Guys my father got a new Focus a number of months ago, but recently has noticed that one of the rear doors appeared to be a darker shade than the rest of the car. He brought it in to the dealer and they agree and told him it is just a problem with that door so said they

Smells like dockside / storage yard damage to me...

Not sure i'd be happy with a re-spray on a new car.

Smells like dockside / storage yard damage to me...

Not sure i'd be happy with a re-spray on a new car.

Exactly what I was thinking Geoff.

I wouldnt swallow it either.

Smells like dockside / storage yard damage to me...

Not sure i'd be happy with a re-spray on a new car.

Thats exactly what I was thinking and to be honest I think he know it, but how do you prove it.

Thats exactly what I was thinking and to be honest I think he know it, but how do you prove it.

Do you have to prove it ?

The dealer has already effectively admitted the "damage" was not caused after the car left their possession by offering to re-spray it. To me, that says they knew about it.

I wouldn't settle for a re-spray unless it was a last resort.

But how many months ago was the car bought? I'm not sure on the details but you only get so long to reject a car, surely? I think you need to give the dealer the opportunity to put the problem right. If it's not upto scratch after the repair then you need to complain bitterly.....

Almost certainly some sort of repair after the car was made. I guess the dealer has to be given the chance to put it right & spraying only the damaged panel is the best answer.

Assuming you agree to the dealer doing the repair & you probably have no choice, he has to be given the chance I would still write to the dealer reserving the right to reject the repair again in the future should it change colour in some months time & get the dealer to agree to this in writing before you accept the repair. Its happened before so could happen again, the dealer should not have a problem with this, after all if the repair is done correctly there wont be a problem

Also check the car carefully for any other damage on other panels in case there are any other defective repairs, also might be worth getting a second opinion from a reputable body shop & getting them to give it a look over before you agree anything with the dealer, normally a tenner should sort that.

Repairing new cars is a lot more common than many people think, a friend of mines body shop has a deal with a local large franchise & gets a lot of work "tidying up" new cars & even with quite smal marks they spray the whole panel so dont worry, youre badly sprayed panel might be the result of quite a small amount of damage, if youre worried on that score ask a bodyshop to remove the door lining to look at the inside of the door skin, if it was badly damaged or if the door was re-skinned they will be able to tell although at the end of the day if its properly repaired there wont be a problem.

Gaff, this problem was discussed in here at length a couple of weeks ago.

It really is horrifying the number of new cars that get damaged in transit...sometimes even before they leave the factory!

I live just a couple of miles from the Vauxhall plant (Astra) and as a consequence, a large number of my neighbours work there. The horror stories from the factory that I hear about would make your eyes water :eek:

Have you asked the dealer if there would be any chance of swapping the said door off another brand new..or possibly a recent 2nd hand Focus of the exact same colour? It would need to be inspected for damage first mind you.

Also have to take into consideration that their can be up to 5-10 different tints of one colour! :eek:

Just a thought, that would save you having to have the door resprayed by their bodyshop.

I know bits do get swapped around from car to car behind the scenes.

ps..would also be the sort of job they could do while you wait almost!

Try going to our owners club website to see if any other owners have had this problem. The forum is huge and I'm sure anyone with the same problem will have posted some information.

Try www.ffoc.co.uk then goto the forums

Andy

(Octy and Focus owner !!)