Would you buy a nearly new car with only one key ?
Discussion
I've bought an ex-demo VW Golf that's absolutely fine but when I took delivery the dealer told me that one of the keys had been lost and it will be replaced within a couple of weeks. Once it turns up, they claim both keys will be recoded so if the lost key ever reappears it won't work. I can see that its remote functions might be removed but wouldn't the old key work physically ? I'm still within the 30 day no quibble period so could back out of the deal if my feet get really cold.
Any comments ? Thanks in advance.
Any comments ? Thanks in advance.
PaulFFC said:
I've bought an ex-demo VW Golf that's absolutely fine but when I took delivery the dealer told me that one of the keys had been lost and it will be replaced within a couple of weeks. Once it turns up, they claim both keys will be recoded so if the lost key ever reappears it won't work. I can see that its remote functions might be removed but wouldn't the old key work physically ? I'm still within the 30 day no quibble period so could back out of the deal if my feet get really cold.
If they'd realised a couple of weeks ago, then you'd have been none the wiser, would you?Something doesn't ring true with this.
If the car was an ex-demo, where is the key going to turn up from? Surely the dealer would have had it all along?
If the key turns up, why is there a need to recode anything? All the original keys would be present so there is no 'lost' key to delete?
My guess is the dealer has brought the car in from central stock and only got one key. Sometimes they turn up later, so they're chancing their arm that it does so they don't have to pay the service dept to supply and code a replacement. If it doesn't turn up they'll give you a replacement. Give them a strict deadline because they might also be hoping you'll forget!
If the car was an ex-demo, where is the key going to turn up from? Surely the dealer would have had it all along?
If the key turns up, why is there a need to recode anything? All the original keys would be present so there is no 'lost' key to delete?
My guess is the dealer has brought the car in from central stock and only got one key. Sometimes they turn up later, so they're chancing their arm that it does so they don't have to pay the service dept to supply and code a replacement. If it doesn't turn up they'll give you a replacement. Give them a strict deadline because they might also be hoping you'll forget!
quinny100 said:
Something doesn't ring true with this.
If the car was an ex-demo, where is the key going to turn up from? Surely the dealer would have had it all along?
If the key turns up, why is there a need to recode anything? All the original keys would be present so there is no 'lost' key to delete?
My guess is the dealer has brought the car in from central stock and only got one key. Sometimes they turn up later, so they're chancing their arm that it does so they don't have to pay the service dept to supply and code a replacement. If it doesn't turn up they'll give you a replacement. Give them a strict deadline because they might also be hoping you'll forget!
The car has been bought from a VW dealer. They've told me the replacement key has to come from Germany. I think I'll tell them they have until the end of next week after which I would want to invoke the "30 day no quibble" clause. No way will I forget. ;-)If the car was an ex-demo, where is the key going to turn up from? Surely the dealer would have had it all along?
If the key turns up, why is there a need to recode anything? All the original keys would be present so there is no 'lost' key to delete?
My guess is the dealer has brought the car in from central stock and only got one key. Sometimes they turn up later, so they're chancing their arm that it does so they don't have to pay the service dept to supply and code a replacement. If it doesn't turn up they'll give you a replacement. Give them a strict deadline because they might also be hoping you'll forget!
quinny100 said:
Something doesn't ring true with this.
If the car was an ex-demo, where is the key going to turn up from? Surely the dealer would have had it all along?
If the key turns up, why is there a need to recode anything? All the original keys would be present so there is no 'lost' key to delete?
My guess is the dealer has brought the car in from central stock and only got one key. Sometimes they turn up later, so they're chancing their arm that it does so they don't have to pay the service dept to supply and code a replacement. If it doesn't turn up they'll give you a replacement. Give them a strict deadline because they might also be hoping you'll forget!
Dealers lose keys too.If the car was an ex-demo, where is the key going to turn up from? Surely the dealer would have had it all along?
If the key turns up, why is there a need to recode anything? All the original keys would be present so there is no 'lost' key to delete?
My guess is the dealer has brought the car in from central stock and only got one key. Sometimes they turn up later, so they're chancing their arm that it does so they don't have to pay the service dept to supply and code a replacement. If it doesn't turn up they'll give you a replacement. Give them a strict deadline because they might also be hoping you'll forget!
papa3 said:
Dealers lose keys too.
They certainly do! Back in 2004 I bought an ex-demo Octavia with about 300 miles on the clock (essentially a showroom exhibit car). It came with two keys, which was fine. A couple of years after that, it got broken into with both drivers door and boot locks damaged. The garage that repaired it, a main dealer, said it would be quicker for them to fit new locks to the doors, replace the ignition barrel as well and code in two new keys rather than ordering locks to the existing key pattern.When they tried to code in the new keys, they found it wasn't possible to add any more new keys because this car had already had eight different keys coded to it. Apparently that car had a write-only system where old keys couldn't ever be deleted. They said it was the first time they'd ever seen this on such a new car. That means in 300 miles and about 6 months in the showroom, the dealer who sold me the car had lost six keys for it!!
Danm1les said:
We always lost keys, sometimes they would appear and sometimes we would have to order new ones. If its a main dealer I wouldn't worry and just get it in writing.
A key at cost is peanuts in comparison to what the public pay.
Thanks, Dan and everybody else who has replied. I feel a lot more comfortable with the situation now.A key at cost is peanuts in comparison to what the public pay.
quinny100 said:
Something doesn't ring true with this.
If the car was an ex-demo, where is the key going to turn up from? Surely the dealer would have had it all along?
If the key turns up, why is there a need to recode anything? All the original keys would be present so there is no 'lost' key to delete?
My guess is the dealer has brought the car in from central stock and only got one key. Sometimes they turn up later, so they're chancing their arm that it does so they don't have to pay the service dept to supply and code a replacement. If it doesn't turn up they'll give you a replacement. Give them a strict deadline because they might also be hoping you'll forget!
You are way over thinking this.If the car was an ex-demo, where is the key going to turn up from? Surely the dealer would have had it all along?
If the key turns up, why is there a need to recode anything? All the original keys would be present so there is no 'lost' key to delete?
My guess is the dealer has brought the car in from central stock and only got one key. Sometimes they turn up later, so they're chancing their arm that it does so they don't have to pay the service dept to supply and code a replacement. If it doesn't turn up they'll give you a replacement. Give them a strict deadline because they might also be hoping you'll forget!
Keys do get lost, it happens.
If the key turns up after a replacement has been ordered then the missing key won't work as when coding a replacement key, original keys need re coding too.
I would get it in writing that a second key will be supplied and give them a 2 week deadline, or try and hold back some money; subject to a second key being supplied.
Having sold an two cars to a well known online car selling site with two sets of keys and media / Sat nav cards I was amazed that they were both offered with one key and cards missing! I looked at their other cards and guess what ... Second keys missing etc. I think I this is a .com to get people to buy a second key etc. I am also worried as to where are these second keys .... Regards they being sold on to third parties? For reasons I'll let you imagine. I also know that some insurance companies want products keys to make a claim if car stolen.
Any thoughts? Has anyone one else experienced this?
Any thoughts? Has anyone one else experienced this?
Trebor67 said:
Having sold an two cars to a well known online car selling site with two sets of keys and media / Sat nav cards I was amazed that they were both offered with one key and cards missing! I looked at their other cards and guess what ... Second keys missing etc. I think I this is a .com to get people to buy a second key etc. I am also worried as to where are these second keys .... Regards they being sold on to third parties? For reasons I'll let you imagine. I also know that some insurance companies want products keys to make a claim if car stolen.
Any thoughts? Has anyone one else experienced this?
I think you'll find it is a general disclaimer across all of their cars, some will have 2 keys, some will have 1, they just say all cars come with 1 to make it easier to cover themselves, also second keys and removeable media can go missing once they have the car, the car you've sold to them will most likely arrive with the new owner with 2 keys and the sat nav card. Any thoughts? Has anyone one else experienced this?
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