Used Fiesta - Odd Paint upon Collection/Handover

swinnie

swinnie

swinnie

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Yesterday, my Girlfriend picked up a 1 owner, used Ford Fiesta* from a dealer. We had pointed out a couple of minor scuffs on the alloys which they had dealt with - and look great.

However, she was in the car being shown the controls with the salesman whilst I was walking around the car looking at the paintwork and panels. I noticed that there was a big difference between the passenger side and the front and rear bumpers.

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I pointed this out to the salesman and he said that they'd picked up a couple of minor scratches/swirls on that side and had them dealt with whilst they were doing the wheels. He said that the paint would take a few days to settle and if it doesn't to come back and see him. I disagreed, and had a look around another couple of vehicles in the same colour on their fourcourt and they had nowhere near the amount of difference between panels.

We sent an email over to the salesmen directly yesterday shortly after collection stating that we are not happy, particularly with his response of leaving it to settle. Unsurprisingly, we haven't had a reply - or even acknowledgement to that email.

How would you guys deal with the situation?

* For those that are wondering: 15 Plate, Zetec, Candy Blue, 1l EcoBoost 3Door, just over 5k on the clock with the city pack, tinted rear windows, auto-folding mirrors, 15" Alloys.
 
Paint needs to settle??

Hmnnn!

I would be having a good look behind those bumpers with a torch to check for any damage if it were me, especially on such a new car (Who sells on a one year old car with only 5000 miles on it and why??)
 
The dealer were the previous owners - and when we originally looked at the car there was no difference in the panels. I've also had a good look around the wheel well and under the bonnet for damage to those sides and there is no sign of anything.

The car itself is great, interior is perfect, drives very well and the Girlfriend is very happy with it. Felt bad pointing out the paint but it had to be pointed out!

We also have the photographs from their advert, but of course have no bearing on when they were taken but they show now paint issues.
 
Removing swirls/minor scratches would be through machine polishing, which wouldn't cause a colour change. Looks like both bumpers have definitely been painted, and if you're sure they weren't like that before then I'd be worried.
 
Looks like the usual slight colour difference between plastic and metal surfaces to me, but I would be suspicious now the stealer has made that odd comment about paint needing to settle. It suggests otherwise!
 
AndyCr15 said:
My understanding from the OP is they have the car. How can they 'walk away'?
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Under the SOGA (I believe) we have the power to reject the car.

Acme said:
Looks like the usual slight colour difference between plastic and metal surfaces to me, but I would be suspicious now the stealer has made that odd comment about paint needing to settle. It suggests otherwise!
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Yes, he said they'd had some work done and I'm aware of slight differences between metal and plastic - but nothing as much as this!
 
I can't really see much on the front bit that's probably because I'm on a phone

The rear is horrendous. Just go back to them in writing (not email if it's being ignored) and state that either the panels are all properly matched or the car is returned as it was not presented in the condition you agreed on during the sale.

Tbh you shouldn't have taken the car away, but not much you can do to change that now
 
Acme said:
Looks like the usual slight colour difference between plastic and metal surfaces to me, but I would be suspicious now the stealer has made that odd comment about paint needing to settle. It suggests otherwise!
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I've not seen any Ford's with colour matching that bad which haven't been repaired.
 
That's quite a big difference. Metal and plastic always reacts differently but not generally to that obvious extent. As for paint needing to settle, me thinks the salesman might have been sniffing the thinners.

If you think it's been repaired I'd want more details if it was me.
 
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That's ridiculous, cars and bumpers are painted separately sometimes.
Maybe it's a serious mess up at the factory.
Or they've repainted just the bumpers for whatever reason
 
as above, I've seen plastic/metal vary slightly, for example Im sure my rear bumper is a tad darker than the panels adjoining it.

But in the pics above the rear bumper looks as if perhaps theres been a layer of paint missed and sorta looks like metallic vs non metallic paint tbh
 
The front looks like it might just be the normal difference you would get. The rear looks dodgy.

Edit: Actually having a second look and they both are very different.
 
That is a huge difference however, if it is a mechanically a solid car and everything works perfectly quite literally, then just have that repainted by someone who is not a total moron.
 
As stated, plastic and metal always look a different shade but not as bad as that.

Candy Blue (the colour you have) is a tri-coat pearl paint so VERY hard to match up in anywhere other than a bodyshop.

What do the bumpers look like on the driver's side compared to the metal
 
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