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Do I have redress on a Subaru Impreza import from Japan that has developed a misfire?
My problem involves a Subaru Impreza that my son bought through an online Japanese importer. This is a Japanese-based outfit that brings specialist cars to the UK. He gets his cars hosted on forecourts of local dealers but payment is made to Japan. The importer seems to enjoy good reports on the internet and the owner seems well established. The car my son bought initially test drove quite well, but no sooner had the purchase by debit card been made and he had driven the vehicle off the forecourt a misfire occurred, making it almost impossible to drive and quite dangerous. This was reported immediately to the hosting site who said he had to deal with the proprietor back in Japan.
To cut a long story short, the proprietor has refused to do anything about it. It is an intermittent fault and has proved impossible to trace so far. The warranty insurance he was given has stated that this was a pre-existing fault and voided the policy. My son has spent circa £1000 with a Subaru specialist to no avail.
To cut a long story short, the proprietor has refused to do anything about it. It is an intermittent fault and has proved impossible to trace so far. The warranty insurance he was given has stated that this was a pre-existing fault and voided the policy. My son has spent circa £1000 with a Subaru specialist to no avail.
Asked on 25 May 2013 by SP, via email
Answered by
Honest John
Depends who he paid where. If he paid a dealer in the UK for the car then it is subject to UK consumer protection laws: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/. Using these to sue a dealer or trader for a purchase under £5000 is relatively straightforward via www.moneyclaim.gov.uk and stands a good chance of success. Suing for more than £5000 via the County Courts can be an expensive nightmare with no guarantee of success. Another route is www.apiengines.com that, besides being the best source of used Japanese engines in the UK, also specialises in Subaru Impreza turbos. It may be that simply switching to Shell V-Power Nitro+ will solve the problem.
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