VW Polo specification changes

My wife ordered a new Polo 1.4SE DSG on 15 June 2010 against a specification/price list dated 1 April 2010 and brochure 1 March 2010. We collected the car 15 November 2010.

We later noticed the car had rear drum brakes and no front passenger's under seat drawer. Both these features were in the printed material noted above. VW's response to this was the specification had changed prior to delivery and was noted in subsequent publications and that was that. How many changes can a manufacturer make seemingly not noticed by the dealer and are rear drum brakes a cheaper solution than discs?

Another surprise for a VW was that it was fitted with Chinese tyres. This is her third Polo and we are not impressed.

Asked on 21 January 2010 by JR, Esher

Answered by Honest John
You buy the car from a dealer, not from a manufacturer. It has been ruled that any number of changes in specification can take place between order and delivery. This has to be the case otherwise Production lines would grind to a halt whenever there was a shortage of one part. The law is Johnson v HWM Ltd 17-3-1997 Kingston County Court. More at: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights
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