Is this acceptable on an ex-demo/nearly new £36k car?

[green van man]

Another way to look at it, how much have you saved?
20% at least over new price for a car with 8 k miles on it. Buy new and you've lost the VAT as soon as you drive away.
It's relative £32k is a fair amount of money for most but pocket change compared to the cost of some cars. A new tyre will cost you what, sub £200 and you've already had a bargain.
Dealer makes probably £2000 on a new car, less on secondhand if he's cut the price to the bone he ain't gonna change that tyre, the money is just not in the deal.
If you force his hand and he fits a budget brand ditch finder will you be happy then or will you insist on a like for like change ?

I baught my car from a dealer 6 hours drive away, the deal made it worthwhile spending 24 hours driving over 2 weekends to view and get it, the front tyres were legal having 3mm of tread but I knew I would be changing them soon, 2 tyres cost me £240 locally, still a bargain car.

If what you paid made it a bargain car for you then just buy a tyre and save yourself the heartache.

Paul.

[GrahamBrown1]

Have to agree with green van man. If they do change the tyre it will Be a budget. I would just buy a tyre and get on and enjoy the car. Life’s to short not to. If the damage was not there when you viewed the car it would be a different story. You could try and see if they will discount you a new tyre to sort of meet you half way?

[S60D5-185]

Originally Posted by GrahamBrown1

Have to agree with green van man. If they do change the tyre it will Be a budget. I would just buy a tyre and get on and enjoy the car. Life’s to short not to. If the damage was not there when you viewed the car it would be a different story. You could try and see if they will discount you a new tyre to sort of meet you half way?

+1

I would ask for a partial cash contribution towards the cost of a new matching tyre.


The fact that it was not initially spotted gives the dealer a very reasonable excuse to not do anything.

If you ascertain the price of a new tyre and then ask for half of the cost it involves no travelling and you are far more likely to get a result.

As it stands they can simply reiterate that you must have caused the damage yourself even though you know you haven't.

Unless it was dark when you collected it, I think that even a cursory walk round check should have spotted that.

[spudmaster]

Thanks all for input...

To clarify- I have had it checked by my local dealer, and the tyre is safe, and would not be MOT fail; so I am happy driving around whilst we get it sorted.

At no point has the dealer questioned my integrity on this. I sent them hi-def images that they could zoom in on.

I have subsequently spoken to the dealer since starting this thread. We had a rational conversation, and they accept my challenge based on the principle of expected standards on returning a car at end of agreement as outlined above. Also, if I had spotted it upon collection, I would have rejected the car until sorted. As it was, I did not spot it until 36 hours later. Arguably, the tyre dressing had 'glossed' over the damage to some extent.

They will be coming back to me with a proposal shortly. Either way, I will be replacing the tyre with another Pirelli Zero asap. However, based on the principles outlined previously, I really do not think that should be at my cost.

Let's see what they come back with...

All good fun!

Spud

[cheshired5]

Given the amount of people who would have had to have missed such obvious damage pre delivery and at delivery (especially the buyer), I find it much more likely that the tyre damage has been done post delivery.
The dealer really wants to say that too but we live in world where candour is frowned upon so they'll have to suck it up for a quiet life.
The dealer not questioning integrity means nothing as without clear cut evidence, why would they?

It's worth noting though that since purchase, the car has already depreciated many times the value of one tyre so any victory is moot.

Also, given this is a forum for sharing knowledge and opinion, I don't understand why the dealer remains anonymous..... It's Watford Volvo to anyone who's unaware.
If they rectify an unfortunate situation to a customer's satisfaction, we should know and if they are a slippery bunch of shysters, we should know.

There could be 10 other members on here who have also been sold 5 figure cars with pocket money defects and you could build a case.....

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by spudmaster

Thanks all for input...

To clarify- I have had it checked by my local dealer, and the tyre is safe, and would not be MOT fail; so I am happy driving around whilst we get it sorted.

At no point has the dealer questioned my integrity on this. I sent them hi-def images that they could zoom in on.

I have subsequently spoken to the dealer since starting this thread. We had a rational conversation, and they accept my challenge based on the principle of expected standards on returning a car at end of agreement as outlined above. Also, if I had spotted it upon collection, I would have rejected the car until sorted. As it was, I did not spot it until 36 hours later. Arguably, the tyre dressing had 'glossed' over the damage to some extent.

They will be coming back to me with a proposal shortly. Either way, I will be replacing the tyre with another Pirelli Zero asap. However, based on the principles outlined previously, I really do not think that should be at my cost.

Let's see what they come back with...

All good fun!

Spud

I think you are entitled to expect a contribution towards a replacement matching tyre proportional to the wear on the one you want to change. I'd be happy with that.

[spudmaster]

Thanks Ed

That is very constructive. A very patronising comment, pretty much claiming that I am fraudulent. Do you really think I would have posted this thread in the first place if I had caused the damage?
Furthermore, it is not about a victory to me- it is about principle.
Finally- thanks for naming the dealer. Nice to see you demonstrating blatant disrespect. As mentioned previously, I am reserving judgement until my issues are resolved. Until we have a final, mutually agreeable outcome, I have not felt it appropriate to mention them by name.

Yours

Spud

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by spudmaster

A very patronising comment, pretty much claiming that I am fraudulent. Do you really think I would have posted this thread in the first place if I had caused the damage?

I haven't claimed you're fraudulent.
I've offered an opinion based on balance of probability given the points you've outlined.
It's possible and certainly not unheard of for people to be fraudulent.
It would be be remiss of me to believe you 100% based on no other evidence.

Originally Posted by spudmaster

Finally- thanks for naming the dealer. Nice to see you demonstrating blatant disrespect....... I have not felt it appropriate to mention them by name.

Yeah, sorry to ignore your faux outrage "Spud" but I think you'll find that you mentioned the dealer more than once already on this very forum and I am simply repeating what you have already said..... Have a couple of examples in case your memory is failing you.

Originally Posted by spudmaster

I actually collected it from Watford Volvo

Originally Posted by spudmaster

Collected my V90 D5 CC from Watford..... Darren at Watford Audi was great with a really thorough handover.

It's strange how neither Darren nor yourself noticed this damage during his really thorough handover.
A £200 pound tyre is no skin off Darren's nose and he sounds genuine so, you know.
The technician who checked the car didn't notice it either or the valeter who painted over the damage...... and you, the paying customer who thoroughly checked his expensive purchase during the really thorough handover didn't notice it either.

All very strange.

[tt82]

Originally Posted by spudmaster

Thanks Ed

That is very constructive. A very patronising comment, pretty much claiming that I am fraudulent. Do you really think I would have posted this thread in the first place if I had caused the damage?
Furthermore, it is not about a victory to me- it is about principle.
Finally- thanks for naming the dealer. Nice to see you demonstrating blatant disrespect. As mentioned previously, I am reserving judgement until my issues are resolved. Until we have a final, mutually agreeable outcome, I have not felt it appropriate to mention them by name.

Yours

Spud

Originally Posted by cheshired5

I haven't claimed you're fraudulent.
I've offered an opinion based on balance of probability given the points you've outlined.
It's possible and certainly not unheard of for people to be fraudulent.
It would be be remiss of me to believe you 100% based on no other evidence.



Yeah, sorry to ignore your faux outrage "Spud" but I think you'll find that you mentioned the dealer more than once already on this very forum and I am simply repeating what you have already said..... Have a couple of examples in case your memory is failing you.



It's strange how neither Darren nor yourself noticed this damage during his really thorough handover.
A £200 pound tyre is no skin off Darren's nose and he sounds genuine so, you know.
The technician who checked the car didn't notice it either or the valeter who painted over the damage...... and you, the paying customer who thoroughly checked his expensive purchase during the really thorough handover didn't notice it either.

All very strange.

It's already been suggested by another member in this thread that you may have accidentally caused the damage yourself without realising. Realistically too much time has passed for the dealer to accept it was definitely there prior to purchase. Nobody has accused you of trying to pass off a tyre you damaged yourself knowingly as pre-delivery damage, so nobody is saying your being fraudulent.

Secondly, as pointed out, you have named the dealer yourself in other posts and it's not exactly hard to find, so there's not much point complaining about them being named by somebody else.

[phil1968]

If I was spending a third of that amount on a car I would've taken my time & gone over it with a fine-toothed comb before driving off ...just saying