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I was not sure really what size van I needed for my business until Rob let me look at several various vans before making the correct choice! My new van came with a new MOT, service and cambelt, it was very clean and well presented. Rob there in 3 months warranty which a lot of other van dealers didn’t offer and said that if I were to have any mechanical issues then he would loan me a vehicle whilst being repaired which has given me good piece of mind! I will definitely be returning to Botley car centre for my next purchase!
Bought a vehicle last September and had a problem with it. Took the car back 3 times and assumed that it would be fixed. No, they drove the car to London and left the car empty. Took for MOT in January and discovered the complete suspension needed doing plus front brakes. Response - wear and tear - must have known about it when I bought it. Now lost £3k in repairs. Don't buy from here unless you have an AA check
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Robert Sanders from Botley Car Centre in response to Very poor service.
This has got to be a competitor dealership or something surely? I run the business alone, I have no interest in travelling to London and even if I did why would I use a customers car to get there when I have my own? Completed lost with this one...
I am a 69 year old pensioner who was using the Botley cycleway and tried to pass this dealership while riding my bike but it was blocked with parked cars on the pavement (customers) and a large vehicle on the forecourt protruding out into the pavement/cycleway.. I got through the gap between all the vehicles with great difficulty and someone came up and assaulted me! Tried to push me off my mountain bike. I was only a passerby who lives on the same road as Botley Cars. I am not sure what actual involvement with these people would be if there were problems with any vehicle you purchased? Whoever the individual was they seemed completely out of control, and I was lucky not to end up in the traffic on the main road. I will add the word "allegedly" but you all know why I put that in this review. I have never and will never purchase a car from these people. If someone there can attack a pensioner in broad daylight I would not feel comfortable doing business with such a person.
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Robert Sanders from Botley Car Centre in response to Be careful there's an angry man here.
I am sorry this happened outside our premises. I run Botley Car Centre alone and know nothing about this incident so unfortunately cannot help any further with it. All the best, Rob
Avoid this garage at all costs. Recently purchased a 16 plate Ford transit from this garage. After travelling 10 miles home going indoors to see my gf and returning back to the van and trying to start the engine it wouldn’t restart! Could not believe it at first and took robs words for it when I contacted him and he said these things happen I will get it fixed for you. He gave me a loan van and then said he would fix the problems if he could find any. Two days later rob said they’re were no faults with the van and it was ready for collection. I collected the van that night and wishing 5 minutes off driving they're was warning lights on the dash Service now Oil change required Water defected in fuel. I Managed to drive home again and contacted him about the problems to which he said they would have another look on Monday. I then went back to the van and it wouldn’t restart. They then collected the van on Monday and took them until Thursday after they claimed an electrician had found a fault and the fuel pump needed changing and that it was my fault because I had ran it out of fuel and the warranty doesn’t cover it. When I confronted rob about this on the phone as I had become annoyed and frustrated after spending £16000 on a van that I have owned for 10 days and driven for one hour and been accused of breaking it and making the garage pay for it. He then refused to pay the £900 parts and labour costs as it’s not covered under they're In house warranty as I the customer is at fault because I apparently broke a van I just paid £16000 for within ten minutes off owning it and driving from Portsmouth to botley. Rob then resulted in calling the police as I had suggested I could see through his lies and have seen his type before. Apparently saying to somebody you’ve sold a van to the wrong person is threatening in robs eyes. Not only will he rip you off with a van that after ten minutes of owning has these issues Oil light on Service light on Water in fuel detected warning Won’t restart A door that sounds like it’s been ripped off in a hurricane and stuck back on with prick stick and confetti. The key didn’t even fit the door. He then reported me to the police for not returning his loan vehicle as according to Rob after spending £16000 in his car centre I was being horrible to him because I’ve asked him to pay for the faults and I was unreasonable even though it comes with a 3 month warranty and I broke down after 10 minutes ? Rob is audacious and a coward who has no empathy.
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Robert Sanders from Botley Car Centre in response to Steer well clear!!
We both had a conversation at the handover about you going to the fuel station straight away. You drove it to Portsmouth which is a good half an hour away and approximately 20 miles on an empty tank. You then admitted the van had run out of fuel and that after putting fuel in it - it started again. I said to you that it may have damaged the fuel pump which two separate garages have now confirmed. A warranty company is not going to pay out for something you have damaged yourself by not putting fuel in the vehicle. After feeling very threatened I have now been forced to pay for the repair and I have also offered for you to keep the loan vehicle just to keep the peace. I can not do anymore for you and I would like to think that one day you would agree that you are being completely unreasonable and have treated me and my business unfairly!
Lee Green in response to Steer well clear!!
I gave home £14,400 for a VW Transporter Took it to my mechanic to check it over, he advised front brake pads were low. Rob initially said no problem. A month later after getting me a loan van .. 190000 on the clock .. the first one engine blew up in fairness he came straight out to recover it and left me with a Transit with 180000 on the clock .. and juddered all over the place at 65mph So he allegedly took the van to a garage 600yds down the road, and was told my mechanic is ‘being over the top’ regarding my brakes and ‘there are loads of miles left on them’ Two weeks later my van was in the garage and My mechanic put new pads on! They were worn out and the disc was rusty! He advertised the van with every extra on it and a fair fee didn’t work A split in the screen washer reservoir, which I told him about right from the start.. apparently was replaced… more lies.. And a Failure on an MOT The MOT last year had advisories from, but completely wiped off without any paperwork to show the work had been undertaken this year! Advertised as 130,000 on the clock true miles on MOT 135,000 And on pick up I found the driver wing mirror cowling damaged and great big oil foot prints all over new ply line where someone had fixed the back interior lights Rob is not an honourable business man. Never on site I took 3 days off in all to try to get my van fixed which should have been straight away but his summer holidays were more important! Fourteen thousand pounds for the worst experience After a bad experience trying to buy an honest van last year.. Be Warned!!!
Avoid Avoid been a nightmare vehicle keeps braking down. Trading standards involved slow repairs boodgy repairs you name it. Nice as pie until he gets your money and hes useless
Deborah Miles in response to Shocking Dealership
I bought a car from these people. After a number of returns with the same problems recurring, they were unable to repair it. On threat of legal action, they replaced it. The replacement had exactly the same issues, which have got progressively worse. Only emails stating intent to take legal action are answered. Steer clear, people, it's not worth it.
Robert Sanders from Botley Car Centre in response to Shocking Dealership
We spent £5000 repairing this vehicle by replacing an engine with a fully reconditioned one, it is a huge job and takes time. We loaned a vehicle throughout the process. The new reconditioned turbo’s eventually went wrong after we handed the vehicle back so we have now given a full refund. I couldn’t have done any more for this customer. It is not our fault when a problem happens with a vehicle and we do everything we can to get it sorted fairly and promptly.
Lee Green in response to Shocking Dealership
This is very interesting!!! Same experience encountered!!!
I purchased a car from the Botley Car Centre and subsequently had to take them to court to recoup monies spent to make the vehicle road legal. This matter could have been resolved in a much more customer oriented and friendly fashion, which would have resulted in a totally different review. I certainly wouldn’t have the confidence to buy a car from them again given my experience.
Robert Sanders from Botley Car Centre in response to I cannot recommend this dealership.
We gave permission for this customer to use a local garage due to them living 5 hours away from our dealership. The customer took it to a specialist rather than a local independent business that would charge more fairly. The vehicle needed an exhaust manifold that I offered to send down in the post costing £180 and we would also pay the labour charge. Instead the customer gave the go ahead to have the entire exhaust replaced at roughly £1400 which was not required and tried sending us the bill. I offered the customer the following options; 1. We send the part down and pay the labour charge if he used an independent garage not an expensive specialist. 2. I collect the vehicle and fix it in- house and deliver it back 3. Full refund of the vehicle I could not have done anymore for this customer.
CHRIS HICKLING in response to I cannot recommend this dealership.
As Buckingham Palace recently stated - recollections may vary. A full refund request was refused, subsequently two thirds of the exhaust had to be replaced due to the the catalytic converter being missing at the manifold and a sub standard item had been replaced beneath the floor. The judge was in full agreement with my case. Need I say more.
I buy a car from him, the car value is 11000 and he sell me with sensor park no working and the door sensor show me every time that its open! I went back with the car for repair and he put me a sensor that doesn’t work and at the door put glue to fix. When i show him he said that i want to put me new spares and the care is second?? Its not acceptable to do this like a dealer and to sell the car with problems and no service history! Be very careful from where you buy ! Now i need to pay the finance for a care that value 11000 and the car have problems!
Robert Sanders from Botley Car Centre in response to Very bad experience
To start with this particular customer was foreign and didn’t really understand what I was saying which really didn’t help the situation to be honest. Our auto electrician was halfway through diagnosing the issue with the vehicle when the customer turned up and demanded the vehicle back. A few days later I gave the go ahead for him to take it to a local garage for the repair, the customer turned up at 4:30pm on the day it was booked in and the garage close at 5pm. He never showed up again for them. I offered to pay for all parts and labour to have the fault fixed. I think the main issue here was me not being able to communicate with the customer due to him not speaking English unfortunately.
Thank you to Rob and Ian for a great experinace again. I have returned for my third car purchase with Botley Car Centre and can not recommend them enough! The aftercare service is great too! Thanks guys
Robert Sanders from Botley Car Centre in response to I HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE!
Many thanks for your positive review!
Well even 1 star is 1 too many for Botley Car Centre. I purchased a vehicle in August which unfortunately had mechanical issues within a month. I requested a refund which is my statutory right which they have denied. They tried to make me believe I had no warranty and no rights when I bought the car so that I wouldn’t bring it back (I’m sure they must have known the engine was about to have a significant fault). Currently I have issued them with court proceeedings but they are also ignoring these. This has been extremely stressful and upsetting they cannot even respond to a county court judgement to reimburse me for the money. Please stay well away from Botley Car Centre!
Cb in response to Worst experience
Just thought I'd give you some advice. Had the same problem as you and due to my ignorance of the judicial process ( much to the glee of their solicitor) I ended up with nothing. Make sure you send copies of all evidence, repair quotes, garage repairs to ensure you get somewhere. Rob also left it to the last minute before court to answer my emails. He was good enough to take 4k of my pension but has no conscience.
Where do I start with Botley Car Centre, what was ment to be a swop on cars turned ugly when my car started to flash a light on the dash. Instead of turning there's backs they have done everything possible to keep me on the road.
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Botley Car Centre is a Southampton based family run used car dealership. They have some of the most popular car makes and models that are available on the market including Seat, Toyota and Volkswagen. As well as this great amount of choice they also have warranty, finance, and MOT facilities on site.
Manufacturers: Sells a variety of makes and models
Independent Dealership
Botley Car Centre
Broad Oak
Southampton
Hampshire
SO30 2EU
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