This is starting to get expensive

[roadhog]

This thread should be a sticky.

 

[carnut13]

What a very nice reply by jberks:lol:

 

[television]

What a very nice reply by jberks:lol:

Yes he is the mastermind of writing out post like that

 

[steveskeggy]

OK, now the poking and proding seems to have stopped, perhaps it can get back to a sensible discussion.
Look, Maybe the stick it up your whatsit was a bit over the top, and I appologise for that.
But what I probably should have said was that at this time, with all its faults I do actually love the car, but the owner experience so far isnt that good.
Yes, I realise that this is only my experience, but that is all I can comment on. I have had a Lexus LS430 for 3 years and apart from the battery going flat its never let us down, but I never really liked the car.
As far as spending money on the car, I agree totaly that an 11 year old car is not likely to be perfect, however, I do believe that as buyers we have the right in this day and age to expect such a fundimental part of the car as the engine to work correctly when purchased from a car dealer. if it had been purchased from Hookey Mike who stuffs the sills with newspaper, then you are asking for it.
But if the car buying public just sits back and allows these people to rip them off , then we will be back where we were in the seventies when I saw the above sill stuffing being done at a garage owned by none other than the current Secretary of State for Justice`s brother.
I also believe that if a car is supplied with an MOT that still has wet ink, then the buyer, whether it be me or you, has a right within reason, to expect that the car is fit for the road, OK if its an older MOT then you run the risk.
I certainly wouldnt moan about the little things wrong, like the rear door ashtray that wont close, or the drivers seat massage thing that doesnt work etc etc, but thats exactly my point.
If I seem to write aggressively, then I guess I should apologise.

Sorry if we (I) offended you.

We clearly have a different perspective on used cars. Yes you spent £6,750 which is no small amount of money. Our point was that though, to the original owner, what you spent on that car was less than he spent on his spare watch or the anniversary gift for his Mrs. Its a different world.

When they build a car, manufacturers have to give thought at the design stage to running costs. With my car for example (an E270CDI), they knew that owners were perhaps 'above average wealth' but by the fact that its not the top of the range and equally a diesel, running costs are still a very important factor. So running costs can safely be more than a mondeo but not by too much. And it is.But a drivers side wing mirror glass for example is over £250. Sure other cars are cheaper, but they don't auto dip and I imagine the glass and mirror material will be of a higher quality (and they'll probably make more profit on them too). A full mirror assembly and say goodbye to over £500.

Now take yours. Whats important to buyers of £100,000+ cars, is performance, luxury and comfort. Running costs are way down the list. So, when they have a choice, as they always do, they don't have to err towards the compromise so much. They can let things go a bit. Just by the fact that you have 3 E200 engines under there (and an E200 is still a premium machine) means that it wouldn't be unreasonable for some jobs to cost 3x what most of us have to allow for. Its very high performance so brakes, suspension components & tyres are all much higher spec, and subsequently cost. Also, as there are thousands of E classes around, benefits of scale mean that I can get such parts relatively cheaply. Such parts for your car are virtually custom.

Take it one step further. Remember Jeremy Clarkson's Grosser on Top Gear?. A car normally only bought by Governments and royalty. His last service bill...£16,000!! Horses for courses.

So, when you came out complaining bitterly at the outrageous cost of running a car that we'd all be scared to buy, our instinctive reaction was surprise. Then when you say how much you've spent, when many of us have spent considerably more solving a misfire on newer, lower spec models, we consider you've been lucky and wonder what you're complaining about.

Its a fabulous car and most of us would love to have one ourselves, but few of us would dare run one on a budget as you are attempting to do. I guess we feel that with your budget a wiser choice would have been something a bit lower down the food chain. £6750 is a lot of money in the focus world, but its skirting trouble territory in the E class world and really chicken feed in the world of the S class. Your SatNav new cost 1/3 of what you spent on the whole car. Its a perspective thing.
Plus, a used car will always need some work. Which is a point you seem to disagree with. All I can say is that in my (and others) experience if this isn't your experience, You've been very lucky. (and still are!)

It is true that if you'd bought a 2 year old Focus from a dealer for that money I'd be agreeing with you, with a nearly new car for good money, from a dealer that should have gone through it with a fine tooth comb, you should expect perfection. Same if you bought your car from a dealer at 18 months old. But Lets be fair, we wouldn't be discussing £6750, we'd be discussing £70,000.

So we were surprised at your view and reacted accordingly.

However, it doesn't mean that we wish you anything less than the very best with it and will always do our best to help you, however and wherever we can.
(and if you ever get near Leeds I'd love a ride in it!!)

 

[television]

Many of us have the same problem with out cars and the very high pries for any parts, there are a few threads running on this, but little that we can do about it.

You do have rights under the sale of goods act and all dealers must offer something like a 3 month guarantee

 

[jberks]

I do believe that as buyers we have the right in this day and age to expect such a fundimental part of the car as the engine to work correctly when purchased from a car dealer.
...
I also believe that if a car is supplied with an MOT that still has wet ink, then the buyer, whether it be me or you, has a right within reason, to expect that the car is fit for the road, OK if its an older MOT then you run the risk.
I certainly wouldnt moan about the little things wrong, like the rear door ashtray that wont close, or the drivers seat massage thing that doesnt work etc etc, but thats exactly my point.

Ah - you never said it came from a dealer. Could I ask why the dealer isn't resolving the misfire at their own expense then? After all, I'd have thought that legally he has no option but to fix it - or offer you a refund. But your point is valid. If you buy from a dealer you should expect a fully working engine and indeed, legally speaking, you can. 3 Months warranty as I understand it. It won't cover ashtrays etc on an 11 year old car but I'm pretty sure the law states it should cover a misfire. As you say, fit for purpose.

The only reason I replaced the alternator myself on the Ka was that I'd boxed the dealer into a corner already (He'd given the usual 'any test' bull so I said, fine, you'll not mind putting a 12 month MOT on it then if I pay the fee - cost him a couple of hundred in repairs he'd not budgetted on) and his reply when I told him I now wanted the alternator replacing was, "I can give you a full refund if you'd like". Prying her first car back off my excited 17 year old daughter was not something I fancied doing - so I accepted my warranty was over. But yours shouldn't be after 2 weeks surely?


To be fair MOTs aren't worth the paper. The vast majority is down to the opinion of the tester on that particular day. I've had cars fail when they were fine (and subsequently pass a test elsewhere) and equally I know who to ask if I want a ticket on something that strictly speaking, shouldn't get one - though they'd still not sign off on something dangerous for obvious reasons.

Also - massage seat issues - Malcolm - isn't that commonly a loose pipe under the seat?

 

[television]

.





Also - massage seat issues - Malcolm - isn't that commonly a loose pipe under the seat?

It can be just as simple as that, the car locks OK so the pump is good, though the pumps are a common failure on the 140 class,,we can go through it if the OP wishes to, and I can provide the info

 

[Myros]

the rear ashtray won't close

if it's the one in the door panel, that's because originally, it wouldn't open, and the cure for that involves having to go bonkers with it for months, trying every approach, gentle persuasion, mild cajoling, threats, bribery, corruption, until in the end, you end up forcing it open which breaks a little tab somewhere which means it won't close again. trust me. it does.

When I fix mine, I'll give you a how to hint and pics.

if you keep it long enough to do the plugs again, got to a motor factors for them, Andrew Page gave me a very decent price on the NGK platinums in mine.

 

[roadhog]

OK, now the poking and proding seems to have stopped, perhaps it can get back to a sensible discussion.
Look, Maybe the stick it up your whatsit was a bit over the top, and I appologise for that… ...If I seem to write aggressively, then I guess I should apologise.

The forum is a bit like an echo and you get back what you put in. Your first post did make me think you were naive enough to believe you could run a monster V12 on Fiesta money and were then bitterly complaining at having found out the truth. I'd love to own something like the car in that ebay link but I'm way too scared of the possible financial implications. You certainly are a braver man than me. I hope you get yours sorted. The rest I believe has been covered with the exception of why the dealer isn't resolving your issues for you?

 

[steveskeggy]

Been down that route mate, got nowhere, told them last time that either they pay for the repairs or I would go to my solicitor.
Had no reply from them, so thats what I am going to do. I am going toget it sorted out, then going to the brief with the invoices, and any statements I can get from the engineers I have dealt with, it may or may not work but its worth a try.
I know the MOT is basically a good firelighter, but we may just be able to twist the knife in deeper with that one.

Ah - you never said it came from a dealer. Could I ask why the dealer isn't resolving the misfire at their own expense then? After all, I'd have thought that legally he has no option but to fix it - or offer you a refund. But your point is valid. If you buy from a dealer you should expect a fully working engine and indeed, legally speaking, you can. 3 Months warranty as I understand it. It won't cover ashtrays etc on an 11 year old car but I'm pretty sure the law states it should cover a misfire. As you say, fit for purpose.

 

[kth286]

small claims court and trading standards is the way to go for least cost.

but tell the trader first as he shold be given the option to fix it.

(what was his reason for not fixing it?) may be pertinant.

 

[television]

small claims court and trading standards is the way to go for least cost.

but tell the trader first as he shold be given the option to fix it.

(what was his reason for not fixing it?) may be pertinant.

Dead right David, and copies of at least 3 attempts to communicate with the trader

 

[Some guy on the internet]

These any good? - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....138384&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1077