Hi all,

 

Almost a Skoda owner here, 

 

So I've been viewing used cars for a while to replace my 16 year old Merc which is coming to the end of it's life. I found a Superb after viewing anything and everything that had my main requirements which are heated seats and drivers legroom. I'm 6'6". I thought wow what a car. The only fault i could find was the interior lights weren't working. So I left a deposit with full intention of buying. I had initially though it must be a fuse or a loose connection.... Until I got home and onto my trusty laptop. and googled 'skoda superb interior lights'... OMG...I was horrified by what i read. 

 

I'm pretty capable when it comes to diy on my car, But after doing some reading it's not something I want to be dealing with upon becoming the new owner of a used car, especially as I agreed on a price which is above book value. £4700. but as the car appeared mint, 06 plate, 76k, full skoda stamped service book plus receipts. Timing belt done. last service 6k ago. and in black too with satnav, heated leather, amazing sounding stereo,

 

I will speak with the dealer (just a used car lot, not main) tomorrow to highlight my concerns, but what are the chances this is the water ingress problem? and if it is, do you think i would be legally entitled to a refund on my £200 deposit? Although I would much rather lose it than pay nearly £5k for a lemon. I fear if i was to let the dealer 'sort' the problem before completing the purchase, it wouldn't be a full fix. Of course I would prefer it wasn't this problem because i fell in love with the car but I'm not feeling very optimistic.

 

 

Your thoughts please. 

 

 

 

Hi and welcome aboard.

Just an update.

 

I spoke to the dealer and said i was concerned about this water ingress problem. And i want to come and check under the carpets. He said yes fine, If your not happy i'll refund your deposit.

 

So I turned up today with a screwdriver, and guess what, the plastic screw cover was missing on the panel in the passenger footwell..Anyway I removed the screw and took off the panel, which was enough to get my hand under the carpet, and sure enough the underlay was saturated.

 

I told the dealer i didn't want the car and he refunded me, Phew, that was a close call! I'm sure it would have been different if I'd paid in full and driven off.

 

So, I'm not a Skoda owner after all. It's kind of put me off Skodas altogether, In fact I'm sick and tired of trying to find my next car. Why can't people be honest. Why do they feel the need to omit information when you phone up to view hoping that if they can just get you to look at it, you will buy it. I always ask are there any problems with the car when i call.

 

Over the past few weeks I've been up against allsorts, From a cracked windscreen, eml, abs light, srs light. an obvious unrecorded accident repair, rusty wheel arches, 2 bald tyres and now this! All on different vehicles.

 

All costing me time and money, because people can not just say oh yes this or that is up with it. And car sellers have the cheek to call buyers timewasters.

 

I understand that buying used car of this age, it isn't going to be perfect, But I can handle the scuffed wheels, sticking locks and buttons missing off the stereo, worn bolsters, the finish rubbing off interior door handles, marks on the carpet, even marks on the paintwork, I understand they suffer wear and tear and can live with that. It's when a car has obvious issues other than wear and tear, and the seller doesn't disclose them over the phone. 

Edited 15 October, 201312 yr by Twillskoda

Wow you got lucky there! Bet you are SO glad you checked online! I would never have imagined an interior light problem would relate to water ingress and sodden underlay.