I bought a car but it's not as described - should I go through small claims court? | Ask Honest John

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I bought a car but it's not as described - should I go through small claims court?

I bought a Mazda MX-5 from Cinch. Their description said it had rear smart city brake support, I-ELOOP and i-stop, which it doesn't have. They have offered £150 compensation which I rejected on the grounds that I would need more than £150 to buy a car with the features they advertised, however they won't increase their offer. Is this the sort of case that I could take to a small claims court?

Asked on 4 December 2024 by IanLB

Answered by David Ross

It is possible that you could take your case to small claims court, but we would advise contacting the dealer with the aim of getting a refund or exchanging the car for another model under the Consumer Rights Act. You can read more about this process here - www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/ - and you may be able to pursue this under the claim that the vehicle was not as described.

Tags: rejecting a car consumer rights dealers

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Mazda MX-5 (2015 on)

Excellent handling makes it fun to drive. 1.5-litre model works very well on uneven UK roads. 2.0 as quick as many drivers would ever want. Well-equipped for the money.