Just picked up my new (well year old) car last night from a largee car dealer (naming no names) and when I got home I noticed that there is a conciderable amount of damage to the rear bumper. there are a few scratches at the top which I had saw when I bought the car and know these will come out with the buffer and a bit of compound. however I have also now noticed a dent round the number plate surround (not that noticable) and a scuff and a chunk out the paint on the corner of the bumper. This has been touched up with a different shade of silver. Cant understand how I missed this 10 days ago when I bought the car as I went over it in great detail.
So my options are dig deep and fix it myself or start a fight with the garage as they seem to be reluctant to fix it. Is this my own fault for missing it or do I have any comeback?? Just so annoying having to get a full bumper re-spray when I haven't even had the car for 20hours!!
My [b][u]guess[/u][/b] is that you'll only have a comneback if one of the following works:
* you can show it happened since you agreed to buy it
* they told you it had never been repaired
* you can show that the repair isn't road-legal (ie if bumper's been crushed, or whatever)
I wouldn't bother with a respray regardless of the above
Don't expect perfection if you are buying a second hand car. If you want a prefect car buy a new one. Why do you think second hand ones cost less? Unless you think the damage has been done since you agreed to buy it you obviously have no comeback, though if you bitch enough they may give you a discount on the work required. Even if the damage has been done since, I can't see how you can prove it. Good luck!
difficult one. there is a thread going on over on the honestjohn forum where a guy bought a Kia Sedona which appeared to have had a respray on a panel to hide damage between him paying deposit and coming to collect it. take a look for that (unless you are that guy of course!)
Sounds like its been rear ended. My MX5 had no trace of damage (except for the puckered out plastic surround around the key entry for the boot)- cost almost 2k to repair underneath and new bumper though.
Its not Arnold Clark is it?
I dont expect it to be perfect but would think they would repair that sort of damage before selling. Going to be very difficuilt to get them to repair so think I will need to repair myself.
Not going to leave it in the condition it is in. Paid far too much for the car to let it stay damaged.
I dont think you've got much comeback sadly. If you had noted the scratches (in writing) at the time then theres a link- its just verbal. I'd suggest having a look under the rear bumper though- just to make sure there isnt any deformation of any metal parts/beam etc. Just to be on the safe side. Then use chips away when you come to sell on eventually (they can flash-spray a bigger area).
Reminds me of when we bought our s/h Verso last year. Wife kept pushing me to get them to touch up this, re-spray that etc. In the end I got them to agree to re-spray the drivers door. (they actually did both doors & rear quarter & did fab job of it). My arguement was that its a 4yr old car FFS, its going to have kids, bikes, roof-box on & off it, caravan hanging off the back etc, so will pretty soon get marked anyway. Sure nough some cock in her office car-park smacks the n/s door after 1 week.
At 1yr old though I'd argue the toss as it should be in pretty good nick.
Xan,go back to the garage,have a hissy fit, threaten them that just because youre a woman, they think they can fool you,be firm,ask for the manager,and if all else fails,
CRY VERY LOUDLY,
then go to the local paper and cry some more.
It works for Women.
You may have a problem persuadeing the garage youre a woman though,so shave your legs and ride a road bike.
Lol @ Project. Must remember and stamp my feet as well.
Well update, the garage have asked me to take it in and they will look at it. Starting to wonder if this has happened when the tow bar was fitted. Bumper needs to be removed for that and wonder if it has been hit off something.
Well update for anyone that is interested, they have agreed to fix it FOC.
result, did they give a reason or kick up much of a fuss
No stamping of feet or temper tantrums needed. Just went in, in person and explained. Spoke to sales manager and said that it was probably when it was getting tow bar fitted. They wern't really happy bout having to do it but think they realised it was a loosing battle with me lol.
Dam if only you saw it. Go back to the garage?
If it's just the bumper-get a quote for a new bumper and spray job from a garage?