Hi guys, long time no speaky, have been really busy with one thing and another. But once again am looking for your advice.
As some of you may, or may not know I had to part with my V6CDX mega recently due to running costs, needed something more economical for the foreseeable. Logged into
www.swapz.co.uk and put the mega on the site, was offered quite a few cars but settled on a 2ltr Vecy estate. The owner told me he had the history for it, was going to put a new MOT on it, and had the receipts for a full engine rebuild done by a main dealer, and in his add for the car he describes it as immaculate condition inside and out. Take a look at the add for yourselves
http://www.swapz.co.uk/swapz/automotive/cars/vauxhall/vauxhall_vectra_estate/My wife called the guy 4 times to arrange a mutual exchange, the guy seemed really genuine over the conversations on the phone. Told him that it was to be out family car and he gave his word that there were no major issues, and he had just put 12mths MOT on it. He said that he had kids and would risk his own kids in a dodgy car, and of course would exchange a dodgy car with someone who had a family to transport about. He said the AC could do with a regas, but I though with summer drawing to an end it wasn’t much of an issue.
So all is good so far, and we went to meet the guy Saturday morning still happy that he was genuine. So we drove up to Grantham services to meet the guy as it was halfway between us as the guy lived north of Lincoln, and there was the vecy. First thing I noticed is that the alloys were not on it, in the pic it has Sri alloys on it. He apologised for this explaining he had taken them off weeks ago, but on the up side had put 4 brand new tyres on the car, which was true.
I look at the exterior, few scratches, few tiny dings, but nothing that I couldn’t put right as Im fairly good with paint work.
So anyway picture the scene! Met up with the guy, looked over the car, my 13mth old son is screaming his head off as he is teething, the wife is stressed, Im wanting to get sorted and back to MK fairly sharpish so I said to the guy.
“Look mate, I need to get a move on back to MK, so Im a happy man if you can give me your word that the car is ok, and has no problems bearing in mind im transporting my family in it”
To which he said “I wouldn’t lie to you mate, you have my word that its fine for your son” offering a hand shake which I accepted, and took the guy at his word. V5,s exchanged and off he went with a wave whilst I got the baby seat sorted out and fitted in the vecy.
Personally if I give my word to someone it’s my bond, and that’s one of my very, very few morals. Stupidly naïve of me to assume the same of most people.
The dash display had about 2 pixels working, only a few of the dash warning lights worked, and no illumination on the odometer, although the wife had been led to believe it had about 80K on it. Yes it had 80k on it since the engine had been rebuilt in 2001, but once I got the odometer in the right light it showed 175k on the clock!
Instantly called the guy on his mobile, and was ignored!
By the time we had arrived home the exhaust manifold was blowing, on inspection it was stuck together with exhaust sealant.
Driver’s side rear wheel bows outwards, and when you rock the car makes strange suspension noises.
Rear load cover had been ripped out by the mountings.
The grill was smashed, but had been made to look ok.
To my horror I realised that the radiator and the fan were not mounted at all, and were rattling and boogying about in the engine bay, which also has an array of split breather pipes.
One front driving light out, one rear fog light out, blowing exhaust, crabs under heavy breaking suggesting serious problems with the car.
The MOT was only 3 days old, how could a car like this pass an MOT? Let’s face it, with a fog and a driver out, as well as a blown exhaust it just couldn’t pass a legitimate MOT.
So now, through being trusting, and taking someone at there word I have a vecy with a dodgy MOT, 175k on the clock, a dancing radiator and fan, a crabbing back end, and god only knows what other issues saying as the MOT appears to be dodgy. The place where it was MOT’d will be getting a call first thing Monday morning.
It’s sat outside, and will not be used as it is blatantly unsafe, and worth scrap money, leaving us without transport, and as some of you know transport is a necessity with my little boy.
Have tried to call the guy 8 times yesterday, no response so he is plainly ignoring me.
There are those that might say, ‘well its your own stupid fault’. Or ‘should have looked closer’ type of thing. The bottom line is that being a trusting type I took the guy at his word.
What course can I take with this?
Do I have any rights bearing in mind it was an exchange of vehicles?
How do I stand legally?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated fellas
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Topic: Advice needed, a tale of woe! (Read 1364 times)