Well I know why my Focus is crap, it broke down again last night, gear linkage snapped in rush hour in Leicester. Took 3 hours to get fully recovered.
In the last two months since I bought ithas had:
new front springs
new clutch and clutch bearing
new alternator
now new gear linkage
Its a 2005 model with 84k milage, I thought this was particularly bad especially when other focus's seem like gems. So I pulled the carpets up and yes there was filler in the passenger footwell where the dual controls were, its ex AA driving school sad.gif .
I rang the dealer I bought it from who to be fair has done most of the work under warrenty I had too pay for half the clutch. I stated this fact and told that they are in a legally dubious position having omitted this crucial bit of information before the sale. They claimed they didn't know surprise surprise, but said when the car is repaired they will discuss options for me but said if I wanted to return the car it would have to be dealt with at director level.
What should I do?
Get shot of the pain in the arse car by giving it back after its had all this work done to it?
Get them to extend the warrenty for a year and give me back the contribution I paid for the clutch?
Get them to pay for a AA or similar check and pay for any repairs highlighted?
The first option will be the most hassle for both parties and so I figure if I'm willing to agree on an enhanced warrenty they will be happier.
What do you guys think? What else can go wrong? Rear suspension, Gearbox? sad.gif
Full Version: Ex driving instructors car
[quote name='mcouchard' post='25017' date='May 21 2009, 05:55 PM']Well I know why my Focus is crap, it broke down again last night, gear linkage snapped in rush hour in Leicester. Took 3 hours to get fully recovered.
In the last two months since I bought ithas had:
new front springs
new clutch and clutch bearing
new alternator
now new gear linkage
Its a 2005 model with 84k milage, I thought this was particularly bad especially when other focus's seem like gems. So I pulled the carpets up and yes there was filler in the passenger footwell where the dual controls were, its ex AA driving school sad.gif .
I rang the dealer I bought it from who to be fair has done most of the work under warrenty I had too pay for half the clutch. I stated this fact and told that they are in a legally dubious position having omitted this crucial bit of information before the sale. They claimed they didn't know surprise surprise, but said when the car is repaired they will discuss options for me but said if I wanted to return the car it would have to be dealt with at director level.
What should I do?
Get shot of the pain in the arse car by giving it back after its had all this work done to it?
Get them to extend the warrenty for a year and give me back the contribution I paid for the clutch?
Get them to pay for a AA or similar check and pay for any repairs highlighted?
The first option will be the most hassle for both parties and so I figure if I'm willing to agree on an enhanced warrenty they will be happier.
What do you guys think? What else can go wrong? Rear suspension, Gearbox? sad.gif[/quote]
To be honest mate, I would keep it personally, as the way I see it is It has a new clutch, new front springs (i know the gear linkage is unlikely to go again) To me it just seems you have had some bad luck. I know an ex instructors car will have had the gears crunched, clutch slipped, etc etc but the other way to look at it is its had different drivers hence different driving techniques hence more even wear than a car that has had only one driver with a persistent bad habit - ie: too fast over speed bumps, heavy brakeing etc.
By all means try to get the enhanced warranty from the "stealer" though. They would have used the "ex instuctor line" to have knocked the price down for re-sale, why should you have to pay full whack?
Let us know how you get on.
Chris.
In the last two months since I bought ithas had:
new front springs
new clutch and clutch bearing
new alternator
now new gear linkage
Its a 2005 model with 84k milage, I thought this was particularly bad especially when other focus's seem like gems. So I pulled the carpets up and yes there was filler in the passenger footwell where the dual controls were, its ex AA driving school sad.gif .
I rang the dealer I bought it from who to be fair has done most of the work under warrenty I had too pay for half the clutch. I stated this fact and told that they are in a legally dubious position having omitted this crucial bit of information before the sale. They claimed they didn't know surprise surprise, but said when the car is repaired they will discuss options for me but said if I wanted to return the car it would have to be dealt with at director level.
What should I do?
Get shot of the pain in the arse car by giving it back after its had all this work done to it?
Get them to extend the warrenty for a year and give me back the contribution I paid for the clutch?
Get them to pay for a AA or similar check and pay for any repairs highlighted?
The first option will be the most hassle for both parties and so I figure if I'm willing to agree on an enhanced warrenty they will be happier.
What do you guys think? What else can go wrong? Rear suspension, Gearbox? sad.gif[/quote]
To be honest mate, I would keep it personally, as the way I see it is It has a new clutch, new front springs (i know the gear linkage is unlikely to go again) To me it just seems you have had some bad luck. I know an ex instructors car will have had the gears crunched, clutch slipped, etc etc but the other way to look at it is its had different drivers hence different driving techniques hence more even wear than a car that has had only one driver with a persistent bad habit - ie: too fast over speed bumps, heavy brakeing etc.
By all means try to get the enhanced warranty from the "stealer" though. They would have used the "ex instuctor line" to have knocked the price down for re-sale, why should you have to pay full whack?
Let us know how you get on.
Chris.
I'd say if you like the car and want to keep it, then fight for the garage you got it from doing the repairs under an extended warranty... It's worth trying anyway and if you threaten trading standards and the likes in their face then they may help you out... 
Would you of got the car if you had known it was an ex instructor car??? Probably not...... That's probably why they are denying knowing about it...
Else, if it was me, if after trying to get them to do repairs and pay for it under warranty and they refuse, I'd probably tell them where to shove it, but that's just the snotty woman in me coming out
Good luck! (although you may have already gone to the garage by now? Which if that's the case, how did you get on?!
)
Would you of got the car if you had known it was an ex instructor car??? Probably not...... That's probably why they are denying knowing about it...
Else, if it was me, if after trying to get them to do repairs and pay for it under warranty and they refuse, I'd probably tell them where to shove it, but that's just the snotty woman in me coming out
Good luck! (although you may have already gone to the garage by now? Which if that's the case, how did you get on?!
)
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