I purchased a 2008 Renault Laguna Dynamique S (series 3) yesterday from a car supermarket
Despite requesting an annual service (its first), it wasn't completed and I had to wait for them to complete whilst I was there (this was after a 150 trip there) but I thought the purchase price of 8,999 was reasonable.
Having signed the paperwork (PCP finance with Bank of Scotland) I drove the car away. On the trip back it was obvious the tracking was out on the car but then more alarmingly the car computer registered that an oil top up was needed.
My concern is that despite my service booklet being stamped by the car supermarket has the service been a token gesture? Surely an oil filter change and top up is 1st base on an annual service. If this was missed what else was missed. I spoke to the Sales Manager at the end of play last night and he is due to phone this morning. Returning the car 150 miles for a thorough service is not my preferred option.
Suggestions on my option from here would be most helpful? Do I:
a) Notify trading standards?
b) Request the price of my service refunded?
c) Outline the I do not accept the car because of these issues - is it fit for purpose?
d) Do I ask for the car supermarket to pay for a local Renault service?
e) Accept the fact that you get what you pay for??
Rio, Surrey
{supermarket name removed as you're making an allegation against them which falls foul of this forum's naming/shaming policy}
Edited by Pugugly on 15/04/2009 at 19:59
|
c) ....... - is it fit for purpose?
Definition of fit for purpose on the Web: appropriate, and of a necessary standard, for its intended use.
Your intended use of it is to drive it, and it's of an appropriate and necessary standard for you to be able to do that. I think you've just been unfortunate in not spotting the things you don't like about it before you bought it.
Edited by L'escargot on 15/04/2009 at 10:54
|
|
Surely the first thing to do is physically check the oil level?
|
I had a similar experience when I bought my Mondeo from a (different and now defunct) car supermarket. The promised timing belt change was done (but later turned out to be badly botched, and not done in line with recommendations), but the headlight alignment was still out, the idle speed still too low, the spare key still missing, and the radio still not working. All of these were promised (verbally) to be corrected by the time I picked up the car. I got the headlights and idle done, but I'm still waiting for the spare key, and I fixed the radio myself.
With supermarkets, buy the car cheap as it is, and get the work done yourself elsewhere. There is no excuse for a car to pull to one side or have incorrect fluid levels after a service though.
My Mondeo turned out to be a great car, and a keeper. I just wish I'd bought it privately and saved the money, for all the good "trade comeback" did me.
|
|
I guess my first question is, did they actually do a full service on the car, or just a useless "100,000 point used car check"?
|
I would never let a car supermarket do a service on my car, it would be like getting my MP to do brain surgery.
You buy the car cheap and let someone who knows what they are doing service it, in my humble opinion naturally.
How much oil did the car need?
|
some supermarkets seem to be quite highly priced to me. The bloke who writes in the back of autocar about buying/selling second hand recounted recently his experiences of buying a vectra (I think)
the supermarkets were pricey and had horrible cars - stonechips, scruffy etc, but the main vauxhall dealer had spotless cars, keen prices, and excellent service.
also - should a supermarket be doing a first service on a 2008 car? Have they the software upgrades and equipment for all models? Or were they going to ship it out to the main dealer?
Sorry for the OP, we all do daft things sometimes. Yes, even me.
I'd like to see the outcome of the oil rectification too.
|
|
|
|
"Surely the first thing to do is physically check the oil level? "
But where do these checks stop?
gearbox oil level, seatbelts not damaged inside inertia reels, unscrew oil filter and look to see if it looks new, ditto fuel filter, take rear hubs off to see shoe wear, jack car up and check wheel bearings and ball joints, take tyres off and inspect for internal damage. You could go on for hours/days. What the OP did was much as I would and trust that it had been done, wrongly as it turns out, much as I trust my techs when they tell me that something has been done. We don't always get it right.
I think your snipe was a harsh.
|
|
Simply that the oil level warning had come on: nothing re whether the oil was actually low! I check fluids after service, whether mine or the garages. There is no need to go into great detail, just the basics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By requesting a service you entered into a contract with the car supplier. An annual service or first service will have a stipulated series of checks, adjustments and replacements laid down by the manufacturer. If any of these have not been carried out then the supplier is in breach of contract and you can sue for redress. Now the tricky part. You need an independant engineer i.e RAC/AA or another main dealer to check the vehicle and report the conclusions. If they find anything wrong: bingo, if not it stops there. The oil level is an obvious place to start. As for the tracking, this may not have been known or detected by the supplier, but non the less he has to supply you with a vehicle fit for purpose i.e roadworthy. The question will be, is tracking a roadworthyness issue or not. For my money it is because of the effect it can have on the vehicle handling, especially under heavy braking, is determental. Best of luck. Concrete
|
|
|
Thanks to all for your views.
500ml was needed just to bring up the oil level to 'low'.
I actually like the car, it has a nice interior and feels solid when driving. Yes the driving experience is not quite up to a BMW or indeed my 'old' vectra but I am happy to keep a Renault Laguna.
I am now dealing with a delayed cash back on my part exchange, in addition to the issues with the service. I put down part of my p/x in the finance agreement and kept the rest as cash back. However, the garage was insistent I couldn't have this on the day as they needed to receive payment from the finance company first. Verbally agreed 3 working days.
Business Manager in my view is being obstructive and it is one of those standard situations where you get passed around the houses for someone to help.
I was happy with the deal and the car but simply wanted a simple transaction as agreed by the salesman!
|
Sorry to hear about your problems, but it's worth remembering here that similar things happen at franchised main dealers too.
If they have offered to take the car back and do the service properly then they've covered themselves. The fact that it's a 150m journey isn't their problem, to be fair. They didn't offer you a main dealer standard service, just a "service", a very vague term. Given that they probably did change the oil (just badly), the most you can expect is an oil top. Clearly not worth it given the distance.
I agree with the other posters here, the lesson is to check the car very carefully yourself and accept it as is without any verbal agreements that can be easily forgotten or ignored.
Fingers crossed you get your cashback sorted quick.
Edited by TheOilBurner on 20/04/2009 at 11:09
|
Car Supermarkets, like all dealers both franchised or otherwise can give good or bad experiences. In the case of the cash back, you should have insisted on a cheque when you collected the Renault as they are buying your PX off you, but hindsight is wonderful.
As regards the service, I would think that unless you can prove that the Car Supermarket serviced it to manufacturer's schedule then the 3 year Renault warranty would be invalidated. I would book it into your nearest Renault dealer ASAP to ensure the warranty remains
As for the tracking, is it worth the cost of a 150 journey? If not get it done locally & send them the bill, they may pay.
|
|
|
|
