Problems After Car Purchase

[H9999S]

Apologies for the long post but I feel that all info is necessary.

I am looking for some advice around repair work/ return of a used car. I bought a Porsche Cayman 987 from an independent garage 2 weeks ago and have come across 2 issues. The car is 16 years old and I paid 15k (not that this info should make a difference given the two issues).

The garage is around a three hour drive from where I live, and I ended up buying from them as they seemed really transparent with the condition of the car. They had a walk around video on their Autotrader advert and this showed all of the cosmetic imperfections. The two issues that I have are:

1) the bonnet received a respray before collection- this was done after I viewed the car for the first time as there was rust around the Porsche emblem and three stone chips to the left of the badge. In the walk around video the salesman said that this would be done “back to factory standard”. I spoke at length with the salesman who I was dealing with and let him know that I was worried about potential colour match problems, but upon collection I didn’t notice anything and was pleased with the condition (it’s worth mentioning that the car was in their showroom). However, a couple of days later I noticed what looked to be a dent, left of the emblem. This could only be seen around midday, when the sun was out. I ended up taking the car to a reputable bodyshop for their opinion and they confirmed that there was not just one, but three of these ‘bumps’. The guy explained that there were probably stone chips in these areas and due to poor prep they are showing through the paint. This makes sense as I have watched back the garage’s walk around video and the ‘bumps’ are where the stone chips were. He said that the only way to now do the respray properly would be to go back to bare metal, and that had the prep work been done properly first time round I would have had no issues.

I emailed the garage to let them know, and they got back to me today to say that they would get in touch with their bodyshop and let me know their next move on Monday. However, I am uncomfortable with them using their bodyshop as they got it so wrong the first time. I believe that I am protected under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 for this as the respray isn’t of satisfactory quality. I am unsure how to proceed as I would prefer to use the bodyshop that I have found but feel as though they will not want to pay the extra money for this- is there anyway to get them to use them? I also don’t want to make two 6 hour round trips to drop the car off and then collect. Another worry is that they won’t offer a courtesy car.

2)In the walk around video the salesman points out a chip in the windscreen, infront of the steering wheel and says that this will be checked out and filled if necessary. Again, this was a concern, but my salesman reassured me that he would have it looked at before MOT. The car passed its MOT ok and I had no issues with the chip until today when it turned into a crack which means that the windscreen will need replacing. The garage has basically told me that this is not their responsibility, but for the reasons stated about I believe that it is.

I don’t want to do this but due to the headache of sorting this I am considering rejecting the car. Do you think that these two issues give me enough grounds to do so? Alternatively, as I partially paid by credit card, would it be easier to go to my credit card company and tell them about these problems in hopes they pay for the repairs under section 75, or would they only look more at giving me a refund? I did call their helpline and the guy said that they would take around 6 weeks to get back to me if I put a claim in.

Any advice/ similar prior experiences would be appreciated.

[AdeTuono]

You want to reject a 16-year old car for a paint imperfection you can only see at midday, and a crack in the windscreen.

Good luck with that.

[ColdoRS]

H9999S said:

Apologies for the long post but I feel that all info is necessary.

I am looking for some advice around repair work/ return of a used car. I bought a Porsche Cayman 987 from an independent garage 2 weeks ago and have come across 2 issues. The car is 16 years old and I paid 15k (not that this info should make a difference given the two issues).

The garage is around a three hour drive from where I live, and I ended up buying from them as they seemed really transparent with the condition of the car. They had a walk around video on their Autotrader advert and this showed all of the cosmetic imperfections. The two issues that I have are:

1) the bonnet received a respray before collection- this was done after I viewed the car for the first time as there was rust around the Porsche emblem and three stone chips to the left of the badge. In the walk around video the salesman said that this would be done “back to factory standard”. I spoke at length with the salesman who I was dealing with and let him know that I was worried about potential colour match problems, but upon collection I didn’t notice anything and was pleased with the condition (it’s worth mentioning that the car was in their showroom). However, a couple of days later I noticed what looked to be a dent, left of the emblem. This could only be seen around midday, when the sun was out. I ended up taking the car to a reputable bodyshop for their opinion and they confirmed that there was not just one, but three of these ‘bumps’. The guy explained that there were probably stone chips in these areas and due to poor prep they are showing through the paint. This makes sense as I have watched back the garage’s walk around video and the ‘bumps’ are where the stone chips were. He said that the only way to now do the respray properly would be to go back to bare metal, and that had the prep work been done properly first time round I would have had no issues.

I emailed the garage to let them know, and they got back to me today to say that they would get in touch with their bodyshop and let me know their next move on Monday. However, I am uncomfortable with them using their bodyshop as they got it so wrong the first time. I believe that I am protected under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 for this as the respray isn’t of satisfactory quality. I am unsure how to proceed as I would prefer to use the bodyshop that I have found but feel as though they will not want to pay the extra money for this- is there anyway to get them to use them? I also don’t want to make two 6 hour round trips to drop the car off and then collect. Another worry is that they won’t offer a courtesy car.

2)In the walk around video the salesman points out a chip in the windscreen, infront of the steering wheel and says that this will be checked out and filled if necessary. Again, this was a concern, but my salesman reassured me that he would have it looked at before MOT. The car passed its MOT ok and I had no issues with the chip until today when it turned into a crack which means that the windscreen will need replacing. The garage has basically told me that this is not their responsibility, but for the reasons stated about I believe that it is.

I don’t want to do this but due to the headache of sorting this I am considering rejecting the car. Do you think that these two issues give me enough grounds to do so? Alternatively, as I partially paid by credit card, would it be easier to go to my credit card company and tell them about these problems in hopes they pay for the repairs under section 75, or would they only look more at giving me a refund? I did call their helpline and the guy said that they would take around 6 weeks to get back to me if I put a claim in.

Any advice/ similar prior experiences would be appreciated.

A 16 year old car.

Did you make a burner account to post this as you know the responses you're likely to get?

[Jordie Barretts sock]

AdeTuono said:

You want to reject a 16-year old car for a paint imperfection you can only see at midday, and a crack in the windscreen.

Good luck with that.

All day long. This.

Mate, you expect a 16yo car to be like brand new. Used car dealers hate unrealistic pita like you.

You need a reality check.

[H9999S]

AdeTuono said:

You want to reject a 16-year old car for a paint imperfection you can only see at midday, and a crack in the windscreen.

Good luck with that.

Not quite as cut and dry as that. It's not just a 16 year old car- It's in fantastic condition aside from these issues and I would like to retain the cars vale as much as possible as there is a real possibility that it could appreciate in value over the next few years. And as I stated prior to purchase that I needed these to be sorted, I believe that they were part of the contract of sale.

Also, as I said in my post I would prefer for the issues to be rectified and not reject the car. But I would need trusted people to preform the respray and not the same individuals who did the sloppy work in the first place. However, if needs must I am not against rejecting the car if I have grounds to do so which I would like to establish.

[H9999S]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

All day long. This.

Mate, you expect a 16yo car to be like brand new. Used car dealers hate unrealistic pita like you.

You need a reality check.

Does this also mean that I should accept a windscreen cracking 2 weeks after getting the car, caused by prior damage that was meant to have been sorted?

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Mate, it isn't going to appreciate in value.

I would imagine any attempt at rejection, especially since you picked the car up from them, is going to be vigorously fought by the dealership. It will cost you time, anxiety and money.

Just get on with enjoying your car and stop trying to make a mountain out of molehill.

[Lincsls1]

Not a leg to stand on regarding the screen IMO. Just pay your insurance glass excess and enjoy a new screen.
You might be able to get them to re-do the bonnet, but IMO stand no chance of anything else. And even then, still not be happy.
As you state the car is in otherwise fantastic condition, surely its worth you sorting these issues privately.
As for rejecting the car - no.

[Rough101]

Not sure if serious.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

H9999S said:

Jordie Barretts sock said:

All day long. This.

Mate, you expect a 16yo car to be like brand new. Used car dealers hate unrealistic pita like you.

You need a reality check.

Does this also mean that I should accept a windscreen cracking 2 weeks after getting the car, caused by prior damage that was meant to have been sorted?

Yes. You haven't a leg to stand on. You can't prove it was caused by prior damage. A Stine might have hit your screen on the way home. Prove different.

[pits]

Paint is a non issue, the chip would irk me if it wasn't fixed and they said they would, then it cracked, then I would suggest it was a known fault at the time and they should at minimum be paying a contribution towards fixing it, if the windscreen has cracked elsewhere then that is your problem with your car.

Next time remember dealers pay bottom of the barrel to get stuff painted, few years back it would have been about £100 a panel, so I would negotiate money off the car to get it painted yourself, and specify that you would only buy if you got the repair done, on something nice I wouldn't want a dealer to use a cheap body shop to paint it badly, only for me then have to pay to fix again.

[Trevor555]

Salesman saying "back to factory standard" is a stupid thing to say, idiot...

However, you can't demand you'll get the bonnet done locally at this early stage.

You have an issue, you have to give the dealer the opportunity to rectify it, or at least one opportunity. Credit card company will tell you this.

You chose to buy a car from 3 hours away, dealer didn't force you.

Either take it back to the dealer and let their body shop have another go, then you could talk about no confidence.

Or get it done locally and see if the dealer will contribute. But they don't have to at this stage.

Sadly I think you're onto a no win on your windscreen, even though you say it was an existing issue of a chip repair, but I get your point.

[oobster]

If you want perfect condition then buy brand new. Won't 100% guarantee the car is faultless but at least gives you some comeback.

[H9999S]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Yes. You haven't a leg to stand on. You can't prove it was caused by prior damage. A Stine might have hit your screen on the way home. Prove different.

It can clearly be seen in the video that there was a chip in the windscreen in the exact same area where there is a chip and cracks radiating from now... I think the video serves as proof it's self that there was prior damage and clearly hasn't been repaired to a fit standard if my windscreen has broken 2 weeks later.

[oobster]

H9999S said:

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Yes. You haven't a leg to stand on. You can't prove it was caused by prior damage. A Stine might have hit your screen on the way home. Prove different.

It can clearly be seen in the video that there was a chip in the windscreen in the exact same area where there is a chip and cracks radiating from now... I think the video serves as proof it's self that there was prior damage and clearly hasn't been repaired to a fit standard if my windscreen has broken 2 weeks later.

Well try to reject it then and when the dealer laughs at you as they hang up the phone it's up to you if you want to take your chances via the small claims route.

Live with the bonnet, and find out your excess for the glass and ask the dealer to make a contribution towards that excess amount.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Good luck then.

Every post here has told you there isn't a cat in Hell's chance. But you know better.

And a paint issue you can only see at midday in certain conditions isn't going to get you anything either. But you know better.

Let us know how you get on. The dealer seems to have been more than fair so far.

[Trevor555]

To people saying the OP hasn't got a leg to stand on.

1. Told bonnet repair would be back to factory standard.... It isn't is it?

2. Promised the chip would be repaired.... Failed two weeks later..

These two points have no bearing of the age of the vehicle.

I agree getting a resolution will be tricky, and time consuming, but OP has a point.

[H9999S]

pits said:

Paint is a non issue, the chip would irk me if it wasn't fixed and they said they would, then it cracked, then I would suggest it was a known fault at the time and they should at minimum be paying a contribution towards fixing it, if the windscreen has cracked elsewhere then that is your problem with your car.

Next time remember dealers pay bottom of the barrel to get stuff painted, few years back it would have been about £100 a panel, so I would negotiate money off the car to get it painted yourself, and specify that you would only buy if you got the repair done, on something nice I wouldn't want a dealer to use a cheap body shop to paint it badly, only for me then have to pay to fix again.

Thanks for the well thought response.

I would totally agree about the paintwork and would have negotiated money off at the time so that I could have got it done myself, however the sales guy went on about how good the bodyshop they used was and that they were about to bring them in house- even gave me a tour of the new purpose built bodyshop made for their joint venture.

[H9999S]

Trevor555 said:

To people saying the OP hasn't got a leg to stand on.

1. Told bonnet repair would be back to factory standard.... It isn't is it?

2. Promised the chip would be repaired.... Failed two weeks later..

These two points have no bearing of the age of the vehicle.

I agree getting a resolution will be tricky, and time consuming, but OP has a point.

Thanks for both of your your responses.

I am glad that you can see my rationale.

I also get people thinking that I am being a tricky customer, but I have been searching for one of these cars in specific spec/ colour for months and specified when I went to see the car that I wanted these issues to be rectified to a high standard which they agreed to do... so don't see how I can be the bad guy in this.

As you said, getting a resolution will be tricky which is why I made this post to see if anyone had done similar before.

[ecsrobin]

Trevor555 said:

To people saying the OP hasn't got a leg to stand on.

2. Promised the chip would be repaired.... Failed two weeks later..

These two points have no bearing of the age of the vehicle.

I agree getting a resolution will be tricky, and time consuming, but OP has a point.

No he was told the chip would be looked at and filled if necessary. I believe when having chips filled in the past I was always warned that they still could crack.