Friend hates their new car - can they return it?
A friend of mine purchased a Fiat Punto 1.4 automatic from an independent garage three days ago. My friend has only recently passed her test and only has an automatic licence. She learned to drive and pass her test in a typical torque converter style automatic.
Without knowing any different she purchased a car from an independent dealer that was listed as automatic without taking the car for a test drive. Due to inexperience she wasn't aware there are a few types of automatic that can be obtained these days and the Punto she has purchased is a semi-automatic (dual logic I believe) and has completely different driving characteristics to the type of automatic she is used to.
She has tried the car for a few days but hates it and wants to return it. She has taken out a finance agreement on the vehicle and tried to return it, but the garage will only trade it in against another vehicle at a loss. Where does she stand?
Without knowing any different she purchased a car from an independent dealer that was listed as automatic without taking the car for a test drive. Due to inexperience she wasn't aware there are a few types of automatic that can be obtained these days and the Punto she has purchased is a semi-automatic (dual logic I believe) and has completely different driving characteristics to the type of automatic she is used to.
She has tried the car for a few days but hates it and wants to return it. She has taken out a finance agreement on the vehicle and tried to return it, but the garage will only trade it in against another vehicle at a loss. Where does she stand?
Asked on 20 November 2013 by Compxk
Answered by
Honest John
I don't think she has any specific right to return the car. I agree that Dualogics aren't as good as torque converter automatics, but they are the best automated manuals. The first thing she needs to do is learn to left foot brake. Then it can't roll away on inclines. The next is to understand that the transmission will seek to protect itself from violent upshifts, so learn to lift slightly for each gearchange. She can get used to it. Hundreds of thousands of people have done.
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