56 replies to this topic

[meladygrey]

Bought a ST170 from Sycamore Vehicles in Barnsley not long since and its a bag of spanners. It was up for £1400 paid £1375, the dealer said it was that price due to high mileage 135k and there was nothing untoward in any way and it was mechanically spot on.

I noticed a few minor faults that I would be able to put right like rear wiper relay, heater resistor, broken coolant bottle, battery cradle etc.

It turns out the manifold runner control is broken and the flaps are permanently open, play in drivers side drive shaft, drop links are not good, runs the same if mass air flow is unplugged no engine light shows during any of this so thats probably ben tampered with also. I reckon a whole host of other problems are waiting to arise.

I hindsight I should have taken some one who knows about cars round but its only me and the mrs and I got taken in by the guy who is building an E-Type in his garage and seamed all round nice guy.

Roll on trading standards and small claims if needs be.

[GingerTom]

Yep it has to be fit for purpose regardless of age and mileage and any faults within 6 months are deemed to be pre-existing so he should put them right. It would be down to a judge to decide what he is responsible for but you have the sale of goods act on your side.

http://www.stdrivers...er-your-rights/

[meladygrey]

Thanks for the advice. Yeah spoke to trading standards today and they said we have to give him a reasonable amount of time to ether do all the repairs and prove its all satisfactory, refund the full amount or provide an agreeable replacement. If he doesn't respond then it would have to go to court where we would have to claim for 'consequential' costs also.

Just annoyed because really liked the car and was looking forward to the summer in it. I let the bugger go for a blast on my motorbike as well!

[meladygrey]

Just had the instrument cluster off and the bulb for the engine management light was non existent. Put a bulb in and as expected the light shows continually.

[ST220Paul]

So what contact have you had with the seller then?

[meladygrey]

I tried to reach an amicable conclusion with him before I knew the severity of faults, but he just kept fobbing us off saying he was too busy etc until we said something along the lines of "no you've got to take a look and see what you can do its getting worse and dangerous". To which his reply was "Good night, go, go get off my property" we did so and contact trading standard who said we had done the right thing and have now sent a letter giving him a certain amount of time to repair followed by an independent inspection, replace with a car we both agree on or refund. If he says he is not going to do any of these then it will be the small claims court.

[YORKSHIRENEO]

Go torch the f**kers car lot. Then see who's laughing

[meladygrey]

That might be acceptable over the border but in South Yorkshire we have standards!

[GingerTom]

Good for you sticking it out. The sods just hope you will back down.

Clearly a dirty trickster who should be named and shamed.

Even if you win through the courts getting him to pay is another matter but you have the law on your side and if necessary send in the bailiffs.

[meladygrey]

Yeah I thought he might try to get away with paying some how, but I know he's got cash because he owns a few properties around here and not far of finishing his E-Type restoration and starting his MG Midget. But as you said its getting him to pay thats going to be difficult.

[GingerTom]

Stick with it and keep us updated

[meladygrey]

Will do.

[YORKSHIRENEO]

Do you know where he keeps his beloved E-Type as I could always go and pay it a visit with some brake and clutch fluid - make the paintwork all nice and runny

[meladygrey]

lol, thanks for the offer but I couldn't let something like that happen to an E-Type even if he doesn't deserve to own one.

[rickmanchester]

Keep us updated with this mate, dont give in. I would go in at a weekend and just demend to speak to him, wait there for hours if needs be but dont back down.

[meladygrey]

He hasn't responded to the offer of repairing, refunding or replacing so I've got to give trading standards another ring tomorrow and see what they advise us to do as the next step. He would be getting a bloody good deal if he bought it back for what we paid because I've corrected loads of minor faults, spent hours and about £200 on it. Think he must just be a wide boy with the mantra and I quote of him "Well you bought it, its your problem now".

Think buyers need more info because I reckon loads of them don't know about the standards expected and fit for purpose etc, seems like sellers don't know ether and get away with these things way too much.

[YORKSHIRENEO]

My offer still stands

[meladygrey]

Thanks for the offer but against my Barnsley instincts I'm going to have to decline again lol.

Rang him today because he hasn't replied to the letter and said "Are you going to repair it, refund it or replace it or are we going to have to go to court?" He said "Take it to court then or why don't you stick it on ebay?" to which I replied "I cant because I couldn't bring my self to skank someone like that." to which he replied "Well f**k off then", and he hung up the phone.

Been advised to send another letter allowing him ten days to respond offering a repair, refund or replacement, if that doesn't work have to send another saying he has seven days before we start court proceedings.

Apparently if you take someone to small claims you can serve them in person with the documents, I hope it doesn't go that far but if it does I'm defiantly going to do the serving, can't pass up the opportunity to use the classic 'Pineapple Express' line, "You've been served".

[rocky]

Hi m8 sorry to hear about your problems.I bought my ST from a ford main dealer and there was a lot of things wrong with it,and i was not very happy but to be fair they did but it right.So if you do short it out my advice to would be buy from reputable dealer.

[meladygrey]

I couldn't agree with you more, going to take someone with us who knows more about cars than us next time, suppose it searvs us right for been too trusting.