Hi guys, not in a very good mood tonight and I hope some of you may be able to help :(

I picked the furby vrs up a week last Wednesday from {garage name removed} (great bunch of guys so I'll mention their name to give them credit). The car was registered in December 2005 with 7085 miles on the clock and I was told it was an ex demonstrator. The log book showed 1 lady owner and that was all fine.

However when I origionally viewed the car, the front passenger wheel was kerbed and there were a few scuffs on the panels and a chip on the bonnet. I was told by the salesman that the car would look spot on when I would pick it up. So we did the deal and I park ex'd the Clio for the furby. When I went to pick the car up, the whole car was covered in swirls and there were loads of stone chips on the bonnet and bumper. Told them to use the buffer properly and to fill the chips in, which they did do. Was disappointed that the stone chips were not visible previously but these things happen I guess.

After my detailing session the other day (see other thread), the chips were much more prominent and I was not happy at all (see other thread lol). So I queried with the dealer that a 6 month old car that was being used solely as a demonstrator would not have that amount of damage on the front of it. A man came to inspect the car today and found that the paint was fine. The garage as a goodwill gesture decided they would swap the bonnet over from another car with much less chips in, and I would have to pay for the bumper to be sprayed if I wanted that sorting. I thought this was a great outcome and the guys at the dealership were really helpful.

BUT...was driving the car before and the passenger side wiper arm snapped off completely and fell off :confused: I cleaned the car before and liften the wipers up but did not hear anything nor did I damage anything. I am super careful when it comes to cars and this shows with the amount fo effort it took detailing the car etc. I AM anal when it comes to car maintenance lol! So am slightly puzzled what happened there. I also noticed this morning that there sounded like a screw loose in the bootlid, and noticed that the left side was slightly loose and not secured properly. Not only that, but over the last few days I have noticed a weird rattling noise coming from the gearstick when i sometimes change gear. I think the gearstick rattle was mentioned in an earlier thread by someone but not sure what the outcome was of that.

My query is: how long do I have to reject the car and could I get a refund or pay the difference and order a new furby? And if I was to go to the dealership tomorrow, what sort of things should I ask them to do? I'm contemplating giving them tomorrow morning to sort the boot rattle out and the front wiper arm, and then give them Monday to look at the gearstick and change the bonnet. I also expect them to pay for the bumper to be sprayed as another goodwill gesture as I feel that a 6 month old car does not look right messed up at the front, and the amount of things going wrong with it is putting me off the car! I feel that after paying over the odds for what is essentially a little shopping trolley (yes I know other vrs's are overpriced too) that the car should be in a decent state and things shouldn't go wrong with it so soon (about a week and a half after picking it up).

Any help is appreciated and I just want to know what my rights are with regards to rejecting the car or changing it for a new model (3 month wait unfortunately though). I know I mentioned the garage's name but I just want to highlight that they did a decent job so far apart from the valeters leaving the swirls in the paint and marks on the seat. The result from the stone chips query was satisfactory and they have been superb in helping me so far. If people feel the name should be removed then I will do so.

If the car is an Ex Demo............How come it was registered to a "Lady owner" The garage would have been the First Owner...Is it the same Car you "Viewed"

So I queried with the dealer that a 6 month old car that was being used solely as a demonstrator would not have that amount of damage on the front of it.

Demonstrators get the tats ragged of 'em! IMO they will show 'some' extra wear and tear compared to a privately owned car.

I haven't got the log book back yet but I think it was the same car. Basically that lady worked for a Skoda dealership and it was her car, which they used as a demonstrator too. but that bit doesn't bother me, I just want the car either sorted quickly, including the bumper being sprayed free of charge, or for them to have the car back and I'll have to order a new one instead (with the dreaded engine stutter)

Take it back to garage for repair at their cost. They have a right to repair it before you make demands of a refund.

Stone chips happen, but if you have detailed your car so soon, then you will probably taken off the soft paint.

The gear stick rattle is common & improves with more mileage.

The information below is posted on the Used Cars section of Skoda UK's website here. Check the used car warranty supplied with your car to see if it says the same.

Retailer Approved Used Vehicle Programme

To ensure that you receive the highest standards of quality and consistency, used vehicles available through this web-site are supplied with all the benefits of the Škoda Retailer Approved used vehicle Programme. These include the following:

12 months minimum comprehensive parts and labour warranty

Your “Retailer Approved” vehicle will be supplied with a minimum of 12 months warranty. This will either comprise of the remainder of the manufacturers warranty, Škoda Retailer Approved warranty or a combination of the two.

This will give you peace of mind motoring for the duration of your cover, and you have the opportunity to extend the period of the warranty at the time of vehicle purchase.

12 months minimum breakdown and recovery

Škoda has joined forces with the AA, the UK’s leading breakdown assistance organisation, to bring you Škoda Assistance, a roadside assistance package, which is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Multi-point vehicle inspection check

A comprehensive workshop check by fully qualified technicians of your vehicle before you take delivery, so that you can be confident of its condition.

Vehicle status checks

A third party investigation of your vehicle’s history and mileage, to make sure that amongst other things your vehicle is not the subject of outstanding finance, or has been stolen or written off.

30 day/1,000 mile exchange

This demonstrates your retailer’s confidence in the vehicles that are on offer.

(Terms & conditions apply)

**deleted**

Hi guys thanks for your replies. The car was paid by cash so no finance involved. When they say there's a 30k/1000mile exchange, does that mean I have to swap it for another used car or can I order a new one instead?

I believe it's an exchange for a similar car (age/mileage).

I bet the dealer would go for it if you tried to negotiate exchanging your current one for new car.........

Seeings as you asked - your car is covered by the sale of goods act. If you were told things that were not done or were not true then the contract of sale is null and void. Secondly, if the dealer wants to charge you for work that the car required at sale time then you need to get some legal advice if they told you it'd look like new.

You can reject a car at any time and any age theoretically, though in practice you're looking at the first 12 months.

I really feel sorry for you but it backs up the fact that buying an ex-demo is a bigger gamble than a normal used car because everyone who has ever driven it will have abused it - a privately owned car (or even a company car :eek: ) will normally have had easier lives and been looked after better.

If the dealer will upgrade to a new one for very little money then that's the way to go IMHO as you really don't know what the long term outlook for this car is - you can guarantee it was never broken in properly too :thumbdwn:

Couldn't agree more with what StevRS just said.

As for exhanging it then maybe that is the way forward for you, that way the dealer keeps your business and you get a different car. Win-win situation maybe?

If you've paid, say, 10995 for the car then it's only another 10% more on top of that to get into a new one with 0 miles on it.

I should think they might be able to get you a cancelled order or something through the network if you arent choosy about colour and you dont want any options fitted to it.

IRF what as been the outcome? are you happy?

He said in another thread that he's a bit happier now and everything is pretty much fixed, that can be fixed

sorry id idnt update the thread, work blocked the site out but only unblocked it today. and am busy doing other stuff at home hehe. i decided to keep the car as there's no point losing all that money on a new one and waiting 3 months for it to arrive. plus there's still the warranty to fall back on. they changed the bonnet so the front doesnt look as bad and you can only see the damage on the bumper when you get close.