Thread: SOGA Reasonable time?

Hi some of you may remember the thread I started a while ago regading an uninsurable car. Well the saga continues.

I took the car to VOSA for an SVA check. It failed on not having the correct speedometer (km h only) and incorrect number of buckles in the rear seats. VOSA enforcement officials also did not like the manufacturers plate on the passenger door well which states gross vehicle weight etc. There is no towing weight on the car at all (ie car and laden trailer) VOSA state that the speedo should have been put in on the production line and also say the car is a 'misbuild', which I hadnt thought of before. (However this the only car of its model in the country and does have European whole type approval, for a right hand drive with imperial units for the speedo)

I had bought it to tow a horsebox and two horses and wanted a tow bar fitted to the car and the speedo changed before I picked it up. To cut a long story short they didnt get done and these only arived 96 days after I purchased the car. I rejected the car 8 weeks after I picked it up believing I had given them reasonable time to sort the parts out and was basically being fobbed off. (Dont ring us we'll ring you)

What would be deemed as reasonable? I understand that SOGA is a bit wooly on this issue. I have seen a case where someone had 40,000 miles and had the car for 9 months and judgement was done in their favour. This one has only done maybe 1200 miles and 200 of those were before I picked it up.

Can I be forced to withdraw my rejection? If anyone knows any case examples I would be really grateful.

With regard to the towing weights, VOSA said in absence of the stated weight then they can only allow 80% of the gross weight to be towed. 80% of 1998kgs is 1598kgs. The trailer weight is 1000kgs unladen. The horses in summer maybe 1100kgs or more so I would be overweight and at risk of prosecution.

Am sorry for the length of this, but as the garage have told me to go forth and multiply, the finance company do not wish to help am having to go to court. All these two say well your bits are in come and get them fitted. But the bits arrived after I rejected the car. It has not been used since rejection, other than to drive it to the VOSA station.

Many thanks in advance to all

Still Ripped off