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What comeback for faults on a cheap, £900 car?
My daughter (a vet student) bought a small car advertised as low mileage from a garage in Jan for £900 to use for work placements. She used money given to her by an orphans fund as she lost her Dad.
After 3 weeks she took it to a different garage, one the vet students use, as the oil light came on, they told her it needed 3and1/2 litres of oil.
She has taken it to garage again today and it needs another 4 litres of oil, an obvious leak.
Does she gave any comeback with the garage she bought it from? She was not offered any guarantee. She has no Dad to go along and speak for her, although the mechanic who has diagnosed the leak is willing to call them to see if he can get her money back.
After 3 weeks she took it to a different garage, one the vet students use, as the oil light came on, they told her it needed 3and1/2 litres of oil.
She has taken it to garage again today and it needs another 4 litres of oil, an obvious leak.
Does she gave any comeback with the garage she bought it from? She was not offered any guarantee. She has no Dad to go along and speak for her, although the mechanic who has diagnosed the leak is willing to call them to see if he can get her money back.
Asked on 14 April 2016 by Susan C
Answered by
Honest John
Normally a dealer remains liable for any faults that could have pre-existed a sale for 6 months from the date of sale. But when a car is effectively a cheap banger, a small claims judge might give a dealer some latitude. Nevertheless, the first thing she should do is get it back to the dealer she bought it from, hopefully with the help of her mechanic. The engine is more likely to be using oil rather than burning oil because a leak of 4 litres of oil in a month would be very apparent on the ground. Consumer rights here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/
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