Simple things, suckered by a new MOT and trusting folk.

Fluids & filters have been changed, looked at the trans fluid and thats a nice red colour not looking burnt at all. So pretty happy with that, oil was clean and water reservoir is clean so looking good with the motor side of things. Diffs are next for oil changes with auxiliary belts. Brakes seem fine stops in a straight line with no judder.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

As for a "cursory butchers" the boots were either split at the back or on the first crinkle, unless its on full lock you can't see the splits, I know it sits high but I only spotted it on my back under the bus looking for something else. To my dying day I will believe they were split when the MOT was done.

Just getting estimates now to do the boots now, I simply dont have space at home or a big enough jack and stands to do the job safely.

I am annoyed with myself for not checking more rigorously, I had looked at a few and condemned some due to the condition, not buying a rust bucket, This one has a good body for the age, and with an MOT that was only a week old , from a specialist dealer why should I need to check boots and things that are MOT Failures ! The dealer claims to be an expert and according to his advertising refurbishes all cars fixing all faults before putting them up for sale.

If I had bought one from Joe public at the side of the road then yeah, my bad, but I was paying a bit extra for a supposedly expertly prepared vehicle, I mean it had done less than ten miles since the MOT. The fact this had a clean MOT, no advisories only a week before I bought it I do suspect something more than carelessness son my part or bad luck.....

At least its not a crippling amount of cash and I suppose being duped once in over twenty years of buying used cars isnt too bad... :(

Why not complain to VOSA about the tester?

It's no use complaining to VOSA after you've already had repairs carried out, I'm afraid. If they are to give serious consideration to a complaint then VOSA need to see the vehicle in exactly the same condition as it was in at the time of testing.

Repairs already carried out - forget it!

Being a Japanese import with much lower mileage than equivalent European car of same age Im willing to take a chance, and would do again. Yes I would check better, there were other problems in my life which distratced me at the time.

Moral of story-Concentrate on one thing at a time !

It was marketed by a specilaist dealer as refurbished so was well into four figures. Having had a professional second opinion I'm told apart from the gaiters, tyres and a couple of bushes its a good un. This from an import specilaist who is also an MOT station. My rear concern was chasing rust

My reasons for considering VOSA / local trading standards are more about making sure this is doesnt happen again to others. Over six weeks on the dealer still has by vehicle advertised

I have also found a strong owners club so hopefully it wont be one brreakdown from the scrappers !! There is a strong community to keep these busses on the road.

All the best

Edited by justabloke on 02/06/2014 at 09:57