Don't buy a car from Bournemouth Autobahn!!!

Giblets · Feb 24th, 2008, 19:05

Not that they specialize in Volvo's but I bought my V70 T5 from there a month ago and it was a duffer.

For the first (and last) time in my life I bought a car over the phone without looking at it. My mistake, however the worst faults weren't noticable at first anyway. Bournemouth is 130 miles from me and I couldn't get there quickly enought o see the car, which seemed like a bargain (£6995 for a very high spec 52 plate Geartronic car with 84k)

First thing I noticed was a squeaking from the steering column from half lock or more which turned out to be the steering column rubbing lower down. Secondly I noticed that the Surround Sound stereo was only playing out of one speaker but I thought this could be easily sorted once I got it home, which didn't turn out to be the case, and I was curious why my car came with a slightly different stereo to the drivers handbook.

A few days later I noticed that the drivers door lock kept popping back up after locking the car. the deadlocks would work after 2 mins anyway so this wasn't a major problem. Then a couple of times the memory seats started shifting as I unlocked the car, without me pushing anything and I got concerned over the electrics. Finally the next weekend in daylight I noticed some oil on the driveway as I was cleaning her, but put it down to remnants of some of the older cars I had up to last year.

The car was shortly due a service so I booked it into Tony at Independent Volvo Service.com in Letchworth who called me later in the day with the bad news. In short he said I should take it back and demand a refund: Major oil leak at front of engine that would take some time and money to fully diagnose, evidence of a front end repair (possibly the cause of the leak), the turbo wasn't even connected up properly, both headlight bulbs were in upside down and pointing light the wrong way, both wiperblades were shot to bits, and best of all - some idiot had replaced the original head unit with a different one and buggered up the cars software in the process (not a cheap fix).

He said that worst case - the cost of straightening it all out could exceed the value of the car. He had nothing to gain from telling me this, particularly as he cut short some of the jobs as he suggested I just got rid of the car and challenge the dealer.

Rather predictably the dealer claimed Tony (a trained Volvo mechanic of 30 years) was 'talking out his ar5e', and said he 'didn't do refunds'. He 'kindly' offered me to bring it down to his mechanic to have a look at as he didn't trust mine. Clearly I wasn't keen to drive 260miles to have his mate tell me there was nothing wrong with it in exchange for the dealers continued business, so I wrote him a strong worded letter quoting some legal mumbo jumbo to put the frighteners on him.

As his 'Pre Delivery Inspection Check's' are allegedly covered by Bournemouth Trading Standards, I'll be going to them to complain.

With a second baby on the way, plus an imminent house move, I don't have the time or money to push this through the courts (much as I'd like to), so I've unloaded the car in a part exchange on a new Kia (not as bad as you'd think!), as the wife is not keen on me buying another used Volvo.

A real shame as a healthy one would have been perfect for us (fuel consumption aside) it was mega comfy, spacious and fast.

Frankly my experience tells me that buying from used car dealers, you're no safer than buying privately as their warrantees aren't worth the paper they're written on and they clearly employ chimpanzee's to check the car over before they go out. No point paying the extra for peace of mind that won't exist!

wise old monkey · Feb 24th, 2008, 19:18

i know your stuck and needed a car quick, its a pity you werent able to get three counties radio to deal with him, there great with people like that.
once they get hold of em they dont let go, you should listen to them some time, 95.5 fm

CTCNetwork · Feb 24th, 2008, 19:22

HI,

Yes, shame you didn't follow though the issues.
Your independant would have happily written a report on the car outlining the issues and a local TS officer would have been through the dealership with a fine knife...

At least you're now happy, but pity the person who picks up your old Volvo...

Des. . .

wise old monkey · Feb 24th, 2008, 19:24

the old volvo will probably be in letchworth car auction this tuesday or thursday, the place is a right hole.

Feb 25th, 2008, 01:01

If there is any sort of waranty with the car, these are frequently done through a third party where the dealer pays a fee. Check with the dealer if this is the case and if so try approaching them direct ?

Hope you get it resolved soon. Good luck with the move and the birth.

stevo48 · Feb 25th, 2008, 01:54

Such a shame that you have had a bad experience with the Volvo , they really are a superb family car and if you had bought a "good" one I'm sure it would have served you well. Best wishes with the new baby and the house move.

Giblets · Feb 25th, 2008, 13:48

Thanks all,

I would have loved to have taken this guy to the cleaners over this, but with the aforementioned issues of baby and house move applying pressure to both time and funds, I felt the priority was to get my wife something safe and reliable to run the family around in, and cut my losses.

It bugs me that some other poor sod may well end up paying good money for it, which probably explains why i was the 6th owner since 2002!

I think the car itself was fantastic, assuming it had no major problems, and I wouldn't be out off buying another Volvo in the future!

iceni · Feb 25th, 2008, 14:12

TBH you must have been off your rocker to buy a car for that sort of money without even seeing it , that said the dealer sounds a nightmare the car clearly wasnt fit for purpose pity you couldnt have takenit farther with trading standards ,there plenty of excellent cars out there just be a bit more switched on next time

keithyboy · Feb 26th, 2008, 08:20

Buying cars unseen is a dodgy business. I've picked a few up off ebay unseen but only for a few hundred quid where the risks are rather less.

Giblets · Feb 27th, 2008, 19:32

Yeah, a lesson learned indeed.

I must however recommend Tony at IndependentVolvoService.com.

Top bloke - didn't pressure me, didn't try and take all my money, and knows his stuff.

My next Volvo will go back to him for sure.

Feb 24th, 2008, 19:05	#1
Giblets New Member Last Online: Nov 6th, 2013 12:04 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hitchin View Photos By: Giblets	Don't buy a car from Bournemouth Autobahn!!! Not that they specialize in Volvo's but I bought my V70 T5 from there a month ago and it was a duffer. For the first (and last) time in my life I bought a car over the phone without looking at it. My mistake, however the worst faults weren't noticable at first anyway. Bournemouth is 130 miles from me and I couldn't get there quickly enought o see the car, which seemed like a bargain (£6995 for a very high spec 52 plate Geartronic car with 84k) First thing I noticed was a squeaking from the steering column from half lock or more which turned out to be the steering column rubbing lower down. Secondly I noticed that the Surround Sound stereo was only playing out of one speaker but I thought this could be easily sorted once I got it home, which didn't turn out to be the case, and I was curious why my car came with a slightly different stereo to the drivers handbook. A few days later I noticed that the drivers door lock kept popping back up after locking the car. the deadlocks would work after 2 mins anyway so this wasn't a major problem. Then a couple of times the memory seats started shifting as I unlocked the car, without me pushing anything and I got concerned over the electrics. Finally the next weekend in daylight I noticed some oil on the driveway as I was cleaning her, but put it down to remnants of some of the older cars I had up to last year. The car was shortly due a service so I booked it into Tony at Independent Volvo Service.com in Letchworth who called me later in the day with the bad news. In short he said I should take it back and demand a refund: Major oil leak at front of engine that would take some time and money to fully diagnose, evidence of a front end repair (possibly the cause of the leak), the turbo wasn't even connected up properly, both headlight bulbs were in upside down and pointing light the wrong way, both wiperblades were shot to bits, and best of all - some idiot had replaced the original head unit with a different one and buggered up the cars software in the process (not a cheap fix). He said that worst case - the cost of straightening it all out could exceed the value of the car. He had nothing to gain from telling me this, particularly as he cut short some of the jobs as he suggested I just got rid of the car and challenge the dealer. Rather predictably the dealer claimed Tony (a trained Volvo mechanic of 30 years) was 'talking out his ar5e', and said he 'didn't do refunds'. He 'kindly' offered me to bring it down to his mechanic to have a look at as he didn't trust mine. Clearly I wasn't keen to drive 260miles to have his mate tell me there was nothing wrong with it in exchange for the dealers continued business, so I wrote him a strong worded letter quoting some legal mumbo jumbo to put the frighteners on him. As his 'Pre Delivery Inspection Check's' are allegedly covered by Bournemouth Trading Standards, I'll be going to them to complain. With a second baby on the way, plus an imminent house move, I don't have the time or money to push this through the courts (much as I'd like to), so I've unloaded the car in a part exchange on a new Kia (not as bad as you'd think!), as the wife is not keen on me buying another used Volvo. A real shame as a healthy one would have been perfect for us (fuel consumption aside) it was mega comfy, spacious and fast. Frankly my experience tells me that buying from used car dealers, you're no safer than buying privately as their warrantees aren't worth the paper they're written on and they clearly employ chimpanzee's to check the car over before they go out. No point paying the extra for peace of mind that won't exist! __________________ V70 T5 SE Geartronic (2002)

Feb 24th, 2008, 19:22	#3
CTCNetwork Forum Support Team Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Liège, Belgium View Photos By: CTCNetwork	HI, Yes, shame you didn't follow though the issues. Your independant would have happily written a report on the car outlining the issues and a local TS officer would have been through the dealership with a fine knife... At least you're now happy, but pity the person who picks up your old Volvo... Des. . . __________________ Density:- Not just a measurement ~ It's a whole way of Life.! ! ! I drive a Volvo, Please Don't Get In My Way! OldVolvos4Ever He shows up. People die. He vanishes. People should not be afraid of their governments. "He'll deliver more justice in a weekend than 10 years of your Governments should be afraid of their people... "V" courts & tribunals. Just stay out of his way." "I plan to."

Feb 25th, 2008, 13:48	#7
Giblets New Member Last Online: Nov 6th, 2013 12:04 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hitchin View Photos By: Giblets	Thanks all, I would have loved to have taken this guy to the cleaners over this, but with the aforementioned issues of baby and house move applying pressure to both time and funds, I felt the priority was to get my wife something safe and reliable to run the family around in, and cut my losses. It bugs me that some other poor sod may well end up paying good money for it, which probably explains why i was the 6th owner since 2002! I think the car itself was fantastic, assuming it had no major problems, and I wouldn't be out off buying another Volvo in the future! __________________ V70 T5 SE Geartronic (2002)

Feb 27th, 2008, 19:32	#10
Giblets New Member Last Online: Nov 6th, 2013 12:04 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hitchin View Photos By: Giblets	Yeah, a lesson learned indeed. I must however recommend Tony at IndependentVolvoService.com. Top bloke - didn't pressure me, didn't try and take all my money, and knows his stuff. My next Volvo will go back to him for sure. __________________ V70 T5 SE Geartronic (2002)

Feb 24th, 2008, 19:18	#2
wise old monkey Premier Member Last Online: Jan 30th, 2024 17:57 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Letchworth	i know your stuck and needed a car quick, its a pity you werent able to get three counties radio to deal with him, there great with people like that. once they get hold of em they dont let go, you should listen to them some time, 95.5 fm

Feb 24th, 2008, 19:24	#4
wise old monkey Premier Member Last Online: Jan 30th, 2024 17:57 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Letchworth	the old volvo will probably be in letchworth car auction this tuesday or thursday, the place is a right hole.

Feb 25th, 2008, 01:01	#5
felipe Rose Guest Location:	If there is any sort of waranty with the car, these are frequently done through a third party where the dealer pays a fee. Check with the dealer if this is the case and if so try approaching them direct ? Hope you get it resolved soon. Good luck with the move and the birth.

Feb 25th, 2008, 01:54	#6
stevo48 Premier Member Last Online: Jul 9th, 2020 20:08 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Halifax West yorkshire	Such a shame that you have had a bad experience with the Volvo , they really are a superb family car and if you had bought a "good" one I'm sure it would have served you well. Best wishes with the new baby and the house move.

Feb 25th, 2008, 14:12	#8
iceni I've Been Banned Last Online: Feb 28th, 2008 19:18 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: manchester	TBH you must have been off your rocker to buy a car for that sort of money without even seeing it , that said the dealer sounds a nightmare the car clearly wasnt fit for purpose pity you couldnt have takenit farther with trading standards ,there plenty of excellent cars out there just be a bit more switched on next time

Feb 26th, 2008, 08:20	#9
keithyboy Master Member Last Online: Jul 19th, 2015 20:48 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bolton	Buying cars unseen is a dodgy business. I've picked a few up off ebay unseen but only for a few hundred quid where the risks are rather less.

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