warranty question

zindicato

Hi guys just want to ask your opinion on what to do regarding my car.

I bought my car a 2001 renault scenic on june 13 about three months ago in a garage traded in my old jimny against it and paid an extra 1500 euros, Got a three months warranty with the car which i thought i wouldnt need since the car just passed the nct and the dealer said everything was done to it full service including timing belt, water pump.

A week of having the scenic the rear door wiper went and the rear door window wont go up, brought it back to them, For one week it was with them they were only able to fix the rear door window but not the wiper as they dont have the time and they thought it was the motor gone on it saying they need to source the motor etc, They just told me to bring it back again if I have the time since i needed the car for work that following week.

After 6 days of driving again the rear door wont open again, the exhaust was blowing as there was a hole in the pipes that they had just plastered some stuff to fix it before which didnt last so I brought it back to them again this time asking if they could fix the wiper, the door and the exhaust and also told them that the car is leaking from the windows and sunroof when its raining really hard and that water comes down from the dashboard too cos one day i opened the car in the morning and found a puddle of water in the driver side floor.

Left the car again to them for 2 days which they said they would be able to fix the car which ended up becoming nearly 2 weeks since after spending 3 days with em they fixed the exhaust and the leak which was caused by blockage but the wiper and the door they werent able to and they said they had to bring it to a renault specialist to reprogram something as the water did some damage to the electronic so extended time with them again.

Collected the car the following week but still the wiper wasnt fixed and im so tempted to return it but the missus was due to give birth so i needed it just in case in the middle of the night she needs to go i could bring her to the hospital the owner of the garage told me that they ill just bring the car back to them when i have the time that this time they will have it fixed.

After 3 weeks i called them up last friday to inform them that ill be bringing the car over to them the next day but since the time i got the car back within a week the rear window wont open again, the exhaust is back blowing again, and the left passenger door wont open unless from the out side you open it. they said they will sort it out.

On my way home that day me and the missus and the two kids were on the motor way when the car wont rev past 2000 rpm it made a strange noise then just died on us so I had to call a taxi to pick us up and bring my family home from the motorway, called the rescue service and called the garage that day told them that i had to bring it to them as i dont know what went wrong with it.

Earlier this afternoon the garage called saying the timing belt went and maybe damaged the engine...... So my question now is what do i do could i ask a replacement for it or just return it to them and ask for my money, wait for it to be fixed??? I saw a different car there the last time but it was 600 euros more than what i paid for this car could i ask them for a deal to get that one instead btw during the time the car was with them i had to bring the missus for all her check ups and the kids by a taxi and everytime i had to go to them i have to take time off from work, i only used the car very sparingly, ive only managed to put less than 600 km in 3 months of using it as im using my bicyle to go to work and the warranty was for three months and they had the car for nearly a month of '' repairs''.

lomb

Sounds like you dodged a bullet and the warranty is just within the period. I think that most garages only give a gearbox and engine warranty anyway so the electrical stuff is excluded on that grounds but the belt snapping would be covered.

zindicato

just a follow up called the dealer bout the car he offered me a different car but i have to shell out a thousand euros which a i dont have .....what do i do next can i demand my money, or a replacement????

mondeo

Sounds like you bought a pig in the poke, he probably bought that car cheap at auction where all the scrappers people can't sell end up. I've dealt with dealers and experienced their 3 month engine/gearbox crappy warranties and they don't mean much. If you can push him for a refund then take it and buy a car from someone else. I wouldn't want that yoke sitting in my driveway anyways.

bucketybuck

If he sold it as a dealer, and not as a private sale, then I would advise speaking to a solicitor.

As I understand it, if you can demonstrate that there were underlying issues with the vehicle, the dealer has a liability to rectify those defects. I was once told (when I was working in a Ford Dealership) that the garage has three opportunities to put the car to the standard it was sold as, before the buyer can legally return the vehicle and request a refund.

It seems to me that your history of repeated problems would indicate the car was not sold fit for purpose and you may have grounds for legal action.

I may not be accurate in this, but I would advise speaking to a solicitor and getting their opinion, with a view to returning the car and proceeding with legal action. This threat may on its own be enough to get the dealer to refund your money.

I will say one thing though. I have worked in garages all my life, and I would bet any money that your car will continue to give you trouble for as long as you have it. I have seen this situation time and time again, some cars are just bad news, your best bet is to have it returned and get your money back.