To ask what the fairest thing to do in this situation?

[StarOf]

Long story short, I’m looking for options please as to what you think.

Sisters car broke down. Garage said she needs a replacement xyz (can’t remember the ins and outs so abc & xyz is used) it will £1050. Sister agrees.

They call back and says it still won’t start so now needs another part repaired abc £400. Sis asks if that’s everything and the person says yes that’s it. Sister agrees thinking that’s it and its cheaper than a new car.

Mechanic has phoned her saying that abc can’t actually be repaired. It can’t be replaced either as her car is no longer made (2009 reg with 69k miles on clock)

It’s basically a write off so she’ll need to by a new car.

Where the heck does she stand regarding this payment? They did replace and fix the first part for over a grand but the car isn’t drivable or sellable so worthless.

She’s hardly got any money - probably wouldn’t pass the finance check so not sure what she’ll do.

Surely she can’t be expected to pay over a thousand on a car that is going to be scraped…… WTH would you do?

I would take it to a different garage, to a mechanic that knows what they're talking about.

Interested in the verdict. I had something similar once but the cost was only £40 then they couldn't fix another thing so car was scrapped. I just paid but felt annoyed that they had fixed one thing before checking the other thing. Appreciate it's less money than this case!

They should be able to take the parts off and return them.

Like @PrincessTeaSet, this has previously happened to me but with a far smaller amount (under £50) so I just paid it. Assuming the initial repair was done in good faith, it's a tricky question.

Why would you just assume the mechanics don’t know what they are talking about, how very odd,

The problem with that is she can’t drive it as it’s not working. By the time she pays for pick up truck to take it, it’s another £200. If that garage says the same then she’s even more out of pocket for nothing. What a carry on

Most cars unless very rare can have generic parts used, or you got o a scrapyard and take parts of the same car. I'd get a second opinion.
An experienced mechanic would know if parts could be sourced before starting a job like this.
What was the repair?

F

Although an 09 plate is getting on a bit, 69,000 miles should mean the car has some life left in it surely. If the average is 12,000 per annum, it’s below that.

The trouble is, she could be sending good money after bad. Even if the car isn’t a current model, are there really no spare parts still manufactured?

Could she find out whether it’s possible to get the spare part needed still, via websites or something? It’s very hard to pay out money and the car still be faulty, but they did fix that part. What I’d take issue with, is telling her the different part would be £400 and then saying it can’t be sourced. That doesn’t seem right.

Sorry didnt read it - garage cant be asking 1500 to leave it undriveable!

I'd be taking it to another garage for a second opinion. Frankly, their saying that they can't get replacement parts because the car is no longer made is BS because you can get after-market parts anywhere and even genuine parts at scrapyards. It's probably more a case of they'll say it has to be scrapped and she doesn't have to pay them anything then they'll fix it themselves and sell it for profit. Unless it's something to do with the ECU / computer then you're better off getting a new one because fixing that isn't cost effective.

Without knowing the parts needed, this is often the way of it with old cars. Regardless of mileage it's 15 years old. It's not so long ago that cars were pretty much a write-off at ten years old.

It takes time for a mechanic to diagnose a problem, should they do this for free? They've bought the first set of parts, should that be free because there's another problem? Often looking at one problem turns up another. They fixed the first problem, found the second.

Your sister needs to find out what the parts are that's needed. Ask if non-OEM versions are available, and also if it would be possible to source a used but serviceable part from a breaker.

No car from 2009 is unfixable. This garage is incompetent, take it somewhere decent. I'd try and have a grown up conversation with the bad garage.

The second job was something to do with the onboard computer.

Again, it just needs someone who knows what theyre doing - an auto electrician. THis garage should be putting you onto somewhere.

What car is it?

That’s what I said, it should have a few more miles yet.

The £400 was to do with the computer. The garage said they could source another…

She gets legal advice and tells them to hold on until she's had it.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/buying-or-repairing-a-car/problems-with-a-car-repair/#:~:text=Report%20the%20garage%20to%20Trading,report%20them%20to%20Trading%20Standards.

I think she’ll have to pay something but not £1050 for a car that is not drivable and according to them, can’t be fixed.

Well presumably the replacement xyz hasn't been used and can be retrieved by the garage, it hasn't been used they can use it next time its needed. She may still have a labour bill -but doesn't seem fair to me she's paying for a part that she was told she needed, that didn't fix anything, it hasn't been used, and is unneeded now if they cant fix car.
Aside from that regarding what is she going to do , she probably needs to get her fact sorted out, and talk to another mechanic see can he order the part she needs elsewhere, maybe talk to a mechanic that specialises in her car make, as they may know alternative car sources, he probably doesn't need to see it if she has all the correct info. I do think it's worth getting another opinion, as mileage is low. I have a friend who's hobby is doing up old cars and there are multiple sites he uses for car parts, often brings in parts from abroad, will know when x model car ceased they used the same engine from W car and headlights form Q car.

It can always be fixed, it just needs the right guy. All parts can be replaced and recoded by the right people.

The garage should be doing more to help you out. If it's out their area of expertise then they should be helping your friend find another guy who can fix it. Theyre not helping themselves asking for 1050 for a lump of scrap as anyone simply wouldnt pay it and would leave the car there!! Theres no point paying that plus trailer fees to transport a lump of metal home that serves no purpose. I'd try and have a sensible conversation with the garage, come to some sort of resoultion rather than getting angry with them.

The garage is the main dealer in the area which is frustrating as they’re the ones that are supposed to know 🫣

You’re right about the part that was fixed, they should be able to retrieve and use it.

And what about all the money the OP’s sister has spent? Presumably the new mechanic will want paying on top of that.

Firstly, if you have the details, people may be able to advise which bits of the garage's story are plausible/reasonable. By details I mean:

• The make/model/variant of car
• What the symptoms of the original fault were
• What "abc" was, which £1,050 was quoted to replace
• What "xyz" was, which an additional £400 was quoted to replace. You mention a computer, do you mean an ECU?
• What thing they're now saying is wrong (and cannot be replaced)
• How much of the £1,450 that they say is due for the repairs already done is parts, and how much is labour?

As well as posting that here, it could be worth asking the same on an online forum for that model of car - however they're likely to be a lot less patient if there's a lack of detail & drip-feed.

Secondly, have you/she already complained to the garage manager/owner? If so, you may have options for taking this further:

• If it's a main dealer, you may have scope to complain to the manufacturer
• If it's part of a chain, you may be able to complain to their head office
• If it's an independent specialist with a good reputation, they'll want to avoid damage to that reputation
• If they're part of some kind of approved garages scheme, you may be able to complain to that scheme.

Ahhh main dealer that explains it then. Main dealers bloody useless with older cars. They can fix it better than anyone but it'll probably cost thousands. TBH knowing that your friend should go in there, and loudly kick off and not leave until she's got a resolutiuon she's happy with. They wont want someone in there being loud and angry. They'll sharp find a solution! The take it to a respected local garage/auto electrician who can fix it.

Anyone reading - dont take any car over 10 years old to a Main Dealer!!!!

No, odd is the mechanic saying a part for a mass produced 2009 car cant be repaired or replaced due to no longer being produced.

That is very very hard to believe.