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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New (used) car woes - WWYD?

36 replies

MimiArm · 07/11/2022 22:00

We purchased a 2018 Volvo XC90 from a dealership 10 days ago and it cost £33k. We need the space it offers as need to fit ourselves, baby car seat, pram, 3 dogs (though they are rarely all in car at the same time - usually just the little one but on occasions all 3), and have room for a passenger from time to time, some bags, etc and this fits the bill with 7 seats and loads of boot space.

Yesterday we were making a long journey and an error appeared - (turtle symbol - reduced engine performance). The car lost its power but can still drive, albeit with zero power and high revs.

I called the dealership this morning and it's been booked in to have it "fixed" on Wednesday. I've to bring the car to them which means us driving our old car down tomorrow night and parking it there (100 mile round trip) so that when I leave the Volvo in, I have a car to get home in. If it gets fixed, it will mean 4 round trips to get both cars back home again.

I took the Volvo out earlier today to get some shopping and I could barely get it up a long steep hill as the power is pitiful and I started to get more angry about this and the hassle it will be in getting the Volvo there (and leaving it there and being able to get home).

We have 6 months warranty but I don't trust this car now, especially with a 16 week old
Baby on board, and am now considering sending an email tonight requesting a full refund (I've researched and it seems I'm entitled to one as it's within 30 days - but the dealership could very well refuse and drag this out).

I'm torn on what to do. Do I ask for refund and try to find something else, or do I let them try to fix it. This model has all the extras that I wanted and I can't see any others with that spec - but maybe that's why they were selling it at that price , because they knew it was a dud.

WWYD?

OP posts:
imaditto · 07/11/2022 22:10

Why haven't you booked it into a more local Volvo dealer?

Original poster
MimiArm · 07/11/2022 22:17

Because we only have warranty at the dealership we purchased it from 10 days ago?

OP posts:
bloodywitchescat · 07/11/2022 22:19

Aren't they providing a courtesy car while yours is being looked at?

Frazzled2207 · 07/11/2022 22:22

bloodywitchescat · 07/11/2022 22:19

Aren't they providing a courtesy car while yours is being looked at?

This. I know our dealer has in the past delivered a courtesy car to our house when taking our car away. So it was practically not really much of a bind at all.

Lanneederniere · 07/11/2022 22:23

We have two Volvos. I would absolutely demand a refund for this problem; it is probable that the previous owners offloaded it for this reason.

We innocently believed that any main Volvo dealer would be trustworthy, but have come to realise that not all of them are. The dealer from whom we bought one car is good, as is the dealership where we now take our cars for servicing and MOTs, but the one from whom we bought the other car is shocking (with two branches in our area).

I would try to find out the name and contact details of the owner of the dealership and address yourself to this person.

PM me for our full story if you wish !

bozzabollix · 07/11/2022 22:31

I’d have the car relayed over for a start, if it’s lost power so much it’s barely making it up a hill then I’d argue it’s undriveable.

Think once you’ve lost confidence that’s it.

Original poster
MimiArm · 07/11/2022 22:33

@bloodywitchescat @Frazzled2207 - They won't provide a courtesy car. They gave me the other of waiting two weeks for the next "waiting appointment" or making my own way home this Wednesday. But that's not really the point of my post - just a major pain the ass along the way of my dilemma.

@Lanneederniere Thanks for your reply. My feeling is that I should get a refund whilst I'm entitled to one. There is another Volvo dealership (a bit further away again) but they offer 2 years warranty (as opposed to the 6 months we got), 30 day return no quibble policy, etc, and so I feel more comfortable investing £30k odd with them and like we would have good recourse. It's a shame though as the one we have now has all the extras and the "better dealership" doesn't have any in stock the same spec. Though, better to have a working one!

OP posts:
Original poster
MimiArm · 07/11/2022 22:36

@bozzabollix Thanks. The issue is that, as far as I'm aware, legally if I let them try to fix it first and it then breaks again, I'm no longer entitled to a refund (my husband knows a lawyer and gave him a call). I'm also aware that when they plug in the laptop, they can clear the fault but it's likely to keep reappearing every 3 months and power loss, etc.

OP posts:
fernfen · 07/11/2022 22:49

OP I'd be looking to get my money back and find something more reliable.

Perhaps something like a Toyota Proace Verso. All Toyota's now come with a 10 manufacturing warranty or 100,000 miles depending which is first. You only need to get a service at a Toyota approved dealer each year to get 12 months warranty every year. For both old and new cars.

Might be worth thinking about.

londonrach · 07/11/2022 22:52

Try and get your money back ..you lost confidence in this car

morekidsthanhands · 07/11/2022 22:54

We bought a second hand car that broke down on the drive home. Dealer refused a repair or refund. Was a nightmare. Ended up using the can't pay we'll take it away people to reclaim through high court.

Good news is the dealer is offering a repair. Personally I would take that but call back and say it isn't driveable in its current state so either they need to collect it or you get it transported and they reimburse you.

Yes you do currently have rights to a refund (I'm not sure if it's 14 or 30 days though).

Within 6 months of purchase any issues it is on the dealer to prove that the issue wasn't there at the time of purchase. After that it is your responsibility to prove that the issue was present at purchase. I found all this online at the time.

Cuddlesinthekitchen · 07/11/2022 22:56

I have a 2016 Volvo v40 and had this Turtle light come on. There was a split in the air flow? pipe. The pipe was replaced and I have had no further issues.
I completely understand wanting a refund though considering the amount of money you have spent on the car.

Yoloohno · 07/11/2022 23:21

Well that’s shocking service.

I had my clutch go 5 days after buying a 3 year old car.

my dealership couldn’t have been more different, they got my car recovered to the garage, we were given a courtesy car the next day, it took a few days for parts but they replaced the whole clutch, some other issues were rectified that may have been a future problem.

if they can’t agree this minimum I’d be asking for a refund and my car cost a lot less than a year’s average salary.

adiosamigoo · 07/11/2022 23:23

Yes get your money back
its not worth the anxiety you’ll have

Winterscomingagain · 08/11/2022 00:16

My car did this after being filled with some dodgy fuel. It went into limp mode and basically behaved like your car. It seemed to be a relatively easy fix and was sorted out at one of those places where cars are remapped. It wasn't covered under the warranty as it was fuel related.
I'd be very concerned about driving your vehicle in that mode on any busy roads.Mine struggled on very rural back roads and it certainly wouldn't have been safe on a busy road.

Frazzled2207 · 08/11/2022 10:04

Ywnbu to get a refund on the car

shocked that the dealer are not bending over backwards to help you out

whatever1980 · 08/11/2022 10:18

I think the car is tainted for you now whatever happens - get a refund even for peace of mind as £30k is a lot

imaditto · 08/11/2022 10:38

MimiArm · 07/11/2022 22:17

Because we only have warranty at the dealership we purchased it from 10 days ago?

Did you buy from a Volvo dealer, what company is the warranty ie is it car care plan etc

If either of the above you can take the car to any Volvo dealer/ vat registered garage for repairs

19lottie82 · 08/11/2022 10:45

You are legally entitled to reject the car and get a full refund, the dealer won’t like it, but stand your ground.

littleworld187 · 08/11/2022 10:46

With an engine management light on you shouldn't be driving the car at all

It should be transported on a truck

GasPanic · 08/11/2022 10:50

For wanting it replaced YANBU.

For driving something like that in the first place YABU.

GrumpyPanda · 08/11/2022 10:56

I wouldn't accept a repair. Dealer sounds rubbish.

Original poster
MimiArm · 08/11/2022 12:14

Update: I sent the email first thing this morning asking to exercise my right for a full refund under Consumer Rights Act 2015. Dealer replied asking if we would let them collect vehicle and diagnose fault before making a decision. I asked if we would still be offered full refund if we allow them to do that and they said yes and that they will extend warranty to 12 months.

Then it went pear shaped. I asked about the warranty and stated that I noted it states a max claim limit of £2,000. They replied and said that it's "up to £2,000 or retail value of the car so it's very good". I replied that it states "up to £2,000 or retail value of car, whichever is lowest".

They've just replied "sorry, yes. I will offer you a higher warranty claim limit of £5,000 with a different company that we've just partnered with. Can we come collect the vehicle?".

That just put the nail on the coffin for me - a genuine (or not) fault is one thing but trying to pull a fly one - nah!

OP posts:
nannyquestion1 · 08/11/2022 12:24

Garages/dealerships are legally obliged to give you two years warranty so don't listen to them on offering less.

OhILoveDoughnuts · 08/11/2022 12:49

Don't you have a 14 day cooling off period?

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