Delivered with no oil...

[Jimmeney]

We ordered a MK6 Golf SE 2.0TDI in Red - not a hard car to get hold of you might think, but it took about 6 months from order to delivery, finally arriving this Tuesday.

It was driven from Cardiff to Birmingham where it was delivered onto the drive and the car stank of hot oil, however we put this down to a brand new car on its first high speed journey. The delivery guy was in a rush and left quickly, however on an initial inspection of the car, besides brake dust, the car seemed fine.

Started the car, the oil light is on, there is loads of oil beneath the car and still some dripping from the bottom, call out the RAC who inspects the car - there is no oil in the car at all and the tray underneath the engine is full of oil, the back wheels are also covered in spots of oil, and it's clear that the vehicle had been driven for a while in this state.

The RAC man has told us that he would reject the car if he was in our shoes, the driveway is also covered in oil. I would consider the car dangerous - the car was handed over to my sister who is 6 months pregnant - and obviously showing.

We were told by a Volkswagen garage that the car should have had a quart of oil in the boot - and this wasn't there, but I'm not sure how true this is? We have two 2.0TDI A4's and neither of these were delivered with one - although if Golfs do have one it would suggest the delivery guy stopped to top it up.

We're trying to reject the car - at the moment a (very arsey and decidedly unapologetic) VW finance are trying to say that there was no way the delivery driver could have known the car was in that state and that they will have the engine taken apart and inspected for damage.

Is it unreasonable to not want a brand new '10 registered car that:
a) was driven for over 100 miles with oil leaking out and potentially no oil in the system
b) has been taken apart and put back together

Anyway, over than that it appears to be a beautiful car that we wish we didn't have to reject, and I just wanted a rant!!!

[noonoo63]

Tell them to shove it where the sun don't shine. You are paying top dollar for a car that may have significant damage and it is not unreasonable to expect the car to be PERFECT in every way especially after waiting six months. If they wont play ball get a lawyer onto it, also newspapers ( Sunday Post raw deal page in Scotland is very good ), Watchdog, citizens advice and anyone else you can think of.

[vwcabriolet1971]

Write to supplying dealer formally rejecting the car as it not fit for purpose and has been supplied with serious fault before you even drove the car . Also inform them that storage charges ( say £50 /day) will be applied for storing their car on your drive unless removed within say 1 week and a charge of £300 will be made to clean drive.
Inform them that you ordered a new car & that's what you expect. Get RAC guys name as witness. If car was bought on VW finance scheme refer matter to ombudsman ( C.A.B. will help).
Try and enlist the support of any watchdog authority (Which magazine , Autoexpress , VAG UK ,etc ) and consult C.A.B. , local paper etc . Inform dealer you are doing this (Name & shame them on this forum ?)
They shouldn''t get away with this. You are entitled to new car replacement. At the very least a new engine.
Imagine what a dealer would say if exactly the same thing had happened with your part exchange on the way to pick-up a new car !
Would he then give you the same allowance if you offered to fix it ?

[Gerryf]

Whatta bummer Jimmeney

Reject reject reject !

[Issac Hunt]

I wouldn't want it even if they changed the engine. Get rid of it.

[percymon]

Reject the car asap in writing to the supplying dealer. Before doing so check the details in the computer for average mpg and mph by the delivery driver, he could well have ragged it. I suppose Your sister signed to accept the car, but even though it's on your drive it's the equivalent of sitting in the showroom floor with oil dripping out.

[Vincent Vega]

Hmm, I wonder why the delivery guy left quickly? Did he give you a proper opportunity to inspect the car?

Do not under any circumstances drive the car or attempt to move it. Get on to Trading Standards, the CAB and consider legal advice if VW try and play hardball.

Draft a formal letter, setting out your reasons for rejection. Keep it simple and the language plain, and try to resist the temptation to rant. Set out what happened in chronological order. Before you even start writing the letter, write down everything that happened since the delivery man turned up, whilst it's still fresh in your mind. Get your sister, condition permitting, to do the same. Suggest that the car is not fit for purpose, and is obviously dangerous. You have no way of knowing how long it was driven for in that state, nor the way in which it was being driven.

Ensure that the letter is sent by recorded delivery to the dealership, and send another copy to their head office. The Companies House web site should help you find out the address.

Have a look at the various Sale of Goods Acts. These imply terms into contracts for the sales of goods (hence the name!) - the goods have to be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and so on. Your car obviously isn't. It's a few days old, and there's all sorts of damage.

It may also be worth reading this web site and consulting the code of practice for new cars - your garage may be signed up:

http://www.motorcodes.co.uk/our-codes/new-car/

[james_tiger_woo]

What Vega said - don't touch it or move it - get a written report from RAC about its state. Take as many photos as you can of the car, drive and everything....

Do nothing with this car and get on to the dealer.

[HHGTTG]

This is an horrendous story and I can't add anything other than what has already been said. I can't imagine how the OP feels having had that car delivered in that conditions to his house. I will follow this thread with interest - good luck.

[Jimmeney]

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies - it's a company motor - but our company, we've spoken to our solicitor and he's providing a template letter of rejection for us to fill in and use.

There's no way we want that car, the person who it was for just wouldn't feel safe driving it and who know what maintenance bills it'll need. We've had the car trailered back to Volkswagen already - but they're trying to look at the car and fix it rather than let us.

I'm glad you're all saying to reject it, the lady at VW made it sound like I was being ridiculous to reject the car - just hope it gets resolved quickly as we're having to play musical cars which somehow involves her in my A4 and me in a van... how's that work?

Will keep you updated and let you know!