Rejecting a car

alexthecheese · 21 Feb 2013 at 18:46

Honda Civic, 2001, 1.6, 55k miles, £1695, 2 days old.

Ollocks. Bought a car with the girlfriend through a dealer on Tuesday and though I noticed the clutch was biting right at the top of the pedal travel, I didn't remember to say it. :rolleyes:

So today we're travelling around and accelerating in second, I floor it and the revs rise and we're not accelerating.

1) that is a knackered clutch, right?
2) what rights do we have? Can we reject the car? Can we request they replace it free of charge?

Thanks. Feel like a pleb, particularly as we bought it and paid a premium as we thought it was in such good condition.

233 · 21 Feb 2013 at 18:50

if you've only had the car 2 days then get on the phone to the dealer and ask them to fix the clutch.

onus is on them to prove the clutch was not faulty not for you to prove it was. after 2 days they wouldn't have a leg to stand on so will if they are any sort of halfway decent dealer sort it out

paradigm · 21 Feb 2013 at 18:50

I'm pretty sure you have to give them a reasonable chance to fix the problem.

Can't see how it will be a problem, just go back to the dealer and tell them of the situation.

EDIT: And I'm pretty cynical about cars and repairs right now!

teenwolf · 21 Feb 2013 at 18:58

for that price i hope they gave you 90 days warranty.

Jono8 · 21 Feb 2013 at 19:09

Ask them to fix the clutch. They might be funny about it as a clutch plate is wear and tear.

I don't know how that works out under SOGA e.t.c. but i wouldnt go in all guns blazing rejecting the car. The garage have every right to just fix the clutch for you.

alexthecheese · 21 Feb 2013 at 19:09

Thanks. We will ring them tomorrow and be civil about it. Surely they can't be too tetchy about it - clutch kit only looks to be about 80 quid. Will post an update tomorrow.

alexthecheese · 21 Feb 2013 at 19:10

Yeah jono, would rather it was fixed. Appears - touch wood - to be fine otherwise. They'd only had it arrive the day before, so probably didn't know it was knackered.

Sagalout · 21 Feb 2013 at 19:21

Guessing from the age/mileage that it's done a lot of town miles, but 55k for a clutch doesn't sound much? Are you sure the mileage is genuine?

alexthecheese · 21 Feb 2013 at 19:24

Please don't get me too suspicious.

The rest of the car is immaculate, bodywork, interior is all good. No horrific scratches, seats are in good condition, as is the steering wheel. Hopefully it's ok.

teenwolf · 21 Feb 2013 at 19:25

so any warranty then ?

alexthecheese · 21 Feb 2013 at 19:26

Need to check it out. :rolleyes:

We are clearly plums when it comes to purchasing cars.

teenwolf · 21 Feb 2013 at 19:27

well i hope they sort it for you.

mattyprice4004 · 21 Feb 2013 at 19:39

bunnox said:
so any warranty then ?

That's irrelevant anyway - SOGA takes precedent over ANY warranty or otherwise.

SOGA states in the first 6 months any defects are assumed to have been there at the time of purchase, and the seller must either repair / replace / refund the item.

Maz · 21 Feb 2013 at 20:12

mattyprice4004 said:
That's irrelevant anyway - SOGA takes precedent over ANY warranty or otherwise.

SOGA states in the first 6 months any defects are assumed to have been there at the time of purchase, and the seller must either repair / replace / refund the item.

Not true.

mattyprice4004 · 21 Feb 2013 at 20:13

Maz said:
Not true.

Care to disprove with evidence to back it up?

[TW]Fox · 21 Feb 2013 at 20:13

mattyprice4004 said:
That's irrelevant anyway - SOGA takes precedent over ANY warranty or otherwise.

SOGA states in the first 6 months any defects are assumed to have been there at the time of purchase, and the seller must either repair / replace / refund the item.

No, it doesn't say this.

pepsilol · 21 Feb 2013 at 20:17

mattyprice4004 said:
That's irrelevant anyway - SOGA takes precedent over ANY warranty or otherwise.

SOGA states in the first 6 months any defects are assumed to have been there at the time of purchase, and the seller must either repair / replace / refund the item.

You just made that up!

mattyprice4004 said:
Care to disprove with evidence to back it up?

Prove what you said is right... :confused:

schumi84 · 21 Feb 2013 at 20:37

Sagalout said:
Guessing from the age/mileage that it's done a lot of town miles, but 55k for a clutch doesn't sound much? Are you sure the mileage is genuine?

That is a good point, however it is possible that the previous owner was a bit lazy with their left leg and rode the clutch all the time and thus knackered it.

My ex-bosses' mother kept doing that and after a new clutch was fitted it only lasted about 10k miles.

Maz · 21 Feb 2013 at 21:08

Best way to play this is to be nice and ask the dealer if they would replace the clutch for you.

After all you've only had the car for 2 days, if this was a car we sold then I'd apologise for the inconvenience and stick a new clutch in it. Unless they're total sharks then they're likely to do the same.

mattyprice4004 · 21 Feb 2013 at 22:55

[TW]Fox;23808368 said:
No, it doesn't say this.

As above, please prove otherwise.

People argue something is wrong, but then don't back it up...