Renault Dealership

[maddyrose1664]

In March this year, some moron wrote my car off for me which we bought from my local Renault dealership. When the insurance money eventually came through I bought a Grand Espace from the same dealership. They gave us a 3 month warranty on the car and made good use of it and there were a few minor faults needing repair. One of these faults was a squeak coming from the front drivers side of the car and there was a minor oil leak. We kept being told that it would need to be booked in for a couple of days so they would have time to get to the bottom of it. Everytime we booked it in, they failed to repair or even diagnose what the squeak was.

In the last 3 months or so the oil leak has worsened and by last weekend was quite a pronounced drip. On Sunday, the car overheated and it dumped all the coolant out. I managed to get it back to my mother-in-law's house (about 1/2 miles away). For some reason the oil leak got really bad after this.

First thing Monday morning I rang the dealership and told them what had happened. They said not to drive the car and I would have to get it towed in. They didn't offer any help at all so I had to join the AA at a cost of £130 and get them to tow it in.

After a few hours, they phoned me up saying that the radiator had gone and was going to cost £850+ and the oil pump was leaking and would cost £1000 minimum to fix.

So, within 6 months of spending £7 on a car I get landed with a bill totalling the best part of £2k!

I told the garage I wasn't happy and wanted to trade the car in. I suggested a scenic for around the same price as the Espace. They offered me a T reg megane that had £3500 on the sticker and I had to pay £200 towards it! Needless, to say, I told them where to go.

I have written a snotty letter to the MD as he has already refused to fix the oil when asked a few months ago.

Does anyone have any advice please?

[StoneLaughter]

You're on the right lines; make sure you tell them that you drew their attention to all the faults well within the 3 month warranty period, and that regardless of any warranties that you have statutory rights under the Sale of Goods Act which you intend to defend vigourously. If you've written to them already, send a "Preliminary" letter setting out what you see as your legal position in much the same way that you would for bank charges, then if they don't respond positively send them a Letter Before Action, then finally take them to court - however I don't think it will come to that. Make sure you DON'T explain why you turned down their offer of a Megane; don't even mention it. Also, when you have stated your legal position as you see it, make sure to set out exactly what remedy you require, and give them a couple of options.

I would suggest that reasonable options are (1) Free repair of the oil leak and a large contribution by them towards the repair of the radiator, the diagnosis and repair of the squeak for free, a free valet and polish; or (2) An exchange for a replacement vehicle of the same genre and price (price you paid, not current value) as this one.

[maddyrose1664]

To my rescue again Tom!!

Thanks for the reassurance. We'll see what their response is to the letter. I haven't heard anything today so not holding my breath.

Still, in the meantime my lovely employer has had a company car delivered for me to use next week. How cool is that?!!