It's time for another story...........

Be Careful Out There #2

Went with eldest daughter to buy a used car recently and we (she) saw and settled on a sweet little Volvo C30, from a Ford main dealer. I didn’t tell them I was in the trade and they weren’t prepared to haggle; Fair enough, we knew where we stood and the vehicle nearly ‘ticked all the boxes’. Which can’t be said for the dealer.

1. When I asked for a look at the MoT certificate, she (the sales girl) said “it’s only just been done, it’s a full twelve months” but she wouldn’t show me the ticket. Which is what I expected, thus my suspicions were aroused about any advisories that may have been logged that she may have been trying to avoid. (well I’m a naturally suspicious person and that’s why dads poke their noses in. That, and they usually have some ready-cash!)

2. “………….and it’s just been fully serviced Sir” . B0110CKS. The spare wheel was missing (& yes it should have had one), the spare key remote control didn’t work, and the A/C compressor was not spinning.

3. “…………and there’s just the ‘admin fee’ to pay also, £95:00“.

“Oh, what’s that for”

“We run checks. It’s to make sure the car isn’t stolen, hasn’t been written off, and has no outstanding
-credit recorded. Stuff like that”

“The last time I checked, it was illegal to retail a nicked car that had been 'totaled' and was stuffed-up with finance, has the law changed”?

“Errr, you can choose to waive the fee if you want sir”

4. “What about the warranty? “
“It’s three months”
“What does it cover? ”
“errrr….. Everything”

I helped her along by saying “except service items and fair wear and tear, yes?”
“……..errr, yes".

Thinking that this was a warranty underwritten by the dealer, upon collecting the car we were handed a booklet which was quite obviously the terms and conditions of some mechanical breakdown insurance policy. You know the ones, not worth the paper etc. etc.

Any way, daughter still wanted the car and they said they would fix everything in time for her collecting it. Except they didn’t. But they will later.

And sooner rather than later, I will be checking the car over in the workshops, very closely.


So be nice to your local garage man, he may be able to help you when buying your next car. Or one for your wife, or daughter or whoever…………


Oh, and the advisories? Just a bit of perishing within the tyre tread grooves.

Maybe next time I'll go back to 'the trade'.