I paid £1000 deposit on a car advertised at £6998 and the salesman confirmed zero per cent finance for the balance. The garage then put the car through its MoT and it "blew up", meaning it required a new engine. The garage offered to order the engine and fit it, telling me it would take approximately two weeks.

More than two weeks have passed and I am still waiting. They have not received the engine as yet; they are not even able to tell me when it is expected. I do not particularly want to request my deposit back, as I like the car and it will be a good buy, with a brand new engine.

However, this is my worry, are the garage fobbing me off, in the hope I will become fed up of waiting, so they can repair the car, then advertise it at a higher price? Do they have an obligation to provide me with an alternative, at the same price?