in the minority but low mileage cars don't appeal to me. I always buy used but buy something that has done at least average annual mileage each year and is used daily.
I bought a used fiesta once with low mileage and although I didn't pay a lot for it it was soon clear that it had been sat around for a long time and barely used. Had so many problems with that. My current car is an s max and it bought it with above average miles when it was 8 years old. Its been a dream

@CovidCorvid

1.2 petrol

Should be fine then