2012 Peugeot 508 sw allure - Advice needed - buyers remorse or legitimate claim

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Thu 13 Apr 2017 22:51
2012 Peugeot 508 sw allure - Advice needed - buyers remorse or legitimate claim - nicky cruz

I bought my car 8 days ago having seen an advert from a car trader (not private seller) on both Autotrader and Ebay.

It all seemed to stack up - and I was aware that my (accepted) offer of £6500 was a competitive price compared to forecourt and main dealers. The test drive revealed nothing of note, and I was assured that everything worked as it should.

I bought it - it had a full service history and 12 months MOT, however (regrettably) I didn't clarify any warranty,

Since using the car more regularly two faults quickly appeared -

1. air con not working - I had it regassed, but that quickly leaked due to a split pipe which has now been sorted and regassed again (total bill £125).

2. a knocking noise from drivers side front wheel - originally diagnosed by my local garage as a front side shock absorber, (cost of parts and labour £200).

Are these additional expenses just part and parcel of the potential pitfalls of 'buying at a good price' from a sole car trader, or do I have reasonable grounds to expect some sort of compensation from the trader at this stage?

He's not local to me, I travelled a couple of hours to do the deal, so I can't just nip over and get him to sort it

Any advice appreciated

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 13 Apr 2017 23:00
2012 Peugeot 508 sw allure - Advice needed - buyers remorse or legitimate claim - RT

As you didn't give the seller chance to carry out the repairs you have no claim against him.

The pitfall of not buying locally.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 13 Apr 2017 23:14
2012 Peugeot 508 sw allure - Advice needed - buyers remorse or legitimate claim - nicky cruz

Fair enough.

I only do this about once every 5 years, and I probably got a bit too fixed on the final price of the specific car I wanted.

I suspect the next car I buy will still be the specific car I want, however it may not be the cheapest out there, because it will include a decent package with some sort of warranty, from a reputable local dealer.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 13 Apr 2017 23:40
2012 Peugeot 508 sw allure - Advice needed - buyers remorse or legitimate claim - glidermania

I dont agree with the advice the other poster has given and no doubt others will give (didnt give the dealer chance to fix, should have driven a potentially unsafe car for a couple of hours travel blah, blah, blah.

Buying a car some distance from your home doesnt negate your legal rights.

The fact you are a couple of hours distance away and potentially the knocking could have been a wheel bearing other other drive related problem making it unsafe to drive a couple of hours distance is grounds to have the car inspected and repaired locally.

Id contact the selling dealer and send him the bill for BOTH repairs you had to make and pay for. If he doesnt respond or pay, go follow up with a claim to the Small claims court. In your claim you make it clear the selling dealer is some distance away and considered it unsafe to drive the vehicle back and forth for these repairs.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 14 Apr 2017 00:08
2012 Peugeot 508 sw allure - Advice needed - buyers remorse or legitimate claim - nicky cruz

Thanks for your post.

I am left feeling disappointed that within 8 days I've had my new car in the garage twice, and spent £300+.

However I'm unclear about where I stand legally - it would be easy if the dealer had a forecourt and was explicit about a warranty period for my car. Unfortunately there is neither.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 14 Apr 2017 00:15
2012 Peugeot 508 sw allure - Advice needed - buyers remorse or legitimate claim - SLO76
The car should be of merchantable quality and legally he's obliged to put right both faults unless he made you aware of them at the point of purchase.

You do however have to give him the opportunity to sort it which isn't convenient in your case since he's not local to you. All the more reason to buy from a dealer who is either local or one who supplies a good quality warranty which is usable elsewhere. Though there's almost always difficulty in making claims at other garages in this way though. Warranty firms always place hurdles to make life difficult.

If I was the supplying trader I certainly would've spotted both faults and repaired them before you got it. Makes you wonder what else he's missed so I'd get it checked over by someone competent but not dishonest backstreet Joe who may condem it to make cash from you. I recently took a £600 sting on an Astra I supplied to a punter without question and that sold for £2295. Reputation is worth more than a few hundred quid but then you're not local to him or likely to cost him any money. Always buy local if you can, even if it means paying a bit extra.

Have you contacted him about this? He might surprise you. I would've certainly done something in the same circumstances. A happy punter sells cars and I do most of my business through word of mouth, with cars usually sold before the advert is even placed.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 14 Apr 2017 00:36
2012 Peugeot 508 sw allure - Advice needed - buyers remorse or legitimate claim - nicky cruz

Sound advice, thank you for your reply.

He did not make me aware of the faults at the time. I did not think to test the air con on the test drive, and the intermittent knocking noise (there on more uneven roads) was only noticed on the way back (travelling through the peak district) and not during the test drive.

My regular local garage gave it a bit of a once over and gave it a v general thumbs up, but I have booked it in with my local peugeot dealer next week for a £29.99 summer check-up to give me further peace of mind.

Your right, he might surprise me, and I think I will contact him - to give him an opportunity for some sort of gesture of goodwill - at present he's completely oblivious to these issues (and expenses!)

He may not budge, and unless further faults occur I may just put this one down to experience, but I think it's wise to report back at this stage, and your post strenthens my resolve to e-mail him (attaching the invoices I've now paid).

Thanks again

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 14 Apr 2017 00:42
2012 Peugeot 508 sw allure - Advice needed - buyers remorse or legitimate claim - SLO76
You don't get if you don't ask. Polite but firm is the best option, You'll always go further for someone you like.



Best of luck and keep us informed.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 14 Apr 2017 12:22
2012 Peugeot 508 sw allure - Advice needed - buyers remorse or legitimate claim - pd

It probably depends on how many miles it has done. A 15k minter knocking suspension is a bit off, at 80k just one of those things to be expected with all points inbetween.

Any legal claim has to pass the test of "reasonableness". Is it reasonable to expect a 5 year old car to be as good as new? Probably not but where the line is drawn god only knows so no one can really tell you.

Frankly, if the car was well priced and otherwise generally OK neither of these things sound like the end of the world so I wouldn't, personally, be too vexed about either unless I paid top price.

I think you'd have stood a much better chance of getting some sort of contribution if you'd contacted him BEFORE the work being done rather than after btw.

Edited by pd on 14/04/2017 at 12:24

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 14 Apr 2017 12:56
2012 Peugeot 508 sw allure - Advice needed - buyers remorse or legitimate claim - nicky cruz

Hi pd

Thank you - I agree that it's a hard one to call, and I would be v reluctant to pusue anything legally as I'm not convinced I would win (its done 85k), and it all takes time to sort which challenges the costs vs benefits ratio.

That said, a polie, diplomatic e-mail is brewing and will be sent shortly :)

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 14 Apr 2017 13:51
2012 Peugeot 508 sw allure - Advice needed - buyers remorse or legitimate claim - Cyd

You should have given him the opportunity to put it right. Not doing so costs you dearly in terms of your legal rights.

Not being local is no excuse. 'Reasonable opportunity' doesn't have to start with a 2hr road trip, it could just as easily be a phone call. You do have someone in the family with a phone?

During that first call he might have agreed you shouldn't drive it 2 hours. He might have come to you to look at it. He might have sent a 'tame' mechanic to look. He might have a 'friend' near you. He might .... he might .... and so on.

You didn't give him that opportunity - which is his right (and your responisbility to give) under law.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing.

The Good Garage Guide