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        General >> Problems >> Help & Advice Needed
        
(Message started by: spencer on Feb 20^th, 2005, 1:38am)

Title: Help & Advice Needed
Post by spencer on Feb 20^th, 2005, 1:38am

I wonder If anyone could offer me some advice to a problem I have with a so called trader I purchased my 24v Scorpio Ultima for £1750.00.

Within a week of drving the car away from the trader it broke down and was towed to a Ford Dealer (Dagenham Motors). The symtoms of the breakdown were miss-firing and then the engine cutting out. At this point I had no reason to question the honesty of the trader who sold me the car. I was then told by Dagenham Motors that the reason the car had broken down was that there was a severe oil leak coming from the timing chain tensioner gasket and dripping onto the alternator hense burning out the wiring causing the car to break down. I agreed for works to be carried out hoping that this was the problem solved. I was charged £825.00 including V.A.T. for the gasket to be replaced, a new alternator and new battery. Not a major expense considering the type of car. I did not involve the trader as buying secondhand cars you do expect a slight payout to get the vehicle to your standard. I drove the car away and noticed that it was still miss-firing very badly at low revs (firing on only 3 cylinders) but seemed to be ok once travelling 50mph or faster. I broke down a second time and instigated a full check up with dagenham motors to be carried out. A report was given to me stating that the head gasket had gone as water was leaking into the oil and that the gearbox had passed its useby date and would need replacing here was also indication that the engine and gearbox had recently been taken out. I asked Dagenham Motors to repair whatever was necessary to enable to be roadworthy again. I was advised by them that it was probably an expense more than the car was worth (very honest dealer) and I should think very carefully before agreeing. However, I liked the car so much and the bodywork was immaculate I agreed for the works to be carried out also it is nice tohave an unusual car. I was kept informed by Dagenham motors every step of the way during the repair process which took several weeks. I had a new radiator, both head gaskets replaced, new timing chain tensioners, new hoses, O rings, and a new gearbox all at a cost of £3,200.00. The report also confirmed that the trader who sold me the car would have known about all of these issues before selling it to me. I have now got a very reliable Scorpio (albeit at a cost) that last me a very long time. I am in the process of sueing the trader for £750.00 to be paid back to me under the sale of goods act as in my opinion I was sold a car not fit for the road. The traders son is saying I have been stitched up by Dagenham Motors and the work could have been done alot cheaper. There are a few questions I would like help with in order to continue my case with the trader.

1. Did I pay the right price for the car in the mechanical state it was?

2. Have I spent too much making roadworthy again?

3. Am I reasonable in asking for £750.00 back from the trader? (Full amount not requested as we did not take the car back to the trader for him to put right)

4. What is the car worth now A1 Condition?

Any comments or thoughts would be greatly appreciated

thank you

Spencer

P.S. I went to my first granada and Scorpio enthusiasts club meeting on 30th January at Halfway House, met Phil Waller and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Title: Re: Help & Advice Needed
Post by Vulcan on Feb 20^th, 2005, 3:24am

Spencer,
we never buy these cars because they are cheap transport but that said you deserve a medal for doing all you did to get your Scorpio top notch.
As for what it's worth.. well that a big old sliding scale from 5 grand down to 500 quid.. you don't say how old she is...
As for claiming from the trader... it may be worth a shot.. weigh up the costs...and take legal advice.
Without knowing all the specs of the car it's impossible to estimate her value, but the true monetary value will never match what you feel she is worth to you.
Post up some info about her and some photos and someone will come back with a reasonable value.

hth

George

Title: Re: Help & Advice Needed
Post by johnv on Feb 20^th, 2005, 8:17am

Well I think we all know the answer to this.
First. was it brought from a trader or was it private. (I ask this because you say "so called trader")
If its private, you are up the creek without a paddle. you buy as seen. and that is that.
Of course if he is private, pretending to be a trader, you should go off to trading standards, phone number in the phone book.
If he his indeed a trader, the car should have been in roadworthy condition. and fit for the purpose it is intended.
I.e. road legal and the car should drive forwards and backwards.
The price on Parkers for a 1996 24V Ultima saloon car, buying from a independed garage is £1960 in good condition.
Can't understand why you paid any money out at all. you don't need any guarantee. The law is your guarantee.
You are entitled to have the car put right. but you should have got two quotes, which the law requires.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I not 100% sure of what I saying from now, that is why I drawn a line.
Are you entited to all you had to pay out £3,200 or just the £1750. the price you paid for it. in repairs. I rather think you are intited to all.
But it real bad that you did not get two quotes. but all is not lost, you now need to get a quote from another garage, saying how much they would have charged.
You are not duty bound to go to a small back street garage you can go and be entited to go to a Ford Garage.
Having spent all that money the car is still worth the same i.e. £1960.
But you should have gone back to the trader, that's going to work against you, not giving the trader the chance to put things right.
So you will have to come to some sort of agreement with the trader on any refund. I would say if you are happy with £750 back that would be very resonable because it would have cost certainly that and more to put the car right.
If I was the dealer I would grap that pay out and think myself lucky to get rid of you at a saving in what he is lible for.

Title: Re: Help & Advice Needed
Post by johnv on Feb 20^th, 2005, 8:21am

if you had been in the AA you could have got free legal advice from them as to where you stand.
But trading standards will also tell you free your entitlements.
but if you look in your yellow pages you will see a lot of solicitors that will give you half an hour of their time free of charge to discuss you case and see if it is worth proceeding in any legal action.