Too good to be true: Issues with new (used) car

Having the clutch and dmf replaced at dealers expense is not a bad thing.

Just had to do the passat. Dmf failed after 15k – we got a guarantee from the garage on parts, or else it sound have been around 1300 to do.

Did the OP said the supplying dealer agreed to have the clutch and DMF done ? I might have missed it. Also, who is doing the job?

part of me want to tell them to just give my money back. The other half likes the car if the issues get sorted.

The DMF and clutch are unrelated to everything else.  Just because they failed doesn’t mean anything else will any more than any other car.  Difference is that now you have a car with a brand new clutch and DMF. Any other car you might buy will not have that, and the same could happen a year down the road when you’ve got no comeback.

This is a great result, keep the car.

Get shot.

You still have the limp mode issue to sort.

Don’t Get shot.

The limp mode issue is sorted.

What new clutch and DMF? Do we know that’s happening?

Currently stood on the side of the M5 waiting for recovery as the clutch has completely failed.

To their credit the supplying dealer is collecting the car tomorrow and dropping off another car for me to use whilst they repair this one.

That isn’t exactly the same as “the supplying dealer is collecting the car tomorrow and dropping off another car for me to use whilst they replace the clutch and DMF”  but isn’t an unreasonable extrapolation.

Id be asking for my money back and going elsewhere. If they dont even check a car to see if its road worthy.

Mind you I bet they are not the only car dealers that dont do many checks.

To their credit the supplying dealer is collecting the car tomorrow and dropping off another car for me to use whilst they repair this one.

I doubt they’re doing this out of the goodness of their hearts… they’re just trying to head-off you rejecting the car & getting your money back (which is what I’d be doing with this lemon, plus finding another dealer!)

If they have agreed to sort it can I still ask for my money back as I have lost faith in the car?

I think they have the right to repair.

Let them fix it, get it back and see how it feels then.

Yes i think you can still reject.  Check tho.  Which or similar sites will have details

Mind you I bet they are not the only car dealers that dont do many checks.

I’m sure most places do this. They rely on you to do the road test.

Mind you I bet they are not the only car dealers that dont do many checks.

If they have agreed to sort it can I still ask for my money back as I have lost faith in the car?

if it’s of unsatisfactory quality – which surely it is given all the problems & the fact it’s actually broken down! – then yes, within 30 days you have the right to reject it and get your money back.

What are a consumer’s legal rights when buying a car?

Ive been mulling this over all day and have decided to reject the car on the basis that it isnt fit for purpose or of satifcatory quality.

Ive sent an email across to the supplying dealers salesman and tried to call to speak with him as a follow up but even though he was answering emails and calls this morning he has now gone radio silent.

The only issue I have is that they are coming to collect the car around 6pm today and are dropping off a car for me to use whilst this broken one is repaired. Can I just reject that one if I don’t hear from the garage in time?

I just don’t want the hassle of it all. Being stuck on the side of the mway for 3 and a half hours was crap and Ive completely lost faith in the car now.

Withold your number and get ringing them back !

They sound like a bunch of cowboys

I’d* be inclined to keep it, as others have said a car with no other faults that you know of and a new DMF is a better buy than a car with no other faults that you know of and an unknown DMF.

You’ve had the car for a week, enough time to spot any other issues, that’s a better test drive than you’ll get in anything else.

*hypothetical me anyway, I’m between no-car and bangernomics camp. £10k in the pension now and retire a year earlier appeals more than shiny wheels.

I would b ut the more Ive looked over it the more chips and imperfections I have found, its almost like they cover the car in something to hide all the imperfections for sale.

I would try and get my money back as £11k buys an awful lot of Mazda6 estate.

I would b ut the more Ive looked over it the more chips and imperfections I have found,

To be fair, it is 7 years old with 84,000 miles on the clock. I’d just touch in any chips to stop them rusting.

I’d sack it off on the basis that if ‘Mr Fred blogs Mondeo owner’ needs a clutch he takes it to the garage and pony’s up for a clutch, flywheel and slave cylinder due to the labour costs in getting to everything.

If ‘Mr pissed off because his profit margin has gone’ fixes it how do you know he’s going to put OEM/decent brand parts and replace everything that’s ideally needed?

I’d also reject the car. Could be a complete coincidence that it failed so soon after purchase. Could be they knew it was ropey but decided to chance that it might last longer. If it’s the latter then how much confidence would you have in a first class repair rather than a job done to minimum cost? And if something that significant is wrong, could there be other gremlins? The fact that they were super helpful when they thought you would keep it and now won’t take your calls does not inspire confidence.

Plenty of other cars out there that haven’t left you stranded on the M5…

Sounds to me like you found out why the last owner traded it in.

part of me want to tell them to just give my money back. The other half likes the car if the issues get sorted

If it was mine…id get a full refund and walk away. The minute you accept the loaner and he starts working that option is no longer viable, as you’re accruing costs and it’ll make the issue a no go.

I’d imagine this guy told you it had had a 150 (or something equally mad) point inapwctio. If it had, he’d know why its goosed.

Another way to look at this is the increase in resale value. New clutch and dmf should last a good few years, so will make it easier to sell , or get you more cash.
Or you could argue that the car you’ve bought should have been priced a few hundred pounds higher if they had fitted clutch prior to selling it on
If you have driven it and the drivetrain was the only issue in an otherwise sound vehicle then keep it.
Unless it turns out that it’s the box that’s lunched itself, although the same argument applies so long as they throw a new clutch kit on it .. although I think the dealer would refund you rather than fit gearbox plus dmf plus clutch kit and they would auction the car off and leave the issue for someone else and take a hit on the drop in value.

“New clutch and dmf should last a good few years“

How do you know the seller is going to fit OEM quality (Luk, Valeo etc) and not just the cheapest FlyingTiger brand from eBay as he watches his slim profit margins disappear.

There are millions of cars out there – the unicorns (decent branded tyres and filters, good MOT history, genuine reason for sale, nice sellers) are out there but take time and patience to find. The “oh bugger I need a car for tomorrow” cars are less likely so.

Plenty of reasons to either keep or reject which others have said

personally I’d reject it and start again.  Whilst you’ve just seen the benefit of buying from a dealer (I.you have some rights) I would prefer to buy from a private seller who has a decent reason to sell – just got a company car etc as then you can make a judgement of the last owner better.  It’s a different gamble though as for a private sale there is almost zero recourse in case of issues.

the other thing id do for a car of that type and age is go Japanese – more likely to be reliable over the long term with less spend on age related repairs – Mondeos have a habit of needing suspension bushes replaced regularly etc which whilst a cheap part need a fair bit of labour.

Japanese of course, hence my earlier suggestion to go Mazda6.

Less miles for the money, better equipped, probably more reliable, a bit more “premium”. Far nicer to look at IMO, if that’s important.

“nickfrog
Free Member
I would try and get my money back as £11k buys an awful lot of Mazda6 estate.”

Was this a joke? I have vague recollections Renton had issues with a Mazda 6 Estate about 8yrs ago (or was that someone else?). Something to do with paint quality iirc.

Also, didn’t Mazda and Ford share some parts etc/collaboration between Mondeo’s and 6’s. May have been earlier than the models we’re talking about here as I can’t remember.

My view on this is that buying cars is in itself a hassle, and always comes with risk and worry. And also that a failing DMF/clutch can be essentially consumable, and you’ve now had that addressed.

I’d be asking for a decent warranty on it, supplied by the dealer but from a known company, and carrying on with the car.

That’s the problem though. There simply aren’t millions of cars for sale in striking distance that tick your boxes.
Unless you are willing to spend hours travelling to go look at several vehicles over multiple weekends.
Or you have say £20k to spend.
Plus I don’t think the Chinese pattern part produces are making dual mass flywheels yet .the ones on eBay are , for the most , part Luk or Valeo some reman stuff for Shure.

Does that year Mondeo come with a PSA lump in it?
If it does, return to dealership.

I think they have the right to repair.

Not within the first 30 days they don’t.

The longer you sit procrastinating about it, the fewer rights you have.

My friend had a Mondeo diesel. It had some serious issues, turns out someone had welded the DMF back together and thrown a clutch in there. The vibration destroyed the crank therefore the engine.

Just thought I’d throw in a fun scare story. Hope you get sorted.

Was this a joke? I have vague recollections Renton had issues with a Mazda 6 Estate about 8yrs ago (or was that someone else?). Something to do with paint quality iirc.

Also, didn’t Mazda and Ford share some parts etc/collaboration between Mondeo’s and 6’s. May have been earlier than the models we’re talking about here as I can’t remember.

No joke at all. I had no idea about what happened to someone I don’t know 8 years ago, it doesn’t seem like irrefutable evidence of anything. Statistically you simply will have less problem with a Japanese car.

And the OP’s budget will buy one with less miles than the Mondeo.

On another note I do think buying diesel does attracts a higher risk of (expensive) issues at those mileage and beyond.

For the most part yes , Japanese cars are better than Ford’s.
However, the deisel Maxda6 overfuels on regen massively and some of the unburned fuel pollutes the oil in the sump , thinning it and causing engine damage.
Along with other associated issues like bore wear. Fine if you only do long journeys regenerating I’d completely finished and the engine oil gets hot enough to flash off some of the lighter volatiles .
Or buy a petrol Mazda..

Fair enough! Petrol Mazda6 probably the sweet spot.

Has @renton been abducted by the car dealer when they came to collect the car!  😱

Another in the return for refund camp here. I’d just spend every moment behind the wheel dreading the next failure.

Push the refund.

Clutch failed but are they even doing the dmf?  Sorry if I’ve missed that.   Will it all be done well?  Will the bad taste ever go if you keep it?

You can I guess roll back from the refund if they convince/sweeten the deal but its harder to ratchet up quickly.

Hi all,

Car collected last night. Dealer asked for bank details this morning and money already back in my account.

Someone has a really good memory about my last Mazda 6!!! it was metallic blue and the paint was pealing off the front.

Ive heard to many horror stories about the current crop of Mazda 6 diesel? Are they that bad?

I have a budget of £10750. I need something mondeo size. I need diesel as I travel lots for work. Ideally Euro 6 (Although would consider a euro 5) 2016 or newer and under 100k miles:

Options are:

Passat Estate

Mondeo

Insignia

Octavia

Audi A4

BMW 3 series

Jag XF

Is there anything else I should look at?