Put a deposit on a daily driver - Advice needed

Hello,

I've placed a deposit on a daily driver with a back street dealer local to me so the MK1 can be a proper weekend toy.

It's a 2001 Fabia TDi estate, 66k, great condition, very ugly (green with yellow interior). It's not got much history but the mileage is verified and it's the best conditioned car I've found for the money. In all honesty, it's perfect for my needs as a cheap daily.

When test driving the car it drove very well, smooth engine, no knocks or bangs from the suspension and overall it was very nice - Other than a severe pull to the left when letting go of the steering wheel. I negotiated a service, cambelt, waterpump, 12 months MOT and the tracking/pulling left sorting as part of the deal as they have their own mechanic. I was planning on picking up the car tomorrow.

I've had a phone call today to say the car passed the MOT fine and the tracking has been done, but the car still pulls to the left (just not as bad). The dealer has said they can't (I suspect won't) do any more for the pulling to the left and want me to test drive the car again before they do the rest of the work.

Alarm bells are ringing, he's either the first honest car dealer I've come across or they are concerned enough I'll reject the car after they've paid out for the service / cambelt. I'm taking another look at the car tonight - But what should I do, I'm worried it could be a can of worms I'm about to open. 

If your not 100% happy then money back and walk way

They should return the deposit as they haven't fixed the issue that was part of the deal 

jellybelly said

If your not 100% happy then money back and walk way

They should return the deposit as they haven't fixed the issue that was part of the deal 

Ultimately, this is my thoughts.

However, it is the best car i've seen.

It shouldn't be to much of a issue to sort but I can't understand why they havent

Test drive it, of its still bad then walk away 

I'd either walk away or ask for more money off. 

Could be something as simple as a damaged wishbone from parking on high kerbs all the time or it could have been crashed and its the chassis that's not straight.

Can they not tell you why they can't get it to run straight and true? 

If stuff is cheap there is usually a reason for it. 

Heartagram! I remember you from clubpolo days!

Well I've been to take another look and test drive. Car drives better but it still does it.

The car is 100% not crash damaged, I had a good look and the cars straight and honest, original paint with the odd dent and scratch here and there. The rear n/s bumper doesn't fit 100% for about 2cm under the rear light, but it's no way indicative of a major or concerning knock - more of whoopsie such as reversing into a wall whilst parking at 5mph.
 
I took a good look under the car and everything looks straight and true, all bushes are fine as are the shocks. The NS driveshaft appeared to be relatively new but nothing else in the area appeared to have been replaced.

The rear brakes (discs) were sticking so I'm hoping this is the problem. I've asked him to sort this and I'm expecting a call back in the morning once done. Fingers crossed.

Follow your instincts mate. If there are slight doubts, id just walk away. Ive done it to many times where ive gone against my instincts, then regretted it. If its something they cant (Or Wont) Rectify, it may be a problem you will never get to the bottom off.

These cars are essentially a VW Polo Platform, and as for sticking rear brakes, i had exactly the same problem on my Polo Dune. It failed its MOT on poor Handbrake effort, ended up with new calipers, discs, pads, and cables in the end, The MOT did get issued, but the car never felt right again, after 5 return trips to the garage, i got shot of it in the end as i got sick of it lol. Disc brakes on the rear of small cars seem a complete waste of time in my opinion.

If it's the same as a 02 polo 9N (had a 1.2 6v) then the front control arm bushes may have been replaced and if you don't put the wishbone back on in the same place where it came off it can mess up the steering. If they have not been replaced was there any advisory on the MOT?
I could never get our polo to drive straight and not wear out tyres on the inside or outside no matter now many times I had the tracking done. Sold the car in the end as it had so many electrical faults, engine management light kept coming on, brake pad wear warning light would come on and off….. Glad to see the back of the thing…  

I drive a fabia vrs and had another one before my current one. Both pull to the left when you put the foot down. Fabias are well known for doing it.

Another thing, check the console bushes. The standard ones always fail.

andy1982 said

Another thing, check the console bushes. The standard ones always fail.

That's what I meant, not front control arm bushes, It's been a few years since I had the headache of owning a newer VW with plastic clips on everything which break and sensors everywhere….

Well,

To cut a long story short he 'fixed' the rear brakes on Friday and the car still pulls to the left. He advised he won't be doing any more to rectify the issue as he's put enough money into the car - Which I get and that's his choice, but doesn't help me much. But would offer £50 off the final price. I declined. I don't want to be buying a car with an issue that has an unknown of what needs doing to fix it, especially if a dealer doesn't want to attempt it - that screams of ££££ to me.

So as of Friday the sale was off. However, the dealer will only refund £100 of my £200 deposit as he's put work into it getting where it is. My argument is that he backed down on the deal so I'm entitled to a full refund. I would have bought the car with the issue fixed - as originally agreed otherwise I would have walked away from day one if he had said he wouldn't.
He wouldn't and won't back down on the deposit.  I Said I'll speak to him after the weekend.

Fast forward to Tuesday and he calls me to say the car went in for the MOT re-test and failed on the brakes (which were fixed on Friday!?). As it turns out, he didn't fix the brakes as mentioned first time around but said this could still solve this issue and asked if I was still interested. I wasn't as I've now found a replacement car (A lovely Audi A2!) and as far as I was aware the deal was off through his choice.

And still, he'll only refund half of my deposit.

I've sent a firm e-mail with some evidence from The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 which clearly state he's in breach by holding my full deposit due to him not rectifying the issues as per the sale terms we both agreed on. I think I'm going to have a fight on my hands.
 

I think the Audi A2 has the same floor pan and running gear as a Polo and Fabia. I guess this one does not pull?
Check those Console bushes and if older than I think 05 the front anti roll bar bushes are plastic and fall out.

mark1gls said

I think the Audi A2 has the same floor pan and running gear as a Polo and Fabia. I guess this one does not pull?
Check those Console bushes and if older than I think 05 the front anti roll bar bushes are plastic and fall out.

Yes, very similar other than the A2 being an aluminium space frame.

Doesn't pull, I tested drove a few other Fabia's and Polo's and this is the only one  which did it. In fact the dealer in question had two other Fabia's which didn't do it.

I'm no stranger to VW's of this era and I know it's a common issue. This was something different, worn bush, rear axle, top mount, wheels, tyres who knows? I didn't want to find out.

Either way, the dealer is now refunding fully. Yay!

Glad it's alsorted and hope the Audi is a good car….
I bet you the Audi still can't beat the thrill of driving a Mk1 Golf… 

mark1gls said

Glad it's alsorted and hope the Audi is a good car….
I bet you the Audi still can't beat the thrill of driving a Mk1 Golf… 

Thanks! It's nothing on the Golf, but a good daily and saves the Golf getting wear and tear. Job done! 

Club Polo days are a long time ago now!

A2s are cool cars. I like how the bonnet fully comes off and all the storage under the floor. 

heartagram said

Club Polo days are a long time ago now!

A2s are cool cars. I like how the bonnet fully comes off and all the storage under the floor.

Club Polo days are indeed a long time ago.. Ah memories..

They are great cars, I've always loved them. I've just had trouble finding a good one with the right spec. I have found two but the first seller kept delaying viewings due to work commitments (was using it to get to and from a job) but strangely kept reducing the price in the advert - I practically begged him to take it off his hands and every time we arranged a viewing he'd back out last minute due to still needing the car, very bizarre. And the second was from a renowned A2 forum member, by his own admission the car needed a little work doing to it which he wanted to sort before selling (I see this as a good sign in car sellers), but the seller was being very slow sorting it; after 3 weeks of trying to buy it off him i could no longer wait.

With all this looking around the country at used cars I've made no progress and just wasted time and money. Then my sister told me about her new Seat Ibiza she's just bought with a cracking deal and told me to take a look, so I went to my local dealers. I pick up my brand new Ibiza FR Black Edition 1.4 TSi ACT end of the month!