MY10 2.4D Geartronic: Buyer Beware

[155mph]

If you are about to take delivery of your MY10 2.4D Geartronic, please be aware that the car emits 188g/km and and not 183g/km as (currently) advertised. This puts it in VED Band J, the same as the D5.

I raised this with my dealer who was none the wiser but has since received a 'pathetic' response from VCUK.

Needless to say, down to me to seek compensation from VCUK.

I would be interested to hear from anyone else who feels they have been misled as well.

[DavidG]

This seems a bit strange to me
I have the same model and similar specification to you and my V5 document clearly states 183 gms
Also if you go in the DVLA emission calculator on line that also states 183gms for this model.
I am presuming your model is FWD

[155mph]

Thanks for that DavidG. You're right; VCA shows model at 183g/km. So why would Volvo go and register my car at 188g/km? I have today sent off a letter to Volvo. I presume I should also inform the DVLA. Oh bother!

[NewVolvo]

I think you'll find that Volvo reserves the right to change/alter/make mistakes etc in their brochures......

[155mph]

Originally Posted by NewVolvo

I think you'll find that Volvo reserves the right to change/alter/make mistakes etc in their brochures......

That may be true, but it does not discharge them from their statutory obligations. In this case, whether you agree with me or not, it is a breach of the Sale of Goods Act, 1979.

I am hoping that it is a simple mistake on their part to be rectified.

[Daleman]

Thing is, we can see you are in the right but if Volvo turn awkward and refer to their sale of goods it may cost you the price of a new car in legal fees making a point with them. They can produce an army of lawyers to make the whole thing very prohibitively expensive to “ take them on” .

I must admit it is a bit annoying to be slightly mislead but there is a load of people with orders for a D3 version of this car and its all a shot in the dark for them because the D3 has not been tested . If it doesn’t live up to Volvos claims what do we do? Put up with it me thinks!

[155mph]

I doubt very much Volvo would pursue this through the courts; not in their best interest.

My OP was simply to inform potential customers taking delivery of their new cars to be aware that all may not be what it seems.

As you say, to some this is hardly worth complaining about (not sure they would feel the same placing an order for a 2.4D and receiving a D3). I simply take a different personal view.

[Bonnie-Sunshine]

Thing is, we can see you are in the right but if Volvo turn awkward and refer to their sale of goods it may cost you the price of a new car in legal fees making a point with them. They can produce an army of lawyers to make the whole thing very prohibitively expensive to “ take them on” .

If it's Volvo's error, shouldn't cost the consumer a penny. It's the type of thing your British consumer body would take on as it's likely a breach of your relevant consumer Act, As someone has already pointed out (equivalent to our fair trading body/departments here in Australia). It's only if you chose to sue them personally that the legal bills would start mounting.

[Daleman]

In an ideal world you can go to the Trading Standards or the Society of Motor Traders and Manufacturers if you have cause for grievance.

But if you agreed to buy the Volvo it would probably be on the understanding that you bought it after reading the brochure and specifications (how else would you know these specifications) or spoke with your dealer.

Volvo in their terms and conditions refer to their right to make changes at any time and without notice to prices, colours, materials, specifications and models. They do mention that you should contact your dealer for the latest information before ordering.

Presuming you signed a sales order with your dealer .Unless you specifically asked your dealer the CO2 output and he mislead you it is presumed that you went of the Volvo brochure which reserves the aforementioned rights in the contract of sale.

On the strength of the above “terms of contract “I doubt you would get any of the consumer bodies to fight it for you.

I think you would probably have to bring a civil case to court against the dealer initially but involving Volvo by them.

Volvo having supplied 1000s of cars with the specification changes (just look at the R Design people getting black plastic trim where they though they where getting colour coded sprayed plastic trim) will probably have to stick to their terms of sale and fight the case to avoid loads of claims.

They may just settle no problem with out any of the above but they may be awkward with it and to get anywhere it could prove very expensive .

[pete-d]

This may be a silly question but have youy got a spare wheel or just a can of goo?

I believe it's possible that the extra weight of a spare wheel (or any other weighty accessory) could knock the emissions into a different category.

Pete