Faulty new used car. Help!

[Bigpinkslippers]

My son has recently bought a second hand car for £11k 40k miles from a large used car sales group.
After 3 weeks he noticed some noise and creaking. As the car came with 3 months warranty he arranged for a local garage to complete an inspection with a view to claiming on the warranty.

They identified £3.5k of urgent work required, and further investigations required. Issues with steering, suspension, exhaust, tyres, wheel bearings plus its their opinion the car has been in a crash due to repairs to both front and back bodywork. They also verbally said in their opinion the car isn't roadworthy and we should get our money back.

The dealer has done their own inspection and dIsagree with our report. They've not provided a copy of their report as yet.

The manager has verbally given the following options.

1. They will carry out the repairs highlighted on their inspection.
2. Request to return car, it will then be independently inspected, if this inspection agrees with our report, full refund. If not then tough, no repairs we have to take the car as is.

My concern with the independent inspection is the company they use has awful trust pilot reviews and if they always use them are they really independent?

Has anyone any advise how best to navigate this for a positive outcome, we would prefer a full refund and to walk away, the consumer rights act seems a bit vague on what's satisfactory unless I'm looking at the wrong bit.

This is sons first major car purchase as a young adult and he's gutted.

We have asked for a copy of their report and the options given in writing

I would consider going straight for legal advice.

If you give them the car back first to see if they will do the right thing then you will have to have a lot of faith in them fixing it adequately, and if you then get to a point where you can't reach an agreement then they'll have the car and the money too - which doesn't give you much leverage to negotiate with. (I.e they might offer to refund the majority of it but not the full amount, saying that damage was caused by your son, for example)

Thanks, I'm going to check if I get legal cover with my union or home insurance

Consumer Rights Act 15 gives your son the right to reject the car if a mechanical fault is found within the first 30 days.

Is it a warranty or a guarantee? Big difference between the two, if he has had it such a short time he can return the car for a full refund. I would also contact FCA who maybe able to help, also check what category the car is has it been categorised as a write off? As they should have checked that before selling it to you and they have to tell you that before you buy it

There is a site called CarVertical where you can get a full history of a car (including if it's been written off). Don't know how much it costs but my friend used it to research her car before buying it.
https://www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/hand?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxN7IkZKbiAMV-aiDBx2eDye5EAAYASAAEgL2TfD_BwE

We had to do this with a car, the garage wasn’t happy but we had lost trust in them. We had the car independently M.O.T’d and it failed miserably, they supposedly had just had it tested and it passed, disgusting, it was a danger to drive it.

It's a warranty, dealer is not allowing the car to be returned as they have disputed our inspection findings, I'm waiting for the Manager to provide details in writing.
Car not declared written off or cat S but I think the dealer should have spotted the repairs and made us aware.
One positive, I get a free 1/2 hour legal advise through my union so I'll be ringing once I have the manager's email.

Did he pay some or all of it on a credit card? If so, he can claim it back through them.

Had the exact same happen, and the garage were unhelpful with my legal right to reject.

Went through my credit card company and claimed full refund.

Garage was closed down by trading standards not long after. I suggest you call citizens advice, they will give you advice and also automatically gets reported to trading standards I believe.

Are they not obvious? If they are that severe there are probably differences in paint colour and misalignment (gaps small at one end and larger at the other).

They are probably trying to delay so it goes beyond the 30 day consumer rights window. Google it and return the car. I have done it myself before (twice actually, with the same garage. They persuaded me to try another car from them to replace the first and it also had a fault so at that stage I walked away with my money)

Surely, you already have an independent report... from the garage you spoke to!

Take it back and demand your money back. If manager won't listen go above him.