I have had various problems with my Polo GTi purchased new in July 2000. The day after delivery I had problems with the electrics, which can be summarised as in the opinion of VW Emergency Assistance as an earth wire receiving a positive feed. Shortly thereafter one of the headlights started working only occasionally and could not be relied upon to work regularly. After the garage having had the car back for these and other minor faults, I advised the garage when collecting the car that it was my intention to reject the car as being of unsatisfactory quality.
VWUK have all but avoided responsibility saying that it is up to the dealer. The dealer have offered to purchase the car from me (at market price), but avoid their legal responsibility of refunding the full purchase price.
What advice can you give (other than instructing a lawyer) to make the dealer accept their responsibilities under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended). Satisfactory quality in is an impled term of the act, and any breach of this in a consumer contract is always regarded as a material breach of the statute. One of the "tests" laid down in the Act for being of unsatisafctory quality is "freedom from minor defects", and I consider my car to fall within this category.
Many thanks for your assistance.
|
MADE IN SPAIN !!!
Ian you've left it a bit too long now. OK the car isn't up to scratch but you've had it for nearly a year.
I once had a Fiat Strada - which was a bag of sh*te I swore NEVER to buy another FIAT - (Fix IT Again Tomorrow) ever, and I haven't - nobody I know would ever dream of buying a FIAT because I made them aware of the bother I had. Nobody makes "bad" cars anymore and VW have had an easy ride because they historically have provided good quality vehichles, now they are only average.
Next time buy something like a 6 month old citroen Xsara - and spend the remaining 6 grand on a fantastic holiday - or a boat or ANYTHING.
I fancied a VW Golf last year, even though I have had very good service from two Honda Civics but the VW garage offered me 4000 for my two year old. against 7500 from the Honda garage against a new Civic ( which was only 10 000) as against a Golf at 14 000 - I was treated as though it was a huge privilege that they would let me buy a Golf - NO THANKS !!!
|
|
VW HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH QUALITY CONTROL. I BOUGHT A NEW GOLF GT TDI IN 1999 AND WITHIN DAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH ALARM, CENTRAL LOCKING, LEAKING WATER IN THE REAR FOOTWELL AND FAILURE OF ELECTRIC WINDOW MOTORS. NO HELP FROM VW OR LOCAL GARAGE. MY ADVICE STAY CLEAR FROM THIS ONCE RELIABLE MOTOR.
|
|
|
or is it South Africa?
Colin
|
|
|
|
I would not advise instructing a solicitor unless you get free up front advice on whether or not this is worth pursuing. I have been down this route on my golf gt tdi purchase may 31 2000. The car has been a disaster ? particularly the electrics.
I think you will be advised that your recourse is limited because of the time you have owned the car. But be warned check the hourly rates of your solicitor before you instruct.
Just be persistent and don't let the dealer fob you off. The dealer sold you the car ? you have no contractual relationship with any other party.
Colin
|
|
|
|
What, Vanessa, buy a Citroen Xsara?!! Mine's been back over 25 times (and I've only had it for 12 months) for airbag faults (front and side), oil leaks, missing bolts, vibrating mirror, fiercely sharp gear knob trim, gasket problems, cutting out..... I could go on. We've had nothing but trouble from our last 4 Citroens one way and another (I felt moved to reply to the Megane airbag light message in particular) and have had problems with our latest Citroen (Saxo VTR) - the garage assure us that Citroen have sorted all their problems out, except for the odd one or two rogue vehicles. Just guess who one of them belongs to? The garage have been quite helpful (giving me my own parking space, putting me on their Christmas card list etc.) and did talk with me about buying it back at market price but then it decided to behave itself (6 weeks now without a visit to the garage - I'm getting withdrawal symptoms) so I'm putting that on hold for now - partly because, surprisingly, I still have a soft spot for Citroens (obviously between my ears). Anyway, the more I log onto the Back Room the more I realise I'm not alone and it just goes to show it's horses for courses - one woman's Xsara is another's VW. Isn't it a frightening thought how many cars are intermittently cutting out or stalling without warning on our roads?
|
Carole,
You seem to have been unlucky with the Xsara but stick with it. It is something of the "soft spot" you speak of that makes the Citroen range a bit more interesting than some and produces very loyal owners. The Citroen Car Club is over 50 years old and proof of that faithful following. See www.citroencarclub.org.uk
Years ago VW would have wiped the floor with a Citroen for quality, now they have effectively met in the middle.
We had family members over last week, one with a '93 Golf 1.8CL and the other with a '93 ZX 1.9TD. The ZX now provides the more modern driving experience, better equipment and greater economy. The Golf survives on image which is undoubtedly supported by solid re-sale values. And amazingly it is the Golf starting to show some rust first.
David
|
|
|
|
