Can anybody give me advice please? I test drove a VRS at the weekend but can't possibly consider buying it because it was owned by a heavy smoker and smells really strong. The other reason I can't buy it is I want to use it for driving instruction, I would be paranoid of the smell for any customers.

Is it possible to remove the smell without stripping everything out? I've heard de-humidifiers help but not completely.

Thanks in advance.

Cut an onion in half and leave that in the car a few days, it absorbs the Smoke Smell.

And a lump of coal helps.

(It works like charcoal insoles in absorbing smell also)

george

does it leave an onion smell

Would you need a Canary in with the coal,

Health and Safety and all that

No it does not leave an onion smell.

You can wrap it a bit in cling film or tin foil but leave open enough and it will dry up in a week or so, but replace with a new cut one and it does help.

I used to use that to freshen up old caravans rather than Odour Neutralisers. (much cheapness for Scottish people.)

You can keep the lumps of coal for giving out at Hogmany, with some shortbread.

I once handed one across when first footing, wrapped in Cling film, because i had a pocket full.

Latter on i watched the guy skinning up & away to use it. Obviously thought i was generous with the Black Leb.

george

Edited 24 July, 201213 yr by sk4gw

As ^^^ an onion will do the trick also wash it with 1000 &1

if it smells of smoke, you maybe able to get rid of the smell but the rest of the interior will have yellowed and be covered in tobacco tar. If you are not a smoker you'll always get some residue smell, and if it were me I'd be looking for another example that has not been smoked in.

Well, this is handy!

1. Shampoo the car's interior, including carpets, upholstery and floor mats with an odor eliminating shampoo, available at hardware or home improvement stores.

2. Clean all washable interior surfaces with the same shampoo. Put a small amount directly on a damp sponge, work in and wipe down.

3. Clean all the windows inside with a glass cleaner. Repeat if necessary.

4. Sprinkle baking soda on dry carpet, working it in with your hands. Wait a week and then vacuum.

5. Clean leather upholstery with a commercial leather cleaner/deodorizer, available at your dealership or at home improvement stores.

6. Vacuum ashtrays to remove residual ash. Place a small amount of baking soda or kitty litter into the ashtrays to absorb odors.

Overall Tips:

To freshen the car, keep dryer sheets under the seats, or place a little activated charcoal in a no-spill container (such as a jar with small air holes in the top) and place in car.

Whenever possible, keep windows open when smoking in a car.

You may need to replace the car's headliner (or "ceiling") if you can't remove the smoke odor from it.

Overall Warnings:

Cigarette smoke can be extremely difficult to remove. If you are unsuccessful, consider taking the car to a professional detailer.

Air fresheners may disguise the smell of smoke but they won't remove it.

Thank you for all your replies, I really don't think I'll buy this car, maybe if they were to discount it substantially but I can't see that happening. If it doesn't sell in a month or two maybe I'll make them an offer, shame really as other than the smoke smell it's spotless and only done just over 9k :-(

Thanks again to you all.

Febreese wil kill smoking fumes.

Ahh Fabreese!!

I had to get rid of a car that had the worst smell i have ever ever smelt in my life.

I stripped the boot,

and tried repainting and flooding it with Fabreese and leaving to dry.

It stayed smelling OK for long enough to go through the Auction.

What happened was i had forgotten to remove a Watermellon from the boot when taking shopping home and it was in the corner beside jackets and stuff.

I was emptying the car to sell & there was a smell but just like dogs dirt.

As i moved stuff i spotted a Grey Hairy ball in the corner.

I prodded it and it burst open like some space monster & as the smell hit me i threw up.

The liquid was putrid.

So if you ever need to pay someone back, hide a watermellon someplace.

It would stop you from worrying about the smell of smoking in a car or house.

george

Full wet vac of the interior should help

Full wet vac of the interior should help

Yep and steam clean the plastics especially the vents , you can buy a cheap wallpaper stripper in argos which generates enough steam to do this

By the time all this money has been spent on hundreds of different products it may be cheaper to just buy a new car

Just start with buying an odor eliminator from Meguiars or AutoGlym

normally just use a steam cleaner here and it gets rid of all the smells.

autoglyms fresh spray is pretty good and can be sprayed over any surface too.

Steer clear!!

By the time you have spent loads getting rid of the smell you might aswel buy a newun!! The smell is everywhere, not just the seats!

You will always be paranoid about the stink!!

Anymind, VRS learner car!! I swear that sounds mint. I learnt in a 1.0ltr corsa!! Can I book a lesson anyway?? I wouldn't mind a little tinker for an hour?

It's really not that hard a steam cleaner and a wet vac is hardly going to break the bank nor is a bucket of warm water witha few drop of fairy liquid .

It took me about 1/2 day to sort my evo and it stank of smoke it really reeked

Avoid any strong smelling products you need to eliminate the cause of the smell not mask it

I love the way the smell of smoke is seen as acceptable. Has the dealer not got a sense of smell or are they holding out for a chain smoker who wants a fabia??

If the car smelt of **** the dealer wouldn't sell it?or at least they would do the cleaning themselves?? Instead of putting it on the forecourt stinkin!!

Bit of an update, the dealer rang me today offering another drive in the car, it's had an ionizer in it (or something like that) and now only faintly smells of smoke, they are going to VAX the seats, carpets and roof lining as much as possible.

They also said that if I'm still interested they'll do me a good price, what would you say is a good price for this car?

It's on a 60 plate, 9200 miles, ex demo plus one owner, all green with black alloys, bluetooth, climatronic, cruise and rear parking sensors?

Any ideas?

Whats it advertised at 10999?

Hi, it's on for£12,495. Parkers guide list It at £12,510 for a 10/60 at a franchised dealer

Do you know how long they have had it for sale? Have you decided if you want the car, or do you just buy cars on there price?

I would be asking questions of the Dealership.

What is the Story Jackanory?

was it 'their' demonstrator & did they sell it used.

Was this ex Demonstrator then returned early by the Private buyer because of High Oil usage or some other fault.

Did Skoda UK take it back in, do remedial work & then put it back into the Trade.

None of that is a problem, i bought one of those and am delighted with it.

The purchase price should reflect that tho IMO.

You are going to have to ask similar with any used vRS you go to look at at dealerships.

Skoda UK should show on the Service Log when engines are rebuilt & a change for a Replkacement engine shouuld be very easy to find in the paper work.

Nice to get a used car with a new Factory supplied engine, if all is well with it, IMO.

Smokey Joe car,

maybe not unless paying Bottom Book Price.

You are doing them a favour.

george

When a dealer phones you back it is a sign that they are desperate to sell.

Combine thus with the stink and you could get a good deal.

You must dig first and ask all the questions that Sk4gw mentions.

It's the end of the month and the new reg is coming out.