138 replies to this topic

[Decayingdoll]

Cooperman, thank you so much for your detailed response. I wish I'd have read it last night as I didn't get a wink of sleep through worry!
you've hit the nail on the head and I really appreciate the advice. My plans are to call the garage today to discuss and we'll see how it goes from there.

Ethel, the garage gave me a three month warranty with the car. I didn't discover the issue until 6 months. After speaking with friends in the motor vehicle trade they mentioned you usually get longer warranties the more the car costs? Though I'm not sure.

Magneto, the garage I bought it from only sells classic minis. I just assumed (wrongly so in this instance) that I could trust that I was being sold a solid car for the money I paid.

If I could afford to fit it I would! But I don't have the £2800 I've been quoted

[scrumpix]

good luck today with your call to the garage

[Carlos W]

Who did the MOT?

[Midas Mk1]

Pretty sure this Mini used to have a project diary here on TMF, White, brown roof and revo's right?

[Ethel]

3 months sounds reasonable for an old car, though corrosion is often covered differently, certainly on newer cars. It's more useful if the warranty is underwritten by a  third party.  

 

What were the terms of your warranty? They might imply you could expect a longer service life out of what it didn't cover. Hopefully, they will step up to the plate, but try getting as much in writing as possible. This could be by following up telephone conversations with an email setting out what was agreed. Ask a supplementary question as a pretext for sending it and to get a crafty confirmation it's been read.

 

 

 

Magneto,

 

The same would apply here if it was a private sale. Car dealers are in the business of supplying products that ought to up to what their customers can reasonably expect of them, that's why they're prepared to pay more than for a private sale.

[Decayingdoll]

Thanks all. I've spoken to CAB this morning just so I know where I stand from their perspective.
I have the original advert, she was described as "in great condition only covering 55000 miles from new which has mainly been done on dry days" CAB suggest that this is a breach of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 as it is not 'as described'.

I'm going to call the garage shortly (once I've calmed down!).
Thanks for all your support.

Midas, that's correct! Do you have a link? I was told last night her name before I bought her was Beryl and she was in MiniWorld magazine. I know very little about her history so I'm keen to find out more!

[blacktulip]

Reading through this I feel really sorry for you. I hope you get it sorted out. Shame on the company, that kind of service isn't welcome in our mini community. What's the world coming to where someone can't buy something with confidence unless you are an expert at looking around a car.

[Jeff R]

This was a buyers' guide car in Mini Magazine about nine years ago, and was subsequently modified by the previous owner and cherished as I recall, which is when it went in MiniWorld. 

 

That's why i'm surprised it's a bad as you've been told, but it is a Mini after all. 

[Broomer]

I guess with the newest cars being 16 years old, 4 years older than the life expectancy of a modern car and known for rusting even when a year or two old any garage could argue that it goes with the territory to some extent, tricky one unless you can prove you were denied any chance to inspect it yourself or by a third party I'd say :-(

What a load of crap. Not everyone has the knowledge or ability to fully inspect a car prior to purchase, that is why these mini specialists exist because they should filter out / repair the rubbish and only sell items fit for purpose.
You pay a premium for this hence the 7K price tag but the car should be perfect.

As far as I'm concerned it is as close as you can get to buying a "used approved" classic mini.

Edited by Broomer, 27 April 2016 - 11:31 AM.

[Archived1]

This was a buyers' guide car in Mini Magazine about nine years ago, and was subsequently modified by the previous owner and cherished as I recall, which is when it went in MiniWorld. 
 
That's why i'm surprised it's a bad as you've been told, but it is a Mini after all.

Thats interesting.

Does make me wonder how bad it actually is too. Is it a few small holes or is is really a flintstone foot through the floor issue? Often garages will make things seem worse to get work/money from you. The amount youve been quoted is quite alot of money.

Sometimes its best to contact the garage and offer them the opportunity to rectify the car before starting threads on forums?
It may not be as bad as people have made out and the dealer/garage may be happy to appease you and put right the areas of concern.

If it was a sealed up ex show car they may have been unaware of the extent of corrosion. Not an excuse as such but at least give them a chance first.going straight in with threats from CAB etc may not be helpful to youand could lead to them being difficult later on.

I hope either way this is sorted for you

[Tommyboy12]

Thanks all. I've spoken to CAB this morning just so I know where I stand from their perspective.
I have the original advert, she was described as "in great condition only covering 55000 miles from new which has mainly been done on dry days" CAB suggest that this is a breach of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 as it is not 'as described'.

I'm going to call the garage shortly (once I've calmed down!).
Thanks for all your support.

Midas, that's correct! Do you have a link? I was told last night her name before I bought her was Beryl and she was in MiniWorld magazine. I know very little about her history so I'm keen to find out more!

 

It was owned by Nige for a few years. He spent a lot of money on a respray and new front panels and commented that it had no underseal on it when he owned it so I would be surprised if its a total sieve underneath already. I know that he is awaiting a password reset email so he can get on here and speak to you.

[Cooperman]

'DD', you have a P.M.

[CityEPete]

ps,im sorry cityEpete but this is not about what you would have expected for 7k,its helping out a fellow mini enthusiast.

I was just talking out loud there really in as much as I thought we were taking about a 3-4k car tops, for 7k I'd say the op had been ripped off,the truth isn't always what we want to hear but it makes it no less true.

I'm happy to help mini owners and have spent a lot of time helping with electrical problems on this site and I'm providing my white mini for two weddings for free so don't try and make me into the bad guy but is anyone honestly going to do £2800 worth of welding to help out a forum member that bought a lemon?

I really hope it turns out well for the op one way or another.

[dyshipfakta]

Best of luck perhaps some pics of the areas might help put your mind as ease as others have said perhaps it is not as bad as you first thought.

[miniman retford]

Well first time I've been on here since getting a proper classic car in March 2014  (anybody missed me ?) and what a sad reason to come back.

I cant believe she can have got this bad since I had her last MOT in Jan 2014 at 50094 miles (& sold her in March 2014 to the Mini specialist) to the last MOT in Oct 2015 at 55464

The only advisory was rear subframe corroded but not weakened. the underside & sills were still as good as new with still the original white paint & not udersealed.

Have pm'd Decayingdoll with further info.