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Hi all,
Went to view a used approved car on good Friday. Picked up a couple of imperfections that the dealership agreed to rectify. Collected car yesterday and drove home all happy.
Once at home my lad who is quite tall noticed a couple of marks on the roof and pointed them out to me. Clearly I'd missed them on first inspection and at handover. There are two areas of marks and dents on the roof which in my eyes are quite bad. Its an estate car and looks as though it could be roof box damage when fitting/removing?
I've emailed the sales person I bought the car from within minutes of getting home from the dealership, but today is his day off. Would you expect the dealer to rectify or would you put this down to my own fault for not noticing.
On the dealer used approve checksheet there are two checks to carry out:
Check body for damage and signs of repairs and
Check paintwork for blemishes and corrosion. Rectify to approved standards.
Also I found there is a vibration under load as though an engine mount is worn.
What are your thoughts?
The approved check doesn't mean the car will be prepped to as new condition and 'wear and tear' type dents may well be baked in to the price. Bodywork corrosion and paintwork damage would (should) be rectified as an approved car would need to comply with the anti-corrosion/paintwork warranty. The damage/signs of repair bit is them ensuring its not had a repair which doesn't meet their standard - so not a guarantee it hasn't been repaired in some way (but obvs not Cat-N or whatever).
I've seen some pretty ropey condition cars under AUC from various marques. Generally the path of least resistance is getting them sorted pre-sale so on that point I think you're relying on a bit of good will from the dealer. The vibration is obviously an issue and should be repaired - I'd lay it on thick about that and angle for the bodywork dent repairs being the sweetener for them clearly not doing a pre-purchase inspection properly...
Thanks for the reply. To be fair the dents and paint damage on the roof is quite bad and is down to bare metal in some areas. Looks like a roof box has been dropped off the rails a couple of times when fitting and emoving.
We bought an approved used car and it clearly had not been inspected against the check list. A point I made to the dealer (Stratstone, avoid at all costs!) on the numerous times it went back for warranty work. We sold it on after less than a year and plenty of hassle as it had clearly been in a significant accident at some point.
I'm not sure of your statutory rights but given you've already paid and collected I'd think you'd be relying on goodwill from the dealer for cosmetic imperfections. That's the sort of thing I've used to haggle on in the past but you're obviously in a stronger negotiating position before payment is made.
Check any online photos of the car now you know where to look
Again again, copypasta from the other car thread:
"Buying a used vehicle from a dealer you have the same rights as buying new. Goods have to be of "satisfactory quality" which is defined in a woolly fashion as what a reasonable person would expect."
Would it be reasonable to expect a 1-year old car to be near perfect? A 20-year old car, not so much.
Would it be reasonable to expect a car with a checksheet to match that checksheet? I'd say so, though I would be very wary of what "approved standards" actually means.
Which approved used brand was it? Any 30 day refund type offer? Even if you want to keep the car, the fact that you *can* return it gives you the option of being a right PITA for the dealer so they may be more amenable to sorting out the issues.
It's a used vehicle at the end of the day. I spotted a small crease on the electric sliding door of mine on purchase and a slight mark further down, but nothing you can do really to fix (checked with a body shop and the small marks can't be smart repaired as they are near the double skin sections - it's fill and respray). I'm a fussy bugger, but realised most folk will never spot these slight creases - they showed up more once I did a full Autoglym resin polish, extra deep shine and ceramic coat - then they stood out to me !
Roof dents will be difficult.
Despite the 'additional marks' I found the vehicle was in excellent condition so overall very happy - dealer did leave it with a 'green roof' as it hadn't been washed properly in a long time !
Cheers all.
It’s a Skoda used approved.
All of the photos omit the roof.
Some of the chips are down to bare metal and the dent is quite bad.
I’ve literally drove it home from the dealer and parked it up.
hanks for the replies.
So it’s a Skoda used approved vehicle.
2018 Octavia with a full Skoda history
I’ve just been having a look over the car as something isn’t making sense. It’s had a replacement screen which is quite stone chipped but the bonnet and bumper are relatively mark ans chip free.
I’ve just spotted some over spray on one of the bumper trims but it’s hard to say when it’s had paint.
which is defined in a woolly fashion as what a reasonable person would expect."
Its not really woolly. Reasonable has a specific legal meaning which you pretty much nail.
I’ve just been having a look over the car as something isn’t making sense. It’s had a replacement screen which is quite stone chipped but the bonnet and bumper are relatively mark ans chip free.
I’ve just spotted some over spray on one of the bumper trims but it’s hard to say when it’s had paint.
Look inside the inner arches for over spray, fasteners that hold the wings on for being disturbed, chassis legs for disturbance, are the number plates matching and original with the garage details on them? IE has it had front end damage at some point.
Regardless I'd be looking at taking it back for a refund.
Trust me on this, I've had similar from Skoda, return the car now under their approved used returns policy, I did the same thing after spotting issues with a car I bought from them awhile back. I just called then up and told them I'd drop the car off that weekend for a refund, to be fair they refunded without much argument.
It's not worth hanging onto the car, now you've spotted issues your just going to have doubt every time you look at the car or drive it, plus if you go to resell it you'll lose out as sods law says whoever you try to sell/trade too will spot the issues
Just because you have bought from a main dealer doesn’t mean they didn’t buy it off the back of a lorry.
Take it back, now you know it’s potentially been crashed your never going to want it
Cheers all. On cloer inspection it looks to have had a smart repair on the lower left of the front bumper. All the lights etc have the original 2018 stickers on them so its not had a front end etc.
IveIm hoping the dealer will get in touch today.
IveIm hoping the dealer will get in touch today.
I'd be a bit more proactive than that and be making damn sure I spoke with them. They have little incentive to come back to you so you're the one who has to push this.
Think I'd be returning it myself.
The car I mentioned above was a 3 year old BMW 1 Series. We were shown it before prep as it had just landed at the garage when we were looking and it was the spec + price we wanted. We were assured it would have all the blemishes sorted and would go through the 100 point Approved Used BMW check. t looked smart enough when we collected it but the problems soon started, all of which would have been picked up if the checks had been done. The worst one was water kept collecting in the boot for no obvious reason. I then noticed the rear number plate had Just Car Clinic on it and further investigation showed these to be specialists in crash repairs. Another trip to the dealer revealed the vents under the boot lid had been fitted the wrong way round which explained the water ingress. To top it all off the service bloke who brought me the keys asked if we'd had a bump as he'd noticed the number plate! He soon scuttled off when I said we hadn't and the number plate was on the vehicle when they sold it to us!! It also went through a new set of tyres in less than a year and sub 10k so I assumed the chassis was bent or something like that? Thinking back I should have rejected it at some point but it took a while to realise it was a proper dud and I wasn't really clued up about our rights.
Flip side is I just collected a Tourneo Custom. When I viewed it the salesman pointed out a few dents that he said would be sorted and they were. Further inspection shows up a few more minor ones but it's 5 years old so I'm happy to accept them as wear and tear. IIt was also prepped to a very high standard and had obviously had a thorough going over before sale.
Save the sales photos. Point out the lack of roof detail in them
Ask them to explain the Škoda Approved Used Multi-point Check Sheet items 48 and 49 as discussed in the OP and post#2
Push this and Good luck!
It also went through a new set of tyres in less than a year and sub 10k so I assumed the chassis was bent or something like that?
That's probably just because it's a BMW to be fair. I had a 1-Series for a little while, it absolutely caned through tyres.
It also went through a new set of tyres in less than a year and sub 10k so I assumed the chassis was bent or something like that?
That's probably just because it's a BMW to be fair. I had a 1-Series for a little while, it absolutely caned through tyres.
Nah, we swapped it for a new 1 Series, from another dealer, and that didn't gobble tyres anywhere near as much.
I’d take it back. It’s an Octavia, you’ll be able to find another.
It also went through a new set of tyres in less than a year and sub 10k so I assumed the chassis was bent or something like that?
That's probably just because it's a BMW to be fair. I had a 1-Series for a little while, it absolutely caned through tyres.
Nah, we swapped it for a new 1 Series, from another dealer, and that didn't gobble tyres anywhere near as much.
Did that coincide with the 1 series switching from RWD to FWD?
My 3er could do a set of rears in about 8k 🤣
To be fair an alignment helped and after that I think I could squeeze an extra 4K miles from them.
Based on what the OP has said, I'd be trying to get it taken back and go find another - even if these issues aren't a big deal in themselves it will somewhat sour the opinion of the car.
I had similar in the past and decided to keep it and regretted doing so for a long time - a 6 year old Avensis which after having it for a week I noticed a couple of shutlines not quite right, a repair to a broken plastic headlamp mount and some wheel liner / bumper trim that never quite was right. Fairly soon it became clear that the car had had a bump and been fixed "on the cheap". I didn't decide to return until it was too late, so never was quite confident with the car and worried about selling it on with those issues.
However - that car went on to be in the family for another 9 years, I added 120K+ miles to it and it didn't miss a beat in that whole time - the most reliable, trouble free car I've ever owned. Finally sold it on at 175K miles, 15 years old and running just fine.
So latest is that the dealer has said they will take the car back but I will have to pay for the damage to the roof? Not sure how they think that is acceptable as it definitely wasn't caused by us and the fact that there is slight rusting in some of the chips would suggest it happened before we collected the car.
They have said the damage isn't present or recorded in their own report when they took it as a px nor in any photos they took.
Where do I stand here?
I paid a lump of the cost by credit card. Should I involve them?
Use the email you sent the day you collected it as the evidence it wasn't caused by you. You did send it ASAP I assume?
And yes, involve the cc company. Even if you say you are trying to arrange return with dealer, get them notified there may be a problem
Don't pay anything. Reject the car. You can ask for a full refund withing the first 30 days. Given that you contacted them about the issue within minutes of getting home, there should be no issue.
To quote Cougar from the snapped chain thread "Just to be clear, can you please confirm in writing that you're refusing to honour my statutory rights?"
EDIT: And ask to see their photos of the roof!
They have said the damage isn't present or recorded in their own report when they took it as a px nor in any photos they took
Ask to see their photos of the roof ?
Cheers all.
Just checked our doorbell footage. We got home at around 18:25 on the day of collection and I sent the email by 19:15 on the same day.
I’ve asked numerous times for their photos or videos or even cctv showing the roof condition on collection but they still haven’t sent them.
Will contact the credit card tomorrow.
Where do I stand here?
Stand in the dealership being polite but firm until they give you a full refund?
It also went through a new set of tyres in less than a year and sub 10k so I assumed the chassis was bent or something like that?
That's probably just because it's a BMW to be fair. I had a 1-Series for a little while, it absolutely caned through tyres.
Nah, we swapped it for a new 1 Series, from another dealer, and that didn't gobble tyres anywhere near as much.
Did that coincide with the 1 series switching from RWD to FWD?
My 3er could do a set of rears in about 8k 🤣
To be fair an alignment helped and after that I think I could squeeze an extra 4K miles from them.
No, 11 reg 116 Sport to a 65 reg 118 M Sport.
Good luck Renton, sounds like a right old pain in the.
Possibly going to have a similar conversation on behalf of my daughter…
We bought a used Seat Mii remotely, from a Nissan Main dealer some 270 miles away (yes, I know, but daughter). It had a pano sunroof and I asked if the sunroof was in good order and working ok. Told it was, so we paid for it to be driven to us, so we took ownership in Mid Feb.
A month or so ago, when I kindly offered to clean it, I noticed that the glass roof was discoloured. A bit of research and it seems delamination is a thing on VAG glass panoramic roofs. Anyway, I’m waiting to see what the dealer says about it. Slightly concerned that they haven’t yet accepted it was present when we bought the car.