Consumer Issues regards car bought yesterday from garage

[BibiBelle]

I believe they've sold us a car claiming it was a higher spec than it is.

We bought it second hand yesterday and when we got home noticed there was no parcel shelf in it (all 7 seats were up when we collected it)

I had a quick look online to see if it was a 'standard' piece of equipment (there is a moulding for it and it seems daft for there not to be one in a family car)

When online we've noticed there are SEVERAL 'standard' features missing from the spec of the car that we've bought - the main ones being a panoramic roof and leather upholstery. These alone would cost £2600 to add as an optional extra to the spec that we now believe we have.

We bought it using a PCP agreement and it has a guarenteed future value. It is also insured at the higher spec as this is he spec that comes up when you put the registration mark in.

I've phoned the garage and made them aware of this - they're going to get back to me but the salesman did say that it would've been grossly underpriced if it WAS the higher spec.

It was advertised on their website as being the higher spec and the leather seats/panoramic roof was in the spec list too. The advert is no longer there though.

I love the car. We desperately need it due our old car having too many expensive issues/being unroadworthy to keep running. We've used my redundancy money to put down a deposit as well as a part exchange on the heap old car. Monthly payments for 3yrs and the choice to either hand it back/pay it off OR exchange it with this guaranteed. I'm not sure how we're going to achieve the guaranteed amount when we're £2600 worth of equipment down to start with!

The car must be as described. If it is not you are entitled to return it and get your money back or, if you want to keep the car, you can ask for compensation.

Thanks prh47 but I don't have the advert anymore, does that matter? I do have their paperwork stating that it is a Titanium X and the ford website states categorically all the 'standard' features it should have.

Did you not notice that it didn't have a sunroof/leather seats when you collected it or did you not know they were standard spec for the X model?

Can you have a look and find out how much similar cars are going for?

I suppose either you accept that you haven't got the more expensive model and paid a fair price for it, or that you want the more expensive one and are prepared to pay more for it. I would take it back personally - the guaranteed future value thing seems well dodgy if it isn't the right model. I would check the small print very, very carefully

You might be able to find the ad in a google cache. I don't know how people do that but someone in the tech topic may be able to help

TBH dowagers it was on the very back page of the spec list on their advert online - I've just looked at another similar one.

We bought it second hand so took it as found.

it is only now that I've looked online I realise that leather upholstery and panoramic roof are STANDARD and not an additional extra

When we noticed that online I looked at the finance docs to check the spec (which confirms the Titanium X)

I've just spoken to trading standards about it but I agree about checking it all over again

I was so excited about my 'new' car too and now I feel like I've been duped

the other similar cars are going to £3k more expensive

Are you saying the car isn't in fact a titanium x?

It doesn't have features as standard on the Titanium X according to the Ford website, no

I believe it's a Titanium not a Titanium X.
The X has leather upholstery and a panoramic roof as standard. Ours does not and we were sold it as an X.

I presumed they were optional extras until I looked up the spec for a parcel shelf

Would the age make a difference to the spec? Older version of current tit x?

No, it's less than 2years old. An ex demonstrator.

If the sales documentation says it is a Titanium X and it is not you have a case. However, be careful. Even though it is less than 2 years old it is quite possible the spec could have changed in that time. Ford seem to have changed quite a few of their models in the last couple of years and a number of the Titanium models seem to have gained leather seats, for example. You need to check carefully against the spec at the time it was built before deciding this is definitely not a Titanium X.

If it's not an X you can reject the car and get a full refund.

What does it say on the back? Mine says titanium x on the right hand side, above the bumper.

Have the panoramic roof and part leather seats (not standard for full leather seats iirc).

Mine is a 10 registration by the way. Smax

Does have parcel shelf.

The seats are in some cloth/veloury fabric with leather trim.

Is it the facelifted ie newest version of the SMAX? Mine is a pre-facelift Titanium and has nowhere near the spec of the new Titanium.

Quick google dates the facelift to Spring 2010. Yours could be the last of the old models?

Is it a good price for what it actually is? If not return it.

if the documentation says titanium x and the car doesn't fit the spec of a titanium x, then you have been mis-sold the car and are entitled to take it back.

So it could be a 2010 tit x rather than a 2012 tit x.
Need to find the spec of 2010 tit x from somewhere impartial and compare.
Does your paperwork say tit x? Or did I miss that bit?

any info here? smax owners club

Mine is 2010 reg, so spring 2010 and is new spec/style. So would have to be a 59 or older to be old spec?

It says Titanium on the rear bumper.

I've managed to find the page online which states in the desc that it has leather upholstery & panoramic roof.

It's a 60 plate so I presume later model?

poorbuthappy - the paperwork (finance docs) all say Titanium X on them. We don't have the Registration Docs yet.

Your contract is as per the document you signed - the order form.

The registration document will show what model/spec it was. Perhaps ring DVLA.

Also I suggest you go onto the Honest John website. They are very very good at helping out with issues such as this.