Proper shafted by a dealer?

[golfdude]

I'm in an odd situation at the moment. I bought a new Golf a little over a month ago. I flagged a bodywork defect to them the day after I bought it. They have attempted to repair a bodywork defect on several occations by means of so called 'adjustment', each time not being to my satisfaction.  The only reason I have allowed the continual efforts to fix is on the proviso that no re-spraying happens. I backed this up previous to the efforts with a letter I sent to them saying, fix it, but no respraying. Everytime they said no respraying would be done.

I get the car back a couple of days ago and they have resprayed a large proportion of the car in order to repair the fault. NOT HAPPY. They say the repair is satisfactory and deny that respraying had been done. Shortly after I find out from another source that it was sprayed because of damage to it whilst at a bodyshop. (which I know is bullsh1t)

A new car with just a smige over 1000miles on the clock and new it has been resprayed?

Where do I stand, I really don't want a car that is barely over a month old which has been repainted against my will. Especially sine I could spot the repair:embarassed:

[The Doc]

REJECT IT

Trading standards next and if bought on finance tell them that you want to reject the car on quality issues!

[VWmaindealer]

Hmm, tricky one in my opinion.

You haven't really given the dealer the opportunity to rectify the car as you won't allow them to paint it.

Any VW main dealer will either have, or have access to a Volkswagen approved bodyshop who can carry out paintwork to Volkswagen standards which will look the same and not effect your warranty.

I think most people would be surprised/amazed/shocked at how much rectification work to new cars is carried out between leaving the factory and arriving on your drive.  Cars get damaged or are faulty. It's a sad fact of the manufacturing process.

your dealer will need to be given a fair opportunity to rectify the car (which will include painting if neccesary) before you can take legal action.  If the paint work it still unsatisfactory, then you can proceed futher.

I'd be interested to know what the defect was that required the dealer to respray so much of the car (even though they denied doing it).

Vwmd

[The Doc]

BUT a dealer can not ever paint the car like the factory can...

[VWmaindealer]

Yeah, but from the sounds of it, the factory couldn't do it propoerly anyway.....

[av_guy]

Given that there is an issue (yet to be proved), if I have paid x amount for the car, I would expect a car in that condition (brand new) as marketed or as deemed to be sold.

Analogy:
When we go out to purchase a new Toaster, we do not expect to pay for a broken/used one, brought back to new condition for the same price.

I don't think it is  a matter of rectifying - there should not have been the damage on the new car to begin with, so IMHO it is a matter of principle. If the dealer cannot provide a rectification without havign to respray, then an alternative same spec/new same spec vehicle should be an option.

My parents had an issue with our VW dealer, where the sales person lost the plot after we handed over the deposit and agreed the contract for payment in full for a £28K GTI - no finance, etc. The dealer principle had to be called to resolve the situation. Upon delivery of the vehicle, we were provided one set of keys and no explanation provided as to where the second set was. Upon asking, the sales person, he said the keys were not working to open/close doors or arm/disarm the car alarm. The worst part was that the sales person and the dealer principle failed to mention the malfunctioning keys. I suggested both failure in service and also product. "No return and no money back I'm afraid" was informed to me, so I had the lawyer on the case - one notice and everything worked like clockwork.

This should not have to be this way! What has happened to a quality product, good service of 100% - not 99% or even 101% - just 100% which is what we pay for?

Having said all this, I have to say the entire product is amazing subsequent to our experiences. Dealer offered free 1st service and also free protective coating, together with a few options thrown in and a discount too.

This is one of the reasons I decided to over away from the VW marque and found solace in Bavaria. However, given that even BMW models are just not looking the part any more, I think a switch to VW is in order in the next year or two.

Just my two pence.
av