Hello,

I would like a little help to know where I stand please. I think its probably best to explain the whole story so far...

I purchased a nice little 2000 (W reg) Fiat Punto Sporting with 56k miles 7 weeks ago from a trader who advertised the car in the autotrader for £1450. I went to look at the car and was pleased with it. It did have a noisy wheel bearing and a minor issue so the trader and myself agreed on the price of £1300 and I would pay for the repairs.

Since getting the wheel bearing repaired, it has some strange noises which were not audible due to a very noisy wheel bearing. The garage say that the differential is on its way out so its new gearbox time. I've gathered quotes for a second hand gearbox (in the region of £400 + £180 fitting).

I wrote a letter giving the trader three options to resolve this matter.
1) The car is fully refunded along with the cost of repairs to the exhaust and wheel bearing and also he arranges to pick up the vehicle.
2) The trader can arrange the purchase and fitment of a new gearbox by a garage local to me and make payment to the garage and gearbox supplier directly.
3) I will arrange for the purchase and fitment of a new gearbox at my convenience. Invoices for both the gearbox and fitting are sent to the trader with the expectation that a cheque be returned in the post for the full amount.

The dealer replied with a letter saying that I knocked him down on the price due to the problems I had found, the car had only came in the day before I purchased it and that he will not be covering the repairs as I paid £1300 - below the "CAP clean" price of £1700 apparently, what ever that is. He did however enclose a cheque for £100 as an offer of good will and Full and finalicon dealings with the matter.

What has thrown me off just getting the car repaired and chase the dealer for the costs is this "CAP clean" price. I'm not sure what this "CAP clean" price is, it sounds like a recomended retail price. In which case I'm not sure of my rights now as SOGAicon says "in a condition which reflects its age and price". What do you think?

Thanks.