Luca

Don't believe cars are checked

I recently enquired about a Vauxhall Mokka (reg EJ65ARX) listed on Autotrader and spoke with Conrad at the dealership. As a serious buyer, I asked several questions about the vehicle before committing to travel. During our phone call, I sensed that Conrad was becoming frustrated with my questions, which made me uneasy but I decided to proceed. I made a 3 hour and 30-minute train journey (one way) from Windsor, Berkshire, to view the vehicle in person. Upon arrival, I was met with an unwelcoming reception — Conrad handed me the keys with minimal conversation and left me to inspect the vehicle alone. While the Engine Management Light was not illuminated, I brought my diagnostic machine to check for hidden faults. The following fault codes were identified: ECM (Engine Control Module) P0101 Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor performance P1101 Intake Air Flow System Performance EBCM (Engine Brake Control Module) C0800 (Control Module Power Circuit) PACM (Parking Assist Control Module) U0073 CAN Bus Communication B325 Control module Power Circuit I phoned my mechanic, who advised me to request a price reduction to account for the cost of repairs. When I brought this up with Conrad, his immediate response was, “So the vehicle is not for you.” He didn’t ask to see the fault codes or express surprise — suggesting he may have been aware of the issues beforehand. I asked to sit down and discuss the matter, but Conrad said he was too busy. 40 minutes later, he made time to talk. He eventually offered a small discount — but only if the car was sold without any warranty. This was a complete reversal from the original offer of a 3-month warranty and 30-day return policy. After speaking with the director, Conrad informed me that they were no longer willing to sell the vehicle to me because I had found the faults. Their justification was that they did not want to be liable — essentially implying that their warranty is meaningless if a buyer performs due diligence. To add to this, the vehicle was advertised as having undergone a “multi-point inspection”, but it clearly did not include any form of diagnostic scan, even though the dealership charges £84 for diagnostics when returning a car under warranty. I had no choice but to buy a return train ticket home for another and endure another 3 hours and 30 minute journey and £90 out of pocket. Conclusion If I hadn’t brought my own diagnostic tool and taken the initiative, I could have unknowingly purchased a vehicle with underlying faults, under the false impression that it had been properly inspected and came with a reliable warranty. This experience has been highly disappointing, and I would strongly urge any prospective buyers to perform their own checks before trusting advertised claims or warranties.