Looks like I’ve purchased a bad car!

I purchased my 66 plate Scout on  Sunday afternoon-less than a week ago! Drove it from Bowker Ribble Valley to Glasgow and it drove fine. I was happy.

I drove it to my friends garage to let him see my new purchase and he instantly told me the car had a ‘dry pulley’ noise from under the bonnet. He advised me not to drive it just in case it was on the ‘timing’ side.

I left the car with him and he removed the fan belt but the noise (chirp) was still there! So it’s a timing kit that is needed.

£550 job. 
The car has covered 47,000 miles - surely this car should not be requiring a timing belt kit at its age and miles???

Im seriously considering giving the car back and demanding a full £14000 refund this weekend.

 

Are there any thoughts on why this serviceable item could fail so early?

Was it a private seller or garage? 

I think you’re going to have a tough time demanding that refund given you’ve let someone else work on it now. 

1 minute ago, SC03OTT said:

I think you’re going to have a tough time demanding that refund given you’ve let someone else work on it now. 

Yes, completely agree with SCO3OTT. Timing belts are due at around 5 years anyway so you have done it a bit early, not a bad thing tbh.

Having googled Bowker Ribble Valley it comes back as a car dealership.  So assuming thats where you brought it from (apologies if not) why would you then let another garage work on it, why not take it back to them to be inspected?  Did it not come with a warranty?  I though that under car sales rules (from a garage) if there was an issue with a car that they had 3 attempts to fix it before legally having to refund you.

 

As an additional note however, I had a 15 plate Scout that had a chirp noise, i too thought it was cambelt and it was approaching the mileage that it needed doing., so booked it in. Three days later the aircon pump packed up and the noise went away 😄 ...... Turn aircon off and set fans to Zero (as aircon pump is always partially engaged even when aircon is off) and see if noise goes.

Have to agree with other comments. The OP said he was happy with the car on the lengthy drive home. He was also happy with the car when driving it to his mechanical friends place. How can the car be a lemon if you're happy with it?

 

1 minute ago, ScoutCJB said:

I though that under car sales rules (from a garage) if there was an issue with a car that they had 3 attempts to fix it before legally having to refund you.

 

There was never any hard and fast rule but it was generally accepted that you had to give the supplier serveral chances to rectify the problem. But that was all superceded by the consumer rights act back in 2015 ( or was it '16 ? ).

 

If someone told me not to drive the car, my first action would be to contact the supplying dealership. Why wouldn't you?  They're the one's who should be advising, not some 3rd party. 

 

Only option now would be to contact supplying dealer, say there's a funny noise and have been advised it may be an issue with the timing system. Whatever you do, don't tell them someone has played around with the engine otherwise you've voided your warranty. And best not to mention you were happy with the car on the drive home.

Slow month at your friend's garage? How reliable is the diagnosis? 

 

As has been said, I doubt any garage would entertain a refund or looking at it if someone else has already been tinkering. 

Edited 28 February, 20206 yr by Tazdaz

19 hours ago, WillieXJR said:

I drove it to my friends garage to let him see my new purchase and he instantly told me the car had a ‘dry pulley’ noise from under the bonnet. He advised me not to drive it just in case it was on the ‘timing’ side.

 

Ideally your friend should have advised you to notify the fault immediately to the garage where you purchased the car from.........we await further information from @WillieXJR

If you haven't already, you should still do this and act on their advice / reply.

Just do not tell them your friend has had the fan belt off. Just explain the noise and that someone mentioned it being a possible issue....

If you are driving it and something went wrong your warranty would cover it

 

If you think your car is a lemon cos it has one little 'chirp' noise????? Bit OTT imo.

5 hours ago, Tazdaz said:

Slow month at your friend's garage? How reliable is the diagnosis? 

 

As has been said, I doubt any garage would entertain a refund or looking at it if someone else has already been tinkering. 

My friend never has a slow day, never mind a ‘slow month’ - he owns and maintains over 20 Skodas which he rents to very happy drivers in a reputable taxi firm.

He knows the Octavia and Superb very well.

 

@WillieXJR  Welcome to the forum.   

Your friend should know exactly what is wrong then and the cost of putting right.    

9 hours ago, durhamfisher said:

Yes, completely agree with SCO3OTT. Timing belts are due at around 5 years anyway so you have done it a bit early, not a bad thing tbh.

The 190 mile door to door distance was a problem for the dealership. They couldn’t ask me to drive it back for fear of something going seriously wrong....and they did not offer recovery to Blackburn.

The manager basically tried washing his hands of the problem and told me I had taken the warranty and to deal with it and the warranty company. 
Great customer service huh!

When I told him I was contemplating returning the car this weekend he told me he’d reduce the refund due to depreciation!!!!

Even better customer service huh!

I managed to speak to the salesman I’d been dealing with from the start and having sent him a video to enable him to hear the noise and he agreed that I should not be left with this problem, having only taken the car home.

This afternoon he has agreed that the dealership will meet the cost of the work involved, which will be around the £500 figure.

Things are looking up and hopefully, next week, I will be able to enjoy my new purchase.

Sounds like a good result then!

16 minutes ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

@WillieXJR  Welcome to the forum.   

Your friend should know exactly what is wrong then and the cost of putting right.    

Thank you.

Yes, both my friends are extremely efficient and knowledgeable at what they do.

I’ve known them for over 20 years and have entrusted them to do all work with my and my family’s cars.

 

Generally, most car dealers will take a Scout - as they generally hold their value.  My first Scout was a COMPLETE lemon, because the servicing was not done properly; however, I persisted with it, because I liked the car.  I think I spent 1500 in three months on my 2009 MK2 Scout; and what a lot of people forget is that if you can afford to take it to a Skoda dealer, then you get a 2 year warranty on all parts and equipment.  So - love it, own it and enjoy it - and just because it has the word Scout on it - doesn't mean that it doesn't need fettling.  I'm based over the other side of the country, so feel free to PM me if you need any Scout related advice.

Glad you've got a favourable outcome. Regarding returning, the act from.2015 applies to used cars too and within 30 days you can return it for a FULL refund if the fault was present at the time of purchase. After 30mdays and up to 6 months the garage have a legal right to 1 attempt to fix the problem. If it remains you can get a refund minus a cost for use..normally.40p a mile kinda thing.

 

I'm.going through the same scenario currently....not a fun time and I'm.l glad you've have a swift decision

@WillieXJR 

What is the service and warranty history like on the car and who did the servicing?

?

Has the Haldex been serviced @ 3 years or back at 30,000 miles?

4 minutes ago, varaderoguy said:

Generally, most car dealers will take a Scout - as they generally hold their value.  My first Scout was a COMPLETE lemon, because the servicing was not done properly; however, I persisted with it, because I liked the car.  I think I spent 1500 in three months on my 2009 MK2 Scout; and what a lot of people forget is that if you can afford to take it to a Skoda dealer, then you get a 2 year warranty on all parts and equipment.  So - love it, own it and enjoy it - and just because it has the word Scout on it - doesn't mean that it doesn't need fettling.  I'm based over the other side of the country, so feel free to PM me if you need any Scout related advice.

Thank you!

 I have never paid so much money for a car in the past - up to 5k at most, and then just kept them serviced until they eventually died or became uneconomical to keep!

I saw a Scout last year and it really caught my eye and knew I’d get one eventually.

Hopefully this has just been a bad start to the new relationship and I’ll have many happy miles with her/him.

I also recommend a gearbox oil change (if it either a manual or a DSG) - because that made a huge difference to my manual gearbox on my 2016 Scout (SM16 HWE).

5 minutes ago, Cranmasterflash said:

Glad you've got a favourable outcome. Regarding returning, the act from.2015 applies to used cars too and within 30 days you can return it for a FULL refund if the fault was present at the time of purchase. After 30mdays and up to 6 months the garage have a legal right to 1 attempt to fix the problem. If it remains you can get a refund minus a cost for use..normally.40p a mile kinda thing.

 

I'm.going through the same scenario currently....not a fun time and I'm.l glad you've have a swift decision

I hope you do too!

I contacted my local trading standards this morning and they told me the same as you.

The dealership manager angered me so much the other night. So much so, I was actually looking forward to handing him the keys back this weekend, but as I do like the Scout, I’d have been biting my nose off to spite my face.

The original salesman whom I’d dealt with from enquiring about the vehicle has turned out to be very understanding and honest and I could not fault his attitude.

14 minutes ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

@WillieXJR 

What is the service and warranty history like on the car and who did the servicing?

?

Has the Haldex been serviced @ 3 years or back at 30,000 miles?

Yes, all is good and up to date. Serviced previously by Skoda 👍

I can imagine dealers get a lot of buyers regret type issues and buyers trying it on making stuff up. So.i can understand a little bit of resistance to begin with. 

12 minutes ago, Cranmasterflash said:

I can imagine dealers get a lot of buyers regret type issues and buyers trying it on making stuff up. So.i can understand a little bit of resistance to begin with. 

Perhaps so, but I’m as honest as the day is long.

 

Just now, WillieXJR said:

Perhaps so, but I’m as honest as the day is long.

 

Unfortunately not everyone is these days especially when money is to he gained or lost

Anyway lads, things are now looking up for me and the Scout.

Thanks for your input and chat on this subject and I look forward to reading through the forum over the next few weeks.

Haha yeah we did morph into an episode of rogue traders for a minute. Good luck with the scout. 🤞🏻 for some trouble free motoring ahead of you

Edited 28 February, 20206 yr by Cranmasterflash