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Used car dealers: Am I being unreasonable?

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  • Used car dealers: Am I being unreasonable?

    Hi guys,

    A few days before Christmas last year my wife and I bought our first VW, a Mk. 4 2 litre Golf. On Saturday the 19th of December we agreed on the trade in and purchase price of the Golf, and we signed all the paperwork. At the time we noticed a few things wrong with the car (interior light fitting broken, power mirrors didn't work, a blinker didn't work, and we asked to have the roof racks removed). This was noted on the sales paperwork, and we told the dealer, Sydney......., of Five Dock, that we would be back "early next week" to finalise payment and collect the car.

    On Tuesday the 22nd of December we rang the dealer to let them know we were coming. Shortly after they rang back to say that they hadn't done ANY of the repairs yet. Well, we needed the car! It's just a few days before Christmas!

    We collected the car, and agreed to return it within the 3 month warranty period to have the repairs completed. That night I discovered that almost EVERY light didn't work!

    On Christmas Eve the car pretty much died, with a faulty MAF sensor and choked up O2 sensor the culprits. Attempted to call the dealer, no answer. Our local mechanic was gracious enough to make the repairs for us, and get the car running.

    After Christmas we confronted the dealer, who said he was expecting us "on Thursday" (how is that early in the week in anyones book?). We told him we tried to call on Thursday anyway, and he says "well we aren't here Christmas Eve(!!!). That dealer again, is Sydney ....., of Five Dock.

    After some debating he grudgingly signed a cheque for the cost of parts, but not labour.

    In the new year we took the car back to our mechanic for a complete going over to check it out within the warranty period. He found (in addition to the ealier faults):

    1. The left headlight was missing the lower fixing screw, so it flopped about.
    2. The right headlight top fixing straps were both broken, so the light flopped about.
    3. The front left foglight does not work.
    4. Boot light fitting completed corroded and not working.
    5. The 5 screws under the front grill holding the bumper on were missing.

    Took the car and this list to Sydney Prestige, of Five Dock, and told them they could have the car for a week.

    They kept it for 4 days, and all that has been fixed is the interior light fitting, the power mirrors and the boot light fitting (which still does not work!). Though they said they fixed everything else but the headlights.

    The lights, they claim, is "wear and tear", and not covered by warranty.

    Now, am I being unreasonable to assume these problems should be fixed? Or should I bring down the full wrath of the Department of Fair Trading along with any demons I can summon up? I have never, ever had to deal with such a stereotypical used car dealer before.

    Apologies for the wall of text, but I've been jumping through hoops for these clowns.
    Last edited by gtimk5; 22-02-2010, 06:40 AM.
    Mk. 4 GTI Golf
    Bailey DV30 Diverter Valve
    Custom Stainless steel 2.5" Downpipe
    Dieselgeek Sigma 5 Short Shifter

  • #2
    its very unreasonable that they've made you jump through hoops, but unfortunatly too get your repairs done your dealing with 2 departments. sales and service..it may turn out to be ( and 9 times out of 10 ) its a case of the sales department not wanting to pay for the issue to be fixed or they might just ask sales to patch it. ( ive heard of some places doing this )

    the car should of had a used car check over when it got to the dealership anyway..

    before you bring in the cavlery, have a chat to the sales manager, service manager and D.P.. if you dont get a result then bring in the cavlery

    Comment


    • #3
      I have been dealing entirely with the owner. There is no service department as such, just a mechanic they use.

      The owner actually yelled at my wife over the phone for questioning him!
      Mk. 4 GTI Golf
      Bailey DV30 Diverter Valve
      Custom Stainless steel 2.5" Downpipe
      Dieselgeek Sigma 5 Short Shifter

      Comment


      • #4
        mate if u want to win or get compensation....the ombudsman is ur friend! go straight to the top....

        Comment


        • #5
          All the issues you have mentioned are covered by the statutory warranty on used cars sole by dealer with under 160,000km, under 10 years old, for 3 months or 5,000km from purchase.

          If the dealer refuses to fix these items or gives you the run around, go to the Department of Fair Trading.
          If you play your cards right, the dealer will fix your problems, because they won't want you going to Fair Trading.

          I know that these problems are extremely distressing, but you are covered by the laws and statutes concenring the sale of used cars by licensed dealers in this state.

          As for 'wear and tear' - Sounds more like the car has been in a frontal collision and repaired - hence the missing screws, headlight fittings, etc.
          Last edited by sydVR6; 21-02-2010, 07:20 PM.
          http://www.cardomain.com/id/sydvr6

          Subaru WRX Wagon 06 + Peugeot 306 GTi6

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          • #6
            Originally posted by sydVR6 View Post
            As for 'wear and tear' - Sounds more like the car has been in a frontal collision and repaired - hence the missing screws, headlight fittings, etc.
            Exactly what I thought. I know that these things are covered by warranty, as I'm sure he does. It's just an expensive fix and he doesn't want to pay for it. But that's not my problem.
            Mk. 4 GTI Golf
            Bailey DV30 Diverter Valve
            Custom Stainless steel 2.5" Downpipe
            Dieselgeek Sigma 5 Short Shifter

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by sydVR6 View Post
              As for 'wear and tear' - Sounds more like the car has been in a frontal collision and repaired - hence the missing screws, headlight fittings, etc.
              X2.
              When a headlight takes an impact the strap bits on top snap.
              MK4 GTI - Sold
              MK5 Jetta Turbo - Sold
              MK5 Jetta 2.Slow - Until it dies.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by JustCruisn View Post
                X2.
                When a headlight takes an impact the strap bits on top snap.
                Yep pretty much one of the 1st thing i check on a pre purchase inspection.Look if it is repaired right well thats ok, but really sounds like crap service and crap follow up imo
                Jmac
                Alba European
                Service, Diagnostics and repairs. Mobile Diag available on request
                Audi/VW/Porsche Factory trained tech 25+ yrs exp
                For people who value experience call 0423965341

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                • #9
                  The truly ironic thing is that we bought from a dealer for the extra cover you don't get when buying privately. If these issues had of cropped up after a private sale, well caveat emptor. But we paid the dealer the premiums they want for a warranty.

                  Since then we have bought a Mk. 4 GTI from a forum member privately, and couldn't be happier. He even answered questions about the car post-sale.
                  Mk. 4 GTI Golf
                  Bailey DV30 Diverter Valve
                  Custom Stainless steel 2.5" Downpipe
                  Dieselgeek Sigma 5 Short Shifter

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I took my car back to the dodgy brother dealer i got it from within the 3month period, i had had it checked locally and was put down to the MAF sensor, got down there, they were happy to replace it, at my cost! My old man almost lost his ****. In the end they gave in, and replaced it with a MAF sensor from another car they had in the yard (with already 20,000km more then my car)..
                    Know what your going through dude! and youve had more of a run around then me. Your not being over the top, fair enough if a globe had blown, but parts like that broken and not working from the word go is unfair.
                    Hope you get it all sorted!
                    Bora gone
                    Vento VR6
                    MKIV GSW TDI
                    7P Touareg TDI

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                    • #11
                      Please reread the forum rules on lible and naming poor service.
                      Good luck with getting your problems sorted out mate.
                      Par 6 Golf GTI. Coilovers, BBS CH Wheels, APR'd
                      Caddy van 05/07 (colourcoded) (BRIGHT! orange!) coilovers, Konis 18in. wheels, Oettinger tuned

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                      • #12
                        Surprise surprise, another dodgy used car dealer selling VWs......

                        To answer your initial question, no you are not being unreasonable. I had all of these issues after I bought my golf, I was at the point that I was just going to sell it on and be done with it because the dealer in H****m I bought it from was such a pack of c**** and blatently lied straight to my face.

                        One situation was all the electrics in the passenger front door didn't work so I used that to try and pull out of the sale. Then the owner of the yard turned around and said "it was a f***ing fuse you little p***k, that's a consumable so that's not good enough for you to get out of this, you're paying for that f***ing car". So I went down there with payment, scared out of my wits when the salesman I dealt with came and saw me, apologising on behalf of the owner. When I handed over my cooling off letter, he said the problem fuse has been fixed, therefore my letter was redundant, without realising the reciept of all the work done to the car was sitting infront of him wigh was basically an entire wiring loom for the door, new window regulator, new power mirror setup and central locking module. At that point I picked up the reciept and said" L**e, I know you're just trying to be nice, but I don't trust you because you're a used car salesman. Which means you're a proffesional liar. So next time you want to lie to a customer, make sure the evidence isn't in front of the customer." At which point the "but, but, but, wait, hang on" started.

                        Anyway, moral of the story: Don't try to be nice because they will deliberately screw you around until the warranty period has run out so then they don't have to fix a thing, then you're screwed. Go straight to the top, I just wish I had when I had the opportunity....

                        Gav
                        sigpic
                        Stage 2+ Intercooler Carbon Intake Downpipe Swaybar DV+ Remsa.

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                        • #13
                          Yep, the ball is rolling with the Dept of Fair Trading. Their story now has changed from "wear and tear" to "you crashed it". Could anyone, anyone explain to me how I could crash the car in such a way as to remove one screw from one headlight, FIVE central screws from the bumper and break the straps on the other headlight, yet not leave a mark on the car?
                          Mk. 4 GTI Golf
                          Bailey DV30 Diverter Valve
                          Custom Stainless steel 2.5" Downpipe
                          Dieselgeek Sigma 5 Short Shifter

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Merlin8r View Post
                            Yep, the ball is rolling with the Dept of Fair Trading. Their story now has changed from "wear and tear" to "you crashed it". Could anyone, anyone explain to me how I could crash the car in such a way as to remove one screw from one headlight, FIVE central screws from the bumper and break the straps on the other headlight, yet not leave a mark on the car?
                            You couldnt...did you mention to them that you thought the damage was from an accident? Sounds like they are twisting your words mate, hang in there
                            2004 V5 Bora ~ Eibach Pro + Bilstein B8 ~ Tyrol Brake Upgrade
                            MY15 Golf Wagon Comfortline

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                            • #15
                              Hey guys, im not sure if i've missed something here but doesn't NSW require a RWC at the time of sale?

                              Did the dealer not provide one??? I now here in Victoria if someone has sold a unroadworthy car with a dodgy RWC, then Vicroads wants to know about them...

                              Perhaps antoher avenue for you to consider?

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