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Horological Meandering

Refuse the car.

Jan 17, 2020,05:41 AM
 

Several years ago I paid a deposit and ordered a new Alfa Romeo for delivery at home and to take away my Alfa trade-in, all at the agreed prices with settlement immediately on delivery.  While waiting at home for that delivery, I received a call from the garage that my new car had been involved in an accident and was quite substantially damaged.  On the way to me the delivery driver had driven into the back of another vehicle in the rain!  I was offered the same new car fully repaired within two weeks and then delivered for the agreed part-exchange!  I could not believe the cheek!  I refused and new terms were agreed.

They would fix the damaged car and when ready would deliver it to my home for my free use, take my trade-in at the agreed price and simultaneously order a brand new car from the factory at the original price, estimated for 12 weeks delivery.  Thus in two weeks time I would have a "new" looking car to drive around for 12 weeks while waiting for the real new replacement in due course, when I would only then settle the agreed balance of the cash price.

The new car order was delayed well beyond the quoted 12 weeks.  In the meantime I saw that the repaired car had been very well done and no signs of any damage could be seen.  The garage manager was frequently in touch.  I think he felt guilty.  I then made an offer to the manager that I would keep the repaired car for the cash price less a reasonable discount because the car was no longer new and only had used-car status.  He counter-offered at half my suggested discount, which I rejected as too low and would therefore wait for my new order to be delivered.  What had I to loose?

About 16 or more weeks after reorder the proper new car was delivered, the repaired car taken away and I settled the balance of the original cash deal.  Several months later the manager telephoned me to say he regretted not accepting my discount offer because he had only just managed to sell the repaired car.  He had lost well over twice the discount I had wanted!  I had "saved" 4 months depreciation on a new car but suffered the overall hassle!

Best

Clive


 


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Need your take on my issue with Audi

 
 By: StanWok : January 16th, 2020-10:13
Not a horological matter but one that really made me upset and angry today.... So I got a new Audi Q5 from a dealer in UK. I was supposed to collect it last week Thursday, but early Thursday afternoon got an email from my sales assistant that during the P... 

I would refuse the car

 
 By: batholith : January 16th, 2020-10:34
and ask for another. It has to be perfect from the factory. From your description, all an outside contractor can do is take off a few layers of paint or clear coat and respray.

Agreed, refuse the car and make them bring a new one.

 
 By: CastorKrieg : January 16th, 2020-12:45
Also try to get compensation for insurance payments.

You are entitled to formally reject the vehicle....

 
 By: Cpt Scarlet : January 16th, 2020-10:38
If something goes wrong within the first 30 days of delivery, then you have more of a leg to stand on. In fact during that period, the dealer is required to take the car back and give you a full refund. It's worth noting the request must be made in writin... 

This is good advice

 
 By: NickO : January 16th, 2020-11:06
If I dropped $65K on a brand new car I’d want to be 100% satisfied or I’d roll that deal back. Sounds like consumer protection laws in the U.K. allow you to do just that. I’d then take my business to a different Audi dealership. The other learning lesson ... 

I completely agree. [nt]

 
 By: Cpt Scarlet : January 16th, 2020-16:06

Do not take delivery of this car. I have been in the business for 40 years owning dealerships. You bought a “new” car; not a damaged one. Either they replace or buy from another dealer. [nt]

 
 By: edtonkin : January 16th, 2020-11:00

I simply would not take delivery of this car. This is just unacceptable. [nt]

 
 By: dedestexhes : January 16th, 2020-11:44

agree with Ed...

 
 By: berlin90 : January 16th, 2020-11:59
do not take the care....ask for a replacement or go to another dealer. Be sure to let the Audi supervisor rep for the UK know what is going on with detailed pics and in written form. No one should spend that on a car that is not new and 100%

I am not familiar with UK laws but

 
 By: jim_94104 : January 16th, 2020-12:02
if you can, do not take delivery of this car. There must be a reason(s) why the car was not in mint condition. I had an aweful experience here in the US with another German car manufacturer, and long story short, that car had to be re-sold back to the dea... 

You can swap cars; the other expense and inconvenience is more nebulous

 
 By: cazalea : January 16th, 2020-13:36
But you can get a different car that will please you and you’ll soon forget the trouble. I went through 3 Citroen BX TZDs (red, blue, black) when I lived in the UK. Dealer wasn’t much help but Citroen UK sorted out all the problems for me. Mike

Hi Mike ....

 
 By: Cpt Scarlet : January 16th, 2020-16:09
He is entitled to formally reject the car and have a complete refund under consumer law in the UK Kind regards The Cap’n

Yes of course for the car

 
 By: cazalea : January 16th, 2020-21:52
Reimbursement for miscellaneous costs is what I meant.

Yes I agree with you...

 
 By: Cpt Scarlet : January 17th, 2020-02:12
The miscellaneous costs could be another matter.

Refuse the car! [nt]

 
 By: amanico : January 16th, 2020-22:14

Refuse the car.

 
 By: chippyfly : January 17th, 2020-05:41
Several years ago I paid a deposit and ordered a new Alfa Romeo for delivery at home and to take away my Alfa trade-in, all at the agreed prices with settlement immediately on delivery. While waiting at home for that delivery, I received a call from the g...