New car problem

[CAH706]

I’ll try and keep this brief

Bought a new car (first owner) at the end of Sept. 3 weeks ago ( 850 miles of driving) the car wouldn’t start.

Recovered to the garage as AA couldn’t get it going, nor the chap who came with the recovery truck. . Car worked when it arrived at the garage. They test drove it and said they couldn’t find a fault so see how it goes …. Reluctantly went to collect the car and it wouldn’t start again!

Garage can’t find the fault so are liaising with the manufacturer to try to sort. No criticism of the garage, I get it’s a challenge finding the issue.

We now are being given a hire car from the manufacturer but only the car owner can drive it. If we want both myself and wife to be covered to drive it there is a surcharge of £5/day

Question - is this typical? Seems unreasonable given we are both covered for driving the broken car. It may be that we should be grateful they are offering a hire car though.

There is currently no ETA for the car being fixed

Question - at what point can we talk about rejecting the car? The hire car can have pets in it (we have a dog), isn’t the same size or spec that we have so isn’t a viable solution is this issue persists

Any advice appreciated

[Canon_Fodder]

OP has the seller accepted that there's a fault with the car?

If so, you can talk about rejecting it now.

[CAH706]

Yes, the garage has said they don’t know what is wrong with it but are checking various things following guidance from the manufacturer.

I’m hoping they fix the car as it probably isn’t in anyone’s interest for us to reject it but it’s not a sustainable position for us running the hire car.

[GreatGranny]

I would push for the dealer or manufacturer to pay the £5/day surcharge.

[Canon_Fodder]

I suggest setting a deadline by which time the car must be fixed or you'll reject.

The risk otherwise is that they string you along for ages

edit to add - In writing, not verbally

[CAH706]

Thanks all

I’ll ring the dealer and set a deadline of the end of next week which will be a full calendar month that the car has been out of action

The garage is trying to resolve the issue so I have no problem with them but it’s left us in a tricky position

Ideally a fix would be preferable as finding another car quickly may be a challenge

[Canon_Fodder]

Write to them - don't ring them. And send the letter 'signed for'.

In cases like this it's helpful to draw a line in the sand and let them know that you are serious and that you know your rights.

[ZX10R NIN]

As above communicate by Email so there can be no misunderstandings, I'd also speak to the Manufacturers customer service team as this can resolve simple issues like getting the surcharge covered.

[CAH706]

Thanks both

Point noted re the written part. I’ll seems that through tomorrow to set the expectation.

[RammyMP]

With regards to your wife driving the hire car, can you change your insurance temporarily to cover her? I’m sure the wife did something similar a few years ago with a courtesy car when her Land Rover was in the garage long term?

[CAH706]

That’s a good suggestion (thanks). We still have the issue of the dog not being allowed in the hire car (nor it actually fitting even if it was)

I’m advising the garage that I’m rejecting the car if not sorted by the end of next week. That will be just over 4 weeks in the garage. It does seem that there are occasional problems with this type of car that prove very difficult for the garage to rectify leading to people having to hand the car back.

Given the wait for new cars and the rising interest rates since we did the deal on the current car (Jan last year), it’s not a great outcome financially.

Hopefully they will resolve the problem